"An Act," January 15, 1839

Summary: This act made it a felony to assist runaway slaves and imposed a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail for each offense.

To punish certain Offences therein named.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas in Congress assembled, That from

and after the passage of this act, if any person shall be found guilty of harboring or clandestinely supporting any runaway negro slave, or negroes indentured for a term of years, or in aiding and assisting in so doing, on conviction thereof before a court of competent jurisdiction, he shall for such offence be fined in a sum of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, shall be imprisoned not less than six months nor more than one year.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the district judge to give this act in charge to the grand jury.

JOHN M. HANSFORD,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

DAVID G. BURNET,

President of the Senate.

Approved, January 15, 1839.

MIRABEAU B. LAMAR.

Source Copy Consulted: "An Act," January 15, 1839, reprinted in H.P.H. Gammel, The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897, 12 vols., (Austin: Gammel Book Co., 1898), 2:46-47. http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/lawsoftexas