ing to others. If a
Negro showed the least independence in conversation with a white man,
he could be murdered in cold blood; and it was only a case of a
contumacious slave getting his dues. But men became so prodigal in the
exercise of this authority that the public became alarmed, and the
Legislature called a halt on the master-class. At first the
Legislature paid for the slaves who were destroyed by the consuming
wrath of ill-natured whites, but finally allowed an action to lie
against the persons who killed a slave. This had a tendency to reduce
the number of murdered slaves; but the fateful clause in the Locke
Constitution had educated a voracious appetite for blood, and the
extremest cruel treatment continued without abatement.

The free Negro population was very small in this colony. The following
act on manumission differs so widely from the law on this point in the
other colonies, that it is given as an illustration of the severe
character of the legislation of North Carolina against the
emancipation of Negroes.

"LVI. _And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, _That no Negro or mulatto slaves shall be set
free, upon any pretence whatsoever, except for meritorious
services, to be adjudged and allowed of by the county court,
and Licence thereupon first had and obtained: and that where
any slave shall be set free by his or her master or owner,
otherwise than is herein before directed, it shall and may
be lawful for the church-wardens of the parish wherein such
negro, mulatto or Indian, shall be found, at the expiration
of six months, next alter his or her being set free, and
they are hereby authorized and required, to take up and sell
the said negro, mulatto or Indian, as a slave, at the next
court to be held for the said county, at public vendue: and
the monies arising by such sale, shall be applied to the use
of the parish, by the vestry thereof: and if any negro,
mulatto or Indian slave, set free otherwise than is herein
directed, shall depart this province, within six months next
after his or her freedom, and shall afterwards return into
this government, it shall and may be lawful for the
churchwardens of the parish where such negro or mulatto
shall be found, at the expiration of one month, next after
his or her return into this government to take up such negro
or mulatto, and sel