[Sidenote: Concerning the same.]
22. And be it enacted, that, from and after the ---- of ----, all negro
men in an healthy condition, and so reported to be, in case the same is
denied, by a surgeon and by an inspector of negroes, and being
twenty-one years old, or upwards, until fifty, and not being before
married, shall, on requisition of the inspectors, be provided by their
masters or overseers with a woman not having children living, and not
exceeding the age of the man, nor, in any case, exceeding the age of
twenty-five years; and such persons shall be married publicly in the
face of the church.
[Sidenote: Concerning the same.]
23. And be it enacted, that, if any negro shall refuse a competent
marriage tendered to him, and shall not demand another specifically,
such as it may be in his master's power to provide, the master or
overseer shall be authorized to constrain him by an increase of work or
a lessening of allowance.
[Sidenote: Adultery, &c., how to be punished.]
24. And be it enacted, that the minister in each district shall have,
with the assent of the inspector, full power and authority to punish all
acts of adultery, unlawful concubinage, and fornication, amongst
negroes, on hearing and a summary process, by ordering a number of
blows, not exceeding ----, for each offence; and if any white person
shall be proved, on information in the supreme court, to be exhibited by
the protector of negroes, to have committed adultery with any negro
woman, or to have corrupted any negro woman under sixteen years of age
he shall be fined in the sum of ----, and shall be forever disabled from
serving the office of overseer of negroes, or being attorney to any
plantation.
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