Slavery, that civil relation in which one man has absolute power over the liberty of another. It cannot subsist in England. See Sommersett's case, (1771-2) 20 St. Tr. 1; Lofft, 1; Broom's Const. Law, pp. 65 et seq., where it was held that a person forcibly detained as a slave was entitled to be discharged on a habeas corpus.
1. A situation in which one person has absolute power over the life, fortune and liberty of another 2. The practice of keeping individuals in such a state of bondage or servitude, Black's Law Diction-ary, 7th Edn., p. 1393.
The system of colonial slavery ws abolished by 3 & 4 Wm. 4, c. 73. See 5 Geo. 4, c. 113; 7 Wm. 4 & 1 Vict. c. 91; 2 & 3 Vict. c. 73; 6 & 7 Vict. c. 98; 7 & 8 Vict. c. 26; 8 & 9 Vict. c. 122; 26 & 27 Vict. c. 34; and 32 & 33 Vict. c. 75. The various Acts for carrying into effect the treaties for the more effectual suppression of the slave trade were amended and consolidated by the 36& 37 Vict. c. 88 (many previous Acts being thereby repealed). See, too, as to East Africa, 36 & 37 Vict. c. 59.
As to Roman slavery, see Sand. Just., 7th Edn. 14