Petition #10382409

Abstract

Eighty-one citizens seek the repeal of an 1816 Delaware law "Concerning free Negroes free Mulattoes Servants & Slaves." The subscribers submit that "the free People of Colour have Become an Intolerable nuisance & expensive Burden to the Good Citizens of the County." In their opinion, the law in question administers “no Effectual Punishment whatever ... on a free negro, or Mulatto Convicted of Felony.” They avow that free people of color “are Sold for little or nothing,” quickly released, and soon go back to thieving. They contend that free blacks "Steal with Impunity and of late seem to Glory in it." The petitioners therefore pray "the Legislature, to take the Premises into Consideration and to apply an Efficient Remedy; Either by Repealing the Said Act of Assembly by which People of Colour are so much encouraged to the Commission of Crimes or in Some other way as the wisdom of the Legislature shall think Meet."

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Citation information

Repository: Delaware State Archives, Dover, Delaware

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