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- Aug 27, 2011
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- Central Massachusetts
As I understand it, at least some slave states had laws making owners/overseers liable to a fine for "excessive" mistreatment or for killing a slave under their control.
Of course, in every slave state no black man, enslaved or free, could bring a law suit, or even testify in court against any white man for any reason. So, some white man would have to have witnessed the mistreatment, and be willing to testify and to bear the cost and responsibility of prosecution. Which would seem to render such laws effectively (deliberately?) useless.
But, was any slave owner of overseer ever actually charged under such a law? It would be interesting to see how such a case would be handled, both in the Court and in the press.
Of course, in every slave state no black man, enslaved or free, could bring a law suit, or even testify in court against any white man for any reason. So, some white man would have to have witnessed the mistreatment, and be willing to testify and to bear the cost and responsibility of prosecution. Which would seem to render such laws effectively (deliberately?) useless.
But, was any slave owner of overseer ever actually charged under such a law? It would be interesting to see how such a case would be handled, both in the Court and in the press.
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