South Carolina Prohibits the Teaching of Slaves to Write 1740

And whereas, the having of slaves taught to write, or suffering them to be employed in writing, may be attended with great inconveniences; Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and every person or persons whatsoever, who shall hereafter teach, or cause any slave or slaves to be taught, to write, or shall use or employ any slave as a scribe in any manner of writing whatsoever, hereafter taught to write, every such person or persons, shall, for every such offense, forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds current money.  

David J. McCord, The Statutes at Large of South Carolina, VII, 413

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Sundry Citizens of Savannah, Georgia, Petition Mayor and Aldermen

for a Place of Worship for Slaves in that City, 1790

The petition of sundry of the citizens humbly sheweth--

That the Negroes and Slaves, by the assistance of many of the Friends of religion in Savannah, in different parts of the State, and from in the state of So. Carolina, at some expence & trouble, have erected a meeting House, and have been regularly supplied with a Pastor, extreamly well adapted to their capacities and situations, and who is better qualified to instruct them in the duties of their states then any other person would be, though of greater Abilities--

The influence of vital religion on the human Heart, in every rank and situation of life, and invariable tendency, in proportion to its operation, is to subdue the turbulent passions-promote a spirit of meekness & moderation--A contentment with the lot and situation--A resignation to the will of Providence, as ordering & directing all the events of this life by unerring wisdom and for the most positive good of the creature--

That ever since the society has been established it has been a standing rule to admit none who have not only the Approbation but the recommendation of their Masters for their good morals & faithful behaviour-as individuals and a Society, they have been eminent for their orderly conduct at the place of their meeting-for their meek--and inoffensive carriage towards, the Citizens--for their submission & obedient behaviour to their Masters & Mistresses. From the strict discipline that is kept up, if we may judge from the past, there is the most rational grounds for insuring the same peaceable & quiet behaviour in future--

Your Petitioners, from personal knowledge, are fully satisfied that there are many instances in the City and Neighborhood of Savannah of bad and evil disposed Negroes & Slaves, who have been detected in their villainies, and it seemed out of the power of the several punishment to deter them from a repetition of their crimes; but since their becoming members of Andrew's Society, and their attendance on his preaching have been entirely reclaimed; they have given the highest proofs of the happy tendency of religion in the humblest situation, on the smallest capacities, and of some desperately wicked, and notorious for almost every vice, becoming the most valuable & trusty slaves their Masters have in their possession--

From the irreproachable character their Pastor has long maintained together with his Deacons & Elders, they have deservedly great influence over this society. Their being under the inspection of one of the most numerous Denominations in America. The evidence they have long given in their daily walk and conversation in their jives and characters, of the purity & the excellency of the Doctrines they possess. The desire they have to assemble is to get good, to become better slaves & better Christians--

It would seem that a Society from such motives, and regulated by such principals, could never interrupt the peace of the City--If your Petitioners might be permitted to express their own thoughts, from these facts in opposition to the suspicions which some people may seem to harbor-that if this society should be permitted to Assemble themselves for the purpose of Religious worship, they will pervert the privilege for base ends--for disorder & Confusion--and to give unnecessary alarms to the Citizens, are altogether groundless.

Besides if there should be any disorder brooding from this quarter, their Pastors, Deacons, and leading members would be the first to receive and the best to depend upon, for every information--So that from motives of policy it would be the highest wisdom, to attach rather than alienate the interest of the leading members, & they would be found to be usefull & valuable instruments in the hands of the Honble. Council, in cases of real emergency--

It has been hinted by some of the friends, in favour of the prohibition, that the Doors of the different Churches in the City should be opened to them-This would be impracticable for it is known that when they are assembled in large numbers, from constitutional peculiarities, they are extremely disagreeable to every audience. There seems therefore no other alternative, but, either, to permit them to assemble at their own house, and in their own way, or entirely deprive them the privilege of attending public worship.

This we presume the Honble. Council would not do. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that a society of Christians, that have walked hitherto with so much order and decorum, who have been so eminently exemplary by their inoffensive lives & Conversations, and have given such ample testimony of their purity, & the influence of the doctrines they profess may no longer be deprived of the privilege of worshiping the God of their existance, according to the dictates of their consciences and in their own way. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray &c &c-

LACHN. McINTOSH

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The Permission of the Sundry Citizens of Savannah Is Granted, 1790

Savannah 19th March 1790.

In as much as I deem it inconsistent with the Spirit and principles of the Christian Religion that any Set of People under the Sun Should be debarred exercising that Religion in the way they best understand it, and in the manner best fitted to their Capacities and Situations, when Conducted with that Decorum and decency which becometh good Christians; And it appearing that a Great Number of the Most respectable Citizens in Savannah have Signed a recommendation in favor of the bearer Andrew and his Society that they should be permitted to assemble and preach in the Meeting house built by them for that purpose at Yamacraw, so that their Meetings were Confined to Sunday between Sun Rise and Sun Set; And as the Corporation have heretofore declined Acting on a Petition preferred to them for their Sanction, and it resting more particularly with the officers of the Militia--

I do hereby give unto the Said Andrew as Pastor, and to his Elders and Society, my full approbation to meet and perform Divine Worship, in the Meeting-house at Yamacraw, on the Sabbath day, between Sun Rise and Sun Set, so long as they Conduct themselves with due decency and order; and that the persons attending thereon have a pass from their masters or Mistresses for that purpose; And I do Recommend to the officers Commanding Companies in the first Battalion, to give their Sanction for the above purpose, and that they will Cause an inspection as often, and at Such times, as they may Deem Necessary, in order that no abuse of this indulgence may take place.

D. B. Mitchell, Major.

               1st Batallion C R--

Joseph Roberts

James Box Young

John Moore

Geo. Throop

James Robertson

Francis Doyle

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updated 21 July 2008