SECTION 1. The general assembly shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of
slaves without the consent of their owners, or without paying their owners, previous to such
emancipation, a full equivalent in money for the slaves so emancipated. They shall have no
power to prevent emigrants to this State from bringing with them such persons as are deemed
slaves by the laws of any of the United States, so long as any person of the same age or
description shall be continued in slavery by the laws of this State. They shall pass laws to permit
the owners of slaves to emancipate them, saving the rights of creditors, and preventing them from
becoming a charge to any county in this commonwealth. They shall have full power to prevent
slaves being brought into this State as merchandise. They shall have full power to prevent any
slaves being brought into this State who have been, since the first day of January, one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-nine, or may hereafter be, imported into any of the United States from
a foreign country. And they shall have full power to pass such laws as may be necessary to oblige
the owners of slaves to treat them with humanity, to provide for them necessary clothing and
provision, to abstain from all injuries to them extending to life or limb, and in case of their
neglect or refusal to comply with the directions of such laws, to have such slave or slaves sold for
the benefit of their owner or owners.
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SEC. 2. In the prosecution of slaves for felony, no inquest by a grand jury shall be necessary,
but the proceedings in such prosecutions shall be regulated by law, except that the general
assembly shall have no power to deprive them of the privilege of in impartial trial by a petit jury.
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