The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-01-28
For the MASSACHUSETTS S p 7.


pleaCe TO infert the following in your paper,
and oblge A CUSTOMER.
IN The MEMBERS Of tbs GENERAL
COURT, aDtmb.sdat BosToN, The 9th
infant.
GENTLEMEN,
rTAVlNG feen petition that is intend
- ed to be laid before you in the name
q msny Aaves living in Bottom and other
towns in the province, praying that you
would be pleaied to take their unhappy itate
and coxdItion under confederation, and give
them fuch relief as is confident with your
wi(dom,. iufiice and goodnels, j am I'D
20 make a few obfefvations on the fub)ect,
which | hope may not be unuieful, previous
TO your taking of tuP.
1T. would beg cave to remark, 'nat
we have peen for number of years con-
tending and itrugging for the recovery OF
our charter rights, and yet never appeared
10 cociider that we aa in dire9 opPofitlon
10 its lpirt and original intent, tor It =
therein mentioned in words TO mis- effect,
IS Tha. all perfons who ihalI 60 to, ard IN
habit within the province, and every OF their
children born there, or on the feas In going
thilher, ihalI have and enjoy all Liberties and
immuniiies of free and natural lubjeets OF the
realm of England" which at once throws
down all pre,enions of there being laws
of the province allowing the keeping ilaves;
for | always underltood i hope am not
milfaken) that no laws could be enacted
contrary 10 the charter, and it is plain that
at the granting it, there was an INTENT tnat
all neooIe who ihould ever inhabt within the
province. lhould enjoy the fame liberties and
5yiuilsgss as in England: And by late
memor able cafe determined at the hlghetf
court of common law at home, IT was de-
creed. that no prjSn can be bsA as a Pa0f'
0tberuviE than by an exprsG Las0 Of the eoHn-
try be Eves in, and that there IS any iuch
law in the province of the MeD1fbEfsfh-
Bay, | absolutely deny; therefore con-
ceive, you cannot in jditlce to the negroes,
your own condolences, and the iPirIt and
intention of the charter, find that they are
iultIy and legally kept in bondage, and that
they lhall be 70 in future.
ad. I would obferve, for the further
clearing up the injuGice of ilavery here and
which has given 70 much real cauie OF COM
plant for years paR, that il Is expreily a.
gainii the laws of God, which are of higher
Obligation than ihoie of nations or provinces,
as IS mentioned in Exod. xxi. 10. Levitt.
Sc. sc.
I'D. II is Incompatible with the laws
which Chrif delivered, concerning our du-
tvone TO another, and which is agreeable
20 the rules of nature and fociety, " to DO
unto Others as we would they fhoud do to
us" and if we could content ourieves to
be placed in the fame lituation with thoie
blacks. without murmeriug or dlicontent,
am fure | would be the very Taft perfon
who would with them freed: But as the
! very idea of lavery is 70 detefabe TO every
generous mind and Btiuih lubjecf, and as
we hear daily of town meetings and con-
| iultiog upon the infringemen,s that have
Ala,sly been made upon our charter rights,
6nd pafIing refolves to that effect, pray what
can we think of ourfelves, and me'e eipe..
cially you who reprefent this people, and
make laws for their government, when there
is hatdlv head of family but has one,
or more examples of Aavery in his houie'
under his hourly obfervation, and who often
diiapproves of the thing which ne helps to
uphold Than which nothing is mole m
confident with common fenfe.
When the petition comes before you'
hope, as doubt not, you will think can
didIy of their detected fate; and beg you
would bring into your minds, the ideas you
qtctsain and proteaatons OF liberty when
bu daily make, when at the fame time
seie blacks are kepr in the utmoit ilaVery'
nfar,