I'm grateful to Philip Schwarz for his offer of a transcript of the 1815
act, of which I was quite unaware, and would welcome receiving it; I also
thank him for drawing my attention to his "Migrants against Slavery", which
I had previously missed in my literature searches.

And I should like to thank Stuart Butler for sending me the transcript of
the 1814 statute, which proved a valuable aid to interpreting various
affidavits concerning Virginians quitting slavery in the War of 1812.

John Weiss


----- Original Message -----
From: "Philip Schwarz" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: VA-HIST Digest - 17 Dec 2004 to 18 Dec 2004 (#2004-156)


I've just returned from a trip. My latest VA-HIST digest is dated
12/17-18. So I don't know whether there have been more recent replies to
Mr. Weiss.

Re the Virginia statute of 1814 on "desertion of slaves": I'm glad
someone else sent John Weiss a transcript of the January 1814 act. There
was also an explanatory act passed Jan. 6, 1815: Acts, 1814-1815, 53,
chapter 10, January 6, 1815, "An Act, To explain the Act, entitled, `An
Act, to perpetuate the evidence of the desertion of slaves to the enemy
and for other purposes.'" The law confirms officers' powers and requires
that watches be maintained over boats that slaves might use to "desert"
to the enemy. I do not have a transcript, but I can send Mr. Weiss one
next week if still needed.

For  context I shamelessly mention my Slave Laws of Virginia, chapter 5,
and my Migrants against Slavery: Virginians and the Nation, chapters 1
and 2. Paul Finkelman has written extensively on the legal questions.

Philip Schwarz

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