"Ordinance 11," Civilian and Galveston Gazette, November 4, 1840
Summary: Printed the text of an act regulating the hiring out of slaves in Galveston. Basically said that anyone allowing slaves to hire themselves out on their own or if slaves do so without their owner's knowledge, shall be fined $50 for each offense. Interesting that the act specifically included language making it unlawful for both men and women to engage in these acts.
MAYOR'S OFFICE,
GALVESTON CITY, July 13, 1840.
An Ordinance to regulate the Hiring of Slaves within the incorporate limits of the City of Galveston.
SEC. 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Galveston, in council convened. That if any person or persons shall, within the corporate limits of the City of Galveston, suffer or permit his, her or their slave or slaves to go at large, and hire him her or themselves out to service or labor within the said city: or shall suffer or permit his, her or their slave or slaves to hire his, her or their time from him, her or them; or if he, she or they shall hire any part of the time of service or labor of his, her or their slave or slaves to him, her or themselves, each and every person so offending, and being thereof legally convicted, shall forfeit and pay, for each and every offence, to the use of the City of Galvesveston[sic], a fine, not to exceed the sum of fifty dollars, to be recovered before the Mayor or Recorder of said City.
Sec. 2. Be it further ordained, That if any person or persons shall, within the limits of the said city of Galveston employ or hire, without the consent of his, her or their owner or owners, any slave or slaves, or contract with any such slave or slaves for the payment of any hire whatever for his, her or their service or labor, without the knowledge and consent of his, her or their owner or owners, each and every person so offending, and being thereof legally convicted, shall forfeit and pay, for each and every offence, to the use of the said city of Galveston, a fine not to exceed the sum of fifty dollars; to be recovered before the Mayor or Recorder o[sic] said city of Galveston.
Sec. 3. Be it further ordained, That if any white person, free negro, mulatto, or person of color, shall at any time hereafter, within the limits of the said city of Galveston, be found in company or associating with slaves at any lawful or unlawful meeting of such slaves, or if he, she or they harbor, secrete or entertain any slave or slaves within the limits of said city without the consent of his, her or their owner or owners, each and every person so offending, and being thereof legally convicted, shall forfeit and pay for each and every offence, to the use of the said city of Galveston, a fine, not to exceed the sum of fifty dollars, to be recovered before the Mayor or Recorder of said city.
Sec. 4. Be it further ordained. That all ordinances and parts of ordinances, coming within the purview and meaning of this ordinance, be, and the same are hereby repealed.
Source Copy Consulted: "Ordinance 11," Civilian and Galveston Gazette, November 4, 1840, p. 4