The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-04-18
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN MAssAcHu.

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN MAssACHU.
SETS. The last communication from Sexton
of the old School," in the Boston Transcript,
contains some interesting particulars OF slavery
and its abolition in Massachusetts,. We make
the following extracts:
In answer TO. the question, how slavery had
been abolished in Massachusetts,? Dr.. Beknap
answered." BY public opinion'' He considers,
that slavery came TO an end, in our Common
wealth, in 1888. After 1881, there were, Ger.
tainly, very few, who had the brass to offer ne
groes, for sale, openly, in the newspapers of Bos-
ton. Public opinion, as Dr. Belknap says, was
accomplishing this wdkk.
He says" The present constitution of Massa-
chusetts was established in 1850. The first ar
ticle of the declaration of rights assert that all
men are born free and equal" This was insert.
ed, not merely as moral or political truth, but
with particular view to establish the libero ton
of the negroes a general principle, and so it
was understood by the people at large; but
some doubted whether this were sufficient
Many of the blacks, taking advantage OF the
public opinion, and of this general assertion, in
the bill of rights, asked their freedom and OBJ
tanned it. Others took it without leave Some
of the aged and infirm thought it most prudent to
continue in the families, where they had been
well used, and experience has proved that they
4, w
county, an indictment was found against a white
man for assaulting, beating, and impriscning
black. He was tried at the Supreme Judicial
Court, in 1888. His defence was that the black
was his slave, and that the beating, &c., was
the necessary restraint and correction of the
master. This was answered by citing the atore-
said clause in the declaration OF rights The
Judge and Jury were of opinion that he had no
right to beat imprison the negro He was
fund guilty and fined forty shilngs. This de-
csion was mortal wound to Slavery in Massa-
chusetts."
The prohibition OF the traffic in 1888, grew
out OF public indignation, produced by the act of
one Avery, from Connecticut, who deceived
three black men on board his vessel, under pre-
tence OF employing them and while they were
at work below, proceeded TO sea, having previous
ly cleared for Martinico. The knowledge of
this outrage produced great sensation. Gov.
Hancock, and M. L'Etombe, the French Consul,
wrote in favor of the kidnapped negroes, to all
the Yves: India Islands. petition was present.
ed to the Legislature, from the members of the
association OF the Boston Clergy, another from
the blacks, and one, at that very time, from the
Quakers, was lying on the table for an act against
equlping and insuring vessels, engaged in the
traffic, and against kidnappers. Such an act was
passed March 20, I79S.
The poor negroes, carried off by that arch vii.
lain, Avery, were offered for sale, in the island
OF st. Bartholomew. They told their story pub.
licly-magnG est veritas-the Governor heard
and believed 1.-THE sale was forbidden. An in.
habitant of the isand-a Mr.. ArHERToN-of
blessed memory-became their protector, and
gave bonds tor their good behavior, for six
months. Letters confirming their story arrived.
Tl--s we're sent on their way home rejoicing and
arrived In Boston on the following 2gth dav of
July. y
IL kwyo IL 90,
ernment in the last month of 1854, and the first
month OF 1855, that there were then in the Prov
inces of Massachusetts, Bay 27l7 negro slaves of
and over l6 years of age. OF these, $50 belong.
ed to Boston. This table may be found in M H c.
XIII, So.