A glance at 19th-century Georgia slavery laws

<p>In 1829, Georgia lawmakers authorize $50,000 to buy 190 slaves for work on roads and rivers:</p><p>"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the sum of fifty thousand dollars, including the twenty thousand dollars heretofore appropriated for the improvement of the Savannah river above Augusta, be, and the same is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise pledged, to and for the purchase of such a number of able bodied negroes within the State of Georgia, and who have been in Georgia twelve months, as will, in addition to the number now owned by the State, amount to the number of one hundred and ninety."</p><p>___</p><p>In 1834, the Legislature adopts a resolution announcing the sale of its slaves:</p><p>"The committee on finance ... ask leave to report, that from the document submitted it appears that the negroes, mules, horses, wagons, carts, tools, and implements sold ... amounting in the aggregate to one hundred and seventeen thousand four hundred and sixty-four dollars and thirty-seven cents."</p><p>___</p><p>In 1841, the Legislature appropriates money for "negro hire" for Capitol doorkeepers and messengers:</p><p>"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Door-keepers and Messengers of the Senate and House of Representatives be entitled to receive one dollar additional perdiem, for the purpose of enabling them to pay for necessary negro hire."</p><p>___</p><p>In 1849, the Legislature authorizes a state-owned railroad to buy a slave named Ransom to reward the slave for saving a bridge from burning:</p><p>"WHEREAS Ransom, a negro man hired on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, did, in the year 1845, by his own most strenuous efforts ... save the (illegible text) bridge from conflagration when on fire, and thus preserved a property which cost the State seventy-five thousand dollars; ... and whereas the purchase of said negro man for the use of said road would afford him a permanent home and is greatly desired by him, and would be a proper reward: Be it therefore resolved ... That the Chief Engineer of the Western and Atlantic Railroad be authorized to purchase the negro man for the use of said road."</p><p>___</p><p>Source: Digital Library of Georgia at the University of Georgia</p>

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