SLAVERY AND CIVIL LAW IN THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH—TWO CASE STUDIES

Antebellum slave law addressed fugitive slaves and criminal offenses committed by masters against slaves and by slaves against masters. Moreover, slaves were both merchandise and personal property that fell under civil monetary statutes pertaining to sales fraud and personal damage to private property. Judgment in two civil cases heard in West Tennessee during the late 185Os turn on such statutes.