History of the Negro Race in America Volume I Part 2

CHAPTER XVI.

THE COLONY OF MARYLAND.

1634-1775.

Maryland under the Laws of Virginia until 1630.--First Legislation on the Slavery Question in 1637-38--Slavery established by Statute in 1663--The Discussion of Slavery.--An Act pa.s.sed encouraging the Importation of Negroes and White Slaves in 1671.--An Act laying an Impost on Negroes and White Servants imported into the Colony.--Duties imposed on Rum and Wine.--Treatment of Slaves and Papists.--Convicts imported into the Colony--An Attempt to justify the Convict-Trade.--Spirited Replies.--The Laws of 1723, 1729, 1752.--Rights of Slaves--Negro Population in 1728.--Increase of Slavery in 1750--No Efforts made to prevent the Evils of Slavery.--The Revolution nearing.--New Life for the Negroes. 238

CHAPTER XVII.

THE COLONY OF DELAWARE.

1636-1775.

The Territory of Delaware settled in part by Swedes and Danes, anterior to the Year 1638.--The Duke of York transfers the Territory of Delaware to William Penn.--Penn grants the Colony the Privilege of Separate Government.--Slavery introduced on the Delaware as early as 1636.--Complaint against Peter Alricks for using Oxen and Negroes belonging to the Company.--The First Legislation on the Slavery Question in the Colony.--An Enactment of a Law for the Better Regulation of Servants.--An Act restraining Manumission. 249

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.

1646-1775.

The Founding of Connecticut, 1631-36.--No Reliable Data given for the Introduction of Slaves.--Negroes were first introduced by Ship during the Early Years of the Colony.--"Committee for Trade and Foreign Plantations."--Interrogating the Governor as to the Number of Negroes in the Colony in 1680.--The Legislature (1690) pa.s.ses a Law pertaining to the Purchase and Treatment of Slaves and Free Persons.--An Act pa.s.sed by the General Court in 1711, requiring Persons manumitting Slaves to maintain them.--Regulating the Social Conduct of Slaves in 1723.--The Punishment of Negro, Indian, and Mulatto Slaves, for the Use of Profane Language, in 1630.--Lawfulness of Indian and Negro Slavery recognized by Code, Sept. 5, 1646.--Limited Rights of Free Negroes in the Colony.--Negro Population in 1762.--Act against Importation of Slaves, 1774. 252

CHAPTER XIX.

THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND.

1647-1775.

Colonial Government in Rhode Island, May, 1647.--An Act pa.s.sed to abolish Slavery in 1652, but was never enforced.--An Act specifying what Times Indian and Negro Slaves should not appear in the Streets.--An Impost-Tax on Slaves (1708).--Penalties imposed on Disobedient Slaves.--Anti Slavery Sentiment in the Colonies receives Little Encouragement.--Circular Letter from the Board of Trade to the Governor of the English Colonies, relative to Negro Slaves.--Governor Cranston's Reply.--List of Militia-Men, including White and black Servants.--Another Letter from the Board of Trade.--An Act preventing Clandestine Importations and Exportations of Pa.s.sengers, Negroes, or Indian Slaves.--Masters of Vessels required to report the Names and Number of Pa.s.sengers to the Governor.--Violation of the Impost-Tax Law on Slaves punished by Severe Penalties.--Appropriation by the General a.s.sembly, July 5, 1715, from the Fund derived from the Impost Tax, for the paving of the Streets of Newport.--An Act pa.s.sed disposing of the Money raised by Impost-Tax.--Impost-Law repealed, May, 1732.--An Act relating to freeing Mulatto and Negro Slaves pa.s.sed 1728--An Act pa.s.sed preventing Masters of Vessels from carrying Slaves out of the Colony, June 17, 1757.--Eve of the Revolution.--An Act prohibiting Importation of Negroes into the Colony in 1774.--The Population of Rhode Island in 1730 and 1774. 262

CHAPTER XX.

THE COLONY OF NEW JERSEY.

1664-1775.

New Jersey pa.s.ses into the Hands of the English.--Political Powers conveyed to Berkeley and Carteret.--Legislation on the Subject of Slavery during the Eighteenth Century.--The Colony divided into East and West Jersey.--Separate Governments.--An Act concerning Slavery by the Legislature of East Jersey.--General Apprehension respecting the rising of Negro and Indian Slaves.--East and West Jersey surrender their Rights of Government to the Queen.--An Act for regulating the Conduct of Slaves.--Impost-Tax of Ten Pounds levied upon each Negro imported into the Colony.--The General Court pa.s.ses a Law regulating the Trial of Slaves.--Negroes ruled out of the Militia Establishment upon Condition.--Population of the Jerseys in 1738 and 1745. 282

CHAPTER XXI.

THE COLONY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

1665-1775.

The Carolinas receive two Different Charters from the Crown of Great Britain.--Era of Slavery Legislation.--Law establishing Slavery.--The Slave Population of this Province regarded as Chattel Property.--Trial of Slaves.--Increase of Slave Population.--The Increase in the Rice-Trade.--Severe Laws regulating the Private and Public Conduct of Slaves.--Punishment of Slaves for running away.--The Life of Slaves regarded as of Little Consequence by the Violent Master Cla.s.s.--An Act empowering two Justices of the Peace to investigate Treatment of Slaves.--An Act prohibiting the Overworking of Slaves.--Slave-Market at Charleston.--Insurrection.--A Law authorizing the carrying of Fire-Arms among the Whites.--The Enlistment of Slaves to serve in Time of Alarm.--Negroes admitted to the Militia Service.--Compensation to Masters for the Loss of Slaves killed by the Enemy or who desert.--Few Slaves manumitted.--From 1754-76, Little Legislation on the Subject of Slavery.--Threatening War between England and her Provincial Dependencies.--The Effect upon Public Sentiment. 289

CHAPTER XXII.

THE COLONY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

1669-1775.

The Geographical Situation of North Carolina favorable to the Slave-Trade.--The Locke Const.i.tution adopted.--William Sayle commissioned Governor.--Legislative Career of the Colony.--The Introduction of the Established Church of England into the Colony.--The Rights of Negroes controlled absolutely by their Masters.--An Act respecting Conspiracies.--The Wrath of Ill-natured Whites visited upon their Slaves.--An Act against the Emanc.i.p.ation of Slaves.--Limited Rights of Free Negroes. 302

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

1679-1775.

The Provincial Government of Ma.s.sachusetts exercises Authority over the State of New Hampshire at its Organization.--Slavery existed from the Beginning.--The Governor releases a Slave from Bondage.--Instruction against Importation of Slaves.--Several Acts regulating the Conduct of Servants.--The Indifferent Treatment of Slaves.--The Importation of Indian Servants forbidden.--An Act checking the Severe Treatment of Servants and Slaves.--Slaves in the Colony until the Commencement of Hostilities. 309

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE COLONY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

1681-1775.

Organization of the Government of Pennsylvania.--The Swedes and Dutch plant Settlements on the Western Bank of the Delaware River.--The Governor of New York seeks to exercise Jurisdiction over the Territory of Pennsylvania.--The First Laws agreed upon in England.--Provisions of the Law.--Memorial against Slavery draughted and adopted by the Germantown Friends.--William Penn presents a Bill for the Better Regulation of Servants.--An Act preventing the Importation of Negroes and Indians.--Rights of Negroes.--A Duty laid upon Negroes and Mulatto Slaves.--The Quaker the Friend of the Negro.--England begins to threaten her Dependencies in North America.--The People of Pennsylvania reflect upon the Probable Outrages their Negroes might commit. 312

CHAPTER XXV.

THE COLONY OF GEORGIA.

1732-1775.

Georgia once included in the Territory of Carolina.--The Thirteenth Colony planted in North America by the English Government.--Slaves ruled out altogether by the Trustees.--The Opinion of Gen. Oglethorpe concerning Slavery.--Long and Bitter Discussion in Regard to the Admission of Slavery into the Colony.--Slavery introduced.--History of Slavery in Georgia. 316

Part III.

_THE NEGRO DURING THE REVOLUTION_.

CHAPTER XXVI.