delivered the opinion of the Court:

The administrator in this case, was, in law the owner of the persons emancipated by the General Assembly. The act of emancipation passed not only without his consent, but against it. However laudable the motives which led to the act of emancipation, it is too plainly in violation of the fundamental law of the land, to be sanctioned by judicial authority.

We are compelled to pronounce it a nullity, and to give Judgment for the plaintiff.