into this State: and if he or she shall do so, contrary to the
provisions of this act, and being thereof informed, shall not, within
twenty days thereafter, remove out of the State, he or she being thereof
convicted in the manner hereafter directed, shall be liable to a penalty
of five hundred dollars; and upon failure to pay the same, within the
time prescribed in the judgment awarded against such person or persons,
he or she shall be liable to be held in servitude and at labor for a
term of time not exceeding ten years, in such manner and upon such terms
as may be provided by the court awarding such sentence, and the proceeds
arising therefrom shall be paid over to the county trustee for county
purposes: Provided, that in case any free negro or mulatto shall pay the
penalty of five hundred dollars, according to the provisions of this
act, it shall be the duty of such free negro or mulatto to remove him or
herself out of this State within twenty days thereafter, and for every
such failure, he or she shall be subject to the like penalty, as is
prescribed for a failure to remove in the first instance.--_Revised
Statutes North Carolina, chap. III._

The next section provides that if the free person of color so notified,
does not leave within the twenty days after receiving the notice, he may
be arrested on a warrant from any Justice, and be held to bail for his
appearance at the next county court, when he will be subject to the
penalties specified above; or in case of his failure to give bonds, he may
be sent to jail.

I made known my situation to my friends, and after taking legal counsel it
was determined to endeavor to induce, if possible, the complainants to
prosecute no farther at present, and then as the Legislature of the State
was to sit in about two months, to petition that body for permission to
remain in the State until I could complete the purchase of my family;