An Act concerning patrols, in Compilation of the Public Acts of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, Passed Prior to 1840, at 65 (John P. Duval ed., 1839).

Sec. 15. Be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for any patrol of this Territory, to take from any slave or slaves any fire-arms, or other dangerous weapons, to be delivered by said patrol to the justice of the peace of said district . . . . Sec. 17. Be it further enacted, That it shall not be lawful for any slave, free negro, or mulatto, to keep or retain in his or their house or houses, any fire-arms whatsoever, and it is hereby made the duty of the patrol to search negro houses or other suspected places for fire-arms, and if any they find, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, may take the same to the nearest justice of the peace, who may proceed therewith as directed in a preceding section of this act; and the negro or negroes, in whose possession the same may be found, on failing to give a plain and satisfactory account of the manner he or they came possessed of the same, may be severally punished by moderate whipping on the bare back, not exceeding thirty-nine lashes.