* * * * *
IV. And whereas the condition of persons in a state of slavery is such
that they are utterly unable to take advantage of any remedy which the
laws may provide for their protection and the amendment of their
condition, and have not the proper means of pursuing any process for
the same, but are and must be under guardianship: and whereas it is not
fitting that they should be under the sole guardianship of their
masters, or their attorneys and overseers, to whom their grievances,
whenever they suffer any, must ordinarily be owing:
[Sidenote: Attorney-General to be protector of negroes.]
[Sidenote: To inquire and file information _ex officio_.]
1. Be it therefore enacted, that his Majesty's Attorney-General for the
time being successively shall, by his office, exercise the trust and
employment of protector of negroes within the island in which he is or
shall be Attorney-General to his Majesty, his heirs and successors; and
that the said Attorney-General, protector of negroes, is hereby
authorized to hear any complaint on the part of any negro or negroes,
and inquire into the same, or to institute an inquiry _ex officio_ into
any abuses, formations and to call before him and examine witnesses upon
oath, relative to the subject-matter of the said official inquiry or
complaint: and it is hereby enacted and declared, that the said
Attorney-General, protector of negroes, is hereby authorized and
empowered, at his discretion, to file an information _ex officio_ for
any offences committed against the provisions of this act, or for any
misdemeanors or wrongs against the said negroes, or any of them.
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