The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 06 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
Philosophy
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 06 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
8. And be it enacted, that each and every of his Majesty's islands and
plantations, in which negroes are used in cultivation, shall be, by the
governor and the protector of negroes for the time being, divided into
districts, allowing as much as convenience will admit to the present
division into parishes, and subdividing them, where necessary, into
districts, according to the number of negroes. And the said governor and
protector of negroes shall cause in each district a church to be built
in a convenient place, and a cemetery annexed, and an house for the
residence of a clergyman, with ---- acres of land annexed; and they are
hereby authorized to treat for the necessary ground with the proprietor,
who is hereby obliged to sell and dispose of the same to the said use;
and in case of dispute concerning the value, the same to be settled by a
jury, as in like cases is accustomed.
[Sidenote: Appointment of a priest and clerk.]
9. And be it enacted, that in each of the said districts shall be
established a presbyter of the Church of England as by law established,
who shall appoint under him one clerk, who shall be a free negro, when
such properly qualified can be found, (otherwise, a white man,) with a
salary, in each case, of ----; and the said minister and clerk, both or
one, shall instruct the said negroes in the Church Catechism, or such
other as shall be provided by the authority in this act named; and the
said minister shall baptize, as he shall think fit, all negroes not
baptized, and not belonging to Dissenters from the Church of England.
[Sidenote: Owner to deliver a list of negroes to the minister, and to
cause them to attend divine service.]
10. And the principal overseer of each plantation is hereby required to
deliver annually unto the minister a list of all the negroes upon his
plantation, distinguishing their sex and age, and shall, under a penalty
of ----, cause all the negroes under his care, above the age of ----
years, to attend divine service once on every Sunday, except in case of
sickness, infirmity, or other necessary cause, to be given at the time,
and shall, by himself or one of those who are under him, provide for the
orderly behavior of the negroes under him, and cause them to return to
his plantation, when divine service, or administration of sacraments, or
catechism, is ended.
[Sidenote: Mister to direct punishment for disorderly conduct.]
11. And be it enacted, that the minister shall have power to punish any
negro for disorderly conduct during divine service, by a punishment not
exceeding [ten] blows to be given in one day and for one offence, which
the overseer or his under agent or agents is hereby directed, according
to the orders of the said minister, effectually to inflict, whenever the
same shall be ordered.
[Sidenote: Spirituous liquors not to be sold.]
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