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, and providing for their
removal from the State. They shall have no power to prevent immigrants to this State from
bringing with them such persons as are deemed slaves by the laws of any o 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 owners of slaves to emancipate them, saving the rights of
creditors, and to prevent them from remaining in this State after they are emancipated. They shall
have full power to prevent slaves being brought into this State as merchandise. They shall have
full power to prevent 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 provisions; 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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