1831 Ordinances for the Town of Athens

Title

Subject

Description

This 1831 newspaper article lists ordinances for the town of Athens, including taxes for enslaved people and free people of color. It also describes regulations aiming to preserve peace through punishments for slaves and free people of color engaging in "riotous conduct."

Creator

Athenian, James Nisbet, N.A. Adams

Source

Adams, N.A. "Ordinances for the Town of Athens, 1831." The Athenian (Athens, GA), February 1, 1831. http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers/id:ath1831-0015 (accessed October 29, 2015).

Publisher

Athenian

Date

February 1, 1831

Format

.jpg

Language

English

Type

Newspaper

Coverage

1831

Text

Ordinances for the Town of Athens, 1831.
1. For defraying necessary expenses there shall be laid the following taxes, viz:
...
2d. On all negro slaves, twelve and a half cents each.
3d. On all free negroes under the age of sixty, one dollar.
...
II. For the preservation of peace and order
...
2d. Black persons guilty of riotous conduct, to be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten lashes; and for each subsequent act of like nature, to a penalty not exceeding twenty-five lashes.
3d. Negroes shall not be allowed to collect improperly as to numbers, under a penalty not exceeding fifteen lashes each.
4th. Negroes shall not absent themselves from their owners' premises after 9 o'clock at night, without a permit.
5th. No negro slave shall be allowed to hire his or her time and reside within the town of Athens, unless his or her owner, or guardian shall give a bond with good and sufficient security in the sum of fifty dollars for one year for his or her good behaviour; nor shall any negro be allowed to sell spirituous liquors within said town.
...

Original Format

Newspaper Article

Collection

Newspaper Abstracts

Citation

Athenian, James Nisbet, N.A. Adams , “1831 Ordinances for the Town of Athens,” African American Experience in Athens, accessed June 10, 2023, https://digihum.libs.uga.edu/items/show/12.