As slavery was now legalized in the colony the Assembly passed sundry laws with
reference to the treatment of slaves. It must be remembered that the larger part of the slaves were savages direct
from Africa. They had been captured by their own countryment in the cruel wars the tribes waged with each other,
and driven like cattle to the west African ports, where they had been sold to the Portuguese and English traders.
They had no idea of honesty, no feeling of pity to a foe, no conception of sexual purity or marital fidelity. They
could not speak the language of the people who owned them and understood nothing of what was said to them except
a few plain commands. Accustomed to nakedness and hunger in their own land, they found the regular supply of rice
and potatoes and the scanty apparel furnished by the rice-planters a great advance beyond all they had in negro-land.
Slavery was permitted everywhere at that time and was condemned by none, not even the Quakers. The slavery, however,
which was to be allowed in the colonies was by no means Roman or Grecian or African slavery, for the control of
the slave was restricted by law, and the slave was carefully protected from all bodily harm. The acts passed provided:
1. That the slave should not leave his place without a written permit.
2. Unusual assemblages of slaves were to be dispersed.
3. If he was guilty of a capital crime he should be tried by two justices and punished with death.
4. A justice and two freeholders were a sufficient court for ordinary offenses.
5. Arson should be punished with death.
6. Stealing a slave or effacing his brand should be a felony.
7. If a slave was condemned to death the colony should pay his value to his owner, but not more than fifty pounds.
8. No slave should carry firearms.
9. If a slave struck a white man he should be punished. If he struck him the third time he should be put to death.
Cruelty to slaves was forbidden.
If any one should wilfully murder his slave he should be adjudged guilty of a felony, with the benefit of the clergy,
for the first offense; but if he did it the second time he should be deemed guilty of a murther
10. If he should kill a slave in heat he should forfeit fifty pounds.
11. If he should maim him or cruelly maltreat him, he should forfeit ten pounds.
12. If he did not give him sufficient food and clothing he should be fined.
13. If an owner was charged with inhuman conduct, he should be presumed to be guilty, unless he showed his innocence.
No one could have a plantation occupied entirely by slaves.
