It is a remarkable document, and
is produced here.

"XLVII. _And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid_, That if any number of negroes or other slaves,
that is to say, three, or more, shall, at any time
hereafter, consult, advise or conspire to rebel or make
insurrection, or shall plot or conspire the murder of any
person or persons whatsoever, every such consulting,
plotting or conspiring, shall be adjudged and deemed felony;
and the slave or slaves convicted thereof, in manner herein
after directed, shall suffer death.

"XLVIII. _And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid_,'That every slave committing such offence, or any
other crime or misdemeanor, shall forthwith be committed by
any justice of the peace, to the common jail of the county
within which the said offence shall be committed, there to
be safely kept; and that the sheriff of such county, upon
such commitment, shall forthwith certify the same to any
Justice in the commission for the said court for the time
being, resident in the county, who is thereupon required and
directed to issue a summons for two or more Justices of the
said court, and four freeholders, such as shall have slaves
in the said county, which said three Justices and four
freeholders, owners of slaves, are hereby impowered and
required upon oath, to try all manner of crimes and
offences, that shall be committed by any slave or slaves, at
the court house of the county, and to take for evidence, the
confession of the offender, the oath of one or more credible
witnesses, or such testimony of negroes, mulattoes or
Indians, bond or free, with pregnant circumstances, as to
them shall seem convincing, without the solemnity of a jury;
and the offender being then found guilty, to pass such
judgment upon such offender, according to their discretion,
as the nature of the crime or offence shall require; and on
such judgment, to award execution.

"XLIX. _Provided always, and be it enacted_, That it shall
and may be lawful for each and every Justice, being in the
commission of the peace for the county where any slave or
slaves shall be tried, by virtue of this act, (who is owner
of slaves) to sit upon such trial, and act as a member of
such court though he or they be not summoned thereto