PON 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 owners or
masters; and also, excepting all such negroes, mulatoes,
mustizoes or Indians, as can prove they ought not to be sold
for slaves. And in case any negro, mulatoe, mustizoe or
Indian,