OF SLAVES FOR RUNNING AWAY.—­THE LIFE OF
     SLAVES REGARDED AS OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE BY THE VIOLENT
     MASTER CLASS.—­AN ACT EMPOWERING TWO JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
     TO INVESTIGATE TREATMENT OF SLAVES.—­AN ACT PROHIBITING THE
     OVERWORKING OF SLAVES.—­SLAVE-MARKET AT
     CHARLESTON.—­INSURRECTION.—­A LAW AUTHORIZING THE CARRYING
     OF FIRE-ARMS AMONG THE WHITES.—­THE ENLISTMENT OF SLAVES TO
     SERVE IN TIME OF ALARM.—­NEGROES ADMITTED TO THE MILITIA
     SERVICE.—­COMPENSATION TO MASTERS FOR THE LOSS OF SLAVES
     KILLED BY THE ENEMY OR WHO DESERT.—­FEW SLAVES
     MANUMITTED.—­FROM 1754-1776 LITTLE LEGISLATION ON THE
     SUBJECT OF SLAVERY.—­THREATENING WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND HER
     PROVINCIAL DEPENDENCIES.—­THE EFFECT UPON PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

The Carolinas received two different charters from the crown of Great Britain.  The first was witnessed by the king at Westminster, March 24, 1663; the second, June 30, 1665.  The last charter was surrendered to the king by seven of the eight proprietors on the 25th July, 1729.  The government became regal; and the Province was immediately divided into North and South Carolina by an order of the British Council, and the boundaries between the two governments fixed.

There were Negro slaves in the Carolinas from the earliest days of their existence.  The era of slavery legislation began about the year 1690.  The first Act for the “Better Ordering of Slaves” was “read three times and passed, and ratified in open Parliament, the seventh day of February, Anno Domini, 1690.”  It bore the signatures of Seth Sothell, G. Muschamp, John Beresford, and John Harris.  It contained fifteen articles of the severest character.  On the 7th of June, 1712, the first positive law establishing slavery passed, and was signed.[482] The entire Act embraced thirty-five sections.  Section one is quoted in full because of the interest that centres in it in connection with the problem of slavery legislation in the colonies.

“1. Be it therefore enacted, by his Excellency, William, Lord Craven, Palatine, and the rest of the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of this Province, by and with the advice and consent of the rest of the members of the General Assembly, now met at Charlestown, for the South-west part of this Province, and by the authority of the same, That all negroes, mulatoes, mustizoes or Indians, which at any time heretofore have been sold, or now are held or taken to be, or hereafter shall be bought and sold for slaves, are hereby declared slaves; and they, and their children, are hereby made and declared slaves, to all intents and purposes; excepting all such negroes, mulatoes, mustizoes or Indians, which heretofore have been, or hereafter shall be, for some particular merit, made and declared free, either by the Governor and council of this Province, pursuant to any Act or law of this Province, or by their respective