"The conflicting influences of humanity and prejudice are strangely contrasted in the law of North Carolina on this subject. An act passed in 1798, runs thus: 'Whereas by another act of assembly, passed in the year 1774, the killing of a slave, however wanton, cruel, and deliberate, is only punishable in the first instance by imprisonment, and paying the value thereof to the owner, which distinction of criminality between the murder of a white person and one _who is equally a human creature, but merely of a different complexion_, is disgraceful to humanity, and degrading in the highest degree to the laws and principles of a free Christian, and enlightened country, be it enacted, &c., that if any person shall hereafter be guilty of wilfully and maliciously killing a slave, such offender shall, upon the first conviction thereof, be adjudged guilty of murder, and shall suffer the same punishment as if he had killed a free man; _Provided always, this act shall not extend to the person killing a slave outlawed by virtue of any act of assembly of this State, or to any slave in the act of resistance[N] to his lawful owner or master, or to any slave_ DYING _under_ MODERATE CORRECTION.'" [Footnote N: "It has been judicially determined that it is _justifiable_ to kill a slave, resisting, or _offering to resist_ his master by force."--_Stroud._] In the laws of Tennessee and Georgia, there is a similar proviso. Where could such a monstrous anomaly be found, save in a code of slave laws? _Die_ of _moderate_ punishment!! Truly, this _is_ an unveiling of consciences! "To set the matter in its proper light, it may be added that a proclamation, of _outlawry_[O] against a slave is authorized, whenever he runs away from his master, conceals himself in some obscure retreat, and to sustain life, kills a _hog_, or some animal of the cattle kind! [Footnote O: "The outlawry of a slave is not, I believe, an unusual occurrence. Very recently, a particular account was given of the killing of a black man, _not charged with any offence_, by a person in pursuit of an _outlawed_ slave; owing, as it was stated, to the person killed not _answering_ a call made by his pursuers. Whether the call was _heard_ or not, of course could not be assertained, nor did it appear to have excited any inquiry."--_Stroud._]