"
"Whereas, the best way to prevent the mischiefs that may be attended by
the great importation of negroes into this Province, will be to
establish a method by which such importation should be made a necessary
means of introducing a proportionable number of white inhabitants into
the same; therefore for the effectual raising and appropriating a fund
sufficient for the better settling of this Province with white
inhabitants, we, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the
House of Assembly now met in General Assembly, do cheerfully give and
grant unto the King's most excellent Majesty, his heirs and successors,
the several taxes and impositions hereinafter mentioned, for the uses
and to be raised, appropriated, paid and applied as is hereinafter
directed and appointed, and not otherwise, and do humbly pray his most
sacred Majesty that it may be enacted,
Sec. 1. "_And be it enacted_, by his Excellency James Glen, Esquire,
Governor in chief and Captain General in and over the Province of South
Carolina, by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's honorable
Council, and the House of Assembly of the said Province, and by the
authority of the same, That from and immediately after the passing of
this Act, there shall be imposed on and paid by all and every the
inhabitants of this Province, and other person and persons whosoever,
first purchasing any negro or other slave, hereafter to be imported, a
certain tax or sum of ten pounds current money for every such negro and
other slave of the height of four feet two inches and upwards; and for
every one under that height, and above three feet two inches, the sum of
five pounds like money; and for all under three feet two inches,
(sucking children excepted) two pounds and ten shillings like money,
which every such inhabitant of this Province, and other person and
persons whosoever shall so purchase or buy as aforesaid, which said sums
of ten pounds and five pounds and two pounds and ten shillings
respectively, shall be paid by such purchaser for every such slave, at
the time of his, her or their purchasing of the same, to the public
treasurer of this Province for the time being, for the uses hereinafter
mentioned, set down and appointed, under pain of forfeiting all and
every such negroes and slaves, for which the said taxes or impositions
shall not be paid, pursuant to the directions of this Act, to be sued
for, recovered and applied in the manner hereinafter directed.
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