Note 19 — Chapter V · MORALS OF ECONOMY.
Reading edition
Alabama Digest. In the same section occurs the following: "That no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted on any slave within this territory. And any owner of slaves authorising or permitting the same, shall, on conviction thereof, before any court having cognizance, be fined according to the nature of the offence, and at the discretion of the court, in any sum not exceeding two hundred dollars."
Two hundred dollars' fine for torturing a slave: and five hundred for teaching him to read!