The slave William was emancipated in 1819 by his then owner Charles Ewell. He did not leave the state of Virginia, as required by law of emancipated slaves, and was taken into custody in 18e8, tried and sentenced back into slavery. He was purchased at auction in 1839 for $530 by the petitioner, Richard S. Rice, but shortly thereafter ran away. Rice believes he is in New York. Rice argues that he understands the purpose of the law requiring emancipated slaves to emigrate or face being sold back into slavery, which is the removal of the free black population, but he contends that his observation and personal experience in this case is that citizens who attempt to recover slaves that have absconded after having acquired freedom encounter great difficulties and expenses. Since William was now removed, the petitioner argues, the objective of the state to remove free people of color from the commonwealth has been achieved and he should be compensated for his loss?
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
