Draft:An act to authorize the manumission of slaves

An act to authorize the manumission of slaves was legislation enacted in Virginia in 1782 allowing the manumission of slaves.

Native Americans were enslaved. After 1619 when the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia, various laws targetting runaways, non-Christians, children of enslaved people, and protecting those who killed their slaves were passed. In 1769 Thomas Jefferson and Col. Richard Bland proposed legislation allowing masters to manumit their slaves. It was rejected and Bland denounced.

In 1786 a petition was made for the abolition of slavery. It was rejected unanimously. A counter petition to rescind the law allowing manumission was also defeated.

Louisiana also had regulations for manumission.