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Blair, John, 1687-1771 [Announcement of amendment to law on slave trials for capital crimes]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03970 Author/Creator: Blair, John, 1687-1771 Place Written: Williamsburg, Virginia Type: Document signed Date: 15 November 1768 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 34.6 cm, Width: 30.2 cm Order a Copy

Partially printed document signed by Blair as President of the Virginia Council and Commander in Chief of the colony to the justices of the peace of Buckingham County. Transmits amendments made to "An Act directing the Trial of Slaves committing Capital Crimes, and for the more effectual punishing Conspiracies and Insurrections of them, and for the better Government of Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians, bound or free." Says the governor, and temporarily in Virginia the Commander in Chief, has the power to issue commissions of oyer and terminer to justices of each county empowering them "from Time to Time, to try, condemn, and execute, or otherwise Punish or Acquit, all Slaves committing Capital Crimes within their County."

Blair, John, 1732-1800
Blair, John, 1687-1771

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