The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-06


Our Boston Correspondence.
BosroS, Sept 20. 1854.
Change Of Government in Massachusetts, in Cowss-
sssnes Of the E~gIisA Revolution L<sislatios o.
Rav1SD TarieGs Acts Passsd-Increass of
Aavss-TAar Character and Treatment The
Slass Trods Carried on from Bosson-Ris& Of
a. A~ti Slavery Sentiment scith the Congrsss Of
tie Americas Revolution legislative Anti
Slavery Action epits at LaU Assinst Masters
--ssesess of the Al6ves-Slsrsy Declared AbeI.
isAsd b. the Terms Of the Constitution Of 1850.
TIE EAshsh revolution Of l6SS-9 had large Of.
1sct upsn the political and social life Of Massschu-
ssts and che directly contrary TO what was expect.
"a Of It BY the people here though in perfect keep
bg with what It did in England and Scotland. An
n England, II favored religious freedom, and in
BesAanS, put an end to the tyranny Of one class Of
Christians over others; 20 In Massachusetts, it put
down forever that theocra.ic government under
which 10 many acts Of gloomy wrong had been psr
Dstrated. Charles II. had taken away the charter
granted by bis father, and James II. was not the
man TO favor Puritans. But for Charles death, Col.
Kirke would have become Governor Of Massachu.
sstts. IL did not follow, however that because the
revolution ovtrlhrew the ssuarts, tho new govern.
meat was to restore al things to their ancient state
Massachusetts, failed to get back her old charter.
new one was made out, which, while it realized .
considerable degree Of popular power, and secured
tolsiation for all Protsstsnts and in SO far was an
Dprovsment ON it, predecessor, gave to the home
government . control Of the Affairs Of the province.
The executive branch was entirely in the hands Of
he English ministry and the King could veto acts
That had received the Governors appreciation. The
upper branch Of the Legislature was 20 framed IS
70 give 1t steady conservative character.
The old ruling party, however, did not
de because Of its monopoly having bsen taken from
y. II was made Of too stubborn stun for thai. It
lived and ourished, and became popular in its char.
acsr, as is the nature Of aristocraces when deprived
Of Vie power to rsle 1t never forgave England for
hs deprivation Of supremacy but annoyed the roy al
Governors on oil proper occasions and occasionally
on improper ones. It kept alive the desire Of indie
pendence, which always had place in Nassachu.
setts minds and It existed in full vigo dol TO the
age Of the Revolution. It had great deal to do
with the Revolution, and traces of il, think, are
visible with tolerable cleaRness down to about the
year $780,
One effect Of this change was to make the people
Of the province less responsible for the character
ihe Legislature here whether IL related to slavery OF
TO any other matter. England can hardly be made
accountable for what was done here previous to the
Rsisure Of the first charter. After that eyent,
and especially after the issuing Of the
new charter, which was brought over by
er swiliam Phepps in lG92--her share in our
government was so important Is to warrant our
placing considerable share Of the sins Of our f.
theirs upon her broad shoulders. The influence OF
England, so far as it was sxersed was on the whole
humane, down to the last days of the Stuarts, when
It took another character, under the effect Of what
We may be permitted to call the Judicial blindness
Of that fsted line. After the Revolution the power
o. England was too often exerted fof evil until an
other and more comprehensive revolution put an
end TO it forever.
Under the new government there was consi-
ss legislation on the subject Of slavery,
foI mal)y recognized ~ under the old char.
Ter II had been; and the trade in slaves was
epsn = al who chose 70 embark in (which few
did. We are assured that slsvers were fitted out
from NO other Massachusetts, port but sto1,
.isace three sailed every year. The results Of
his form Of Yankee industry and enterprise were
mostly sold tn the West IEdies and the Southern
colonies. Seine cergoes were brought to Boston,
IN whole or in part, the last arriving here about
century ago. Here, again, e in the case OF the Pu
zitsn founders Of our common wealth, we find the
meht Of the mother land. : The trade to Africa
Gays Hildfeth, :" since the Restoration, mono
poly In the hands Of the African Company, was ct
sDetn slS9s) thrown open 70 private traders upon
age toward the support Of their forts and factories
IN the African coast. Hitherto the transportation
Of African slaves to America had been on quite
hmHed scaA, but the growing demand in Europe
1cr colonial products room gave 70 this detssta6e
Nrafdc lew impulse. In the first recorded case
IN which the question Of property in negroes sp-
psaTs 70 have come before the En- lish courts, It
Was lelt that, being usually bought and sold
among merchants as merchandise, and also being
i1hceE, there might be property In them suit.
dent % maintain srover.' This doctrine however,
ship Of the celebrated Holt, was repeatedly over
ruled. 70: in spite OF Hollis declarations from his
seai In the Court of Kings Bench, that as room az
legro comes into England be is free ), that there
is NO such thing as slave by the law Of England;
That men may be the owners, and therefore can
not be the subject Of property the African
trade was sustained BY the pubic sentiment of tle
though never exp essly legalzed. vas yet ooupte-
naz Geo and cherished by Parliament as q lucrative
fzafbc." New England rum was one Of the articles
used in buying negroes on the African coast; and
was extensively manufactured in Massa .husetts;
Still, think that no one can deny that toe trade
vas, on the whole, unpopular in this part Of the
world. Men .ho pursued it with success were of
course enabled TO maintain their station in society
for wealth will enable nan to do anything SO
bong as be 90 not too openly violat, the fu1da,
nfntsl laws of society but the lesser parties to
were on all hands regarded as debased crew. Mr..
Lv,Dg has happily hit eff the Yankee feeling Of
that day, in his story Of " TIE Devil ana Tom
Wslkrr" Satan wanted Tom to 40 into the slave
tyado with the handsome little capital with which
he had furnished him for business purposes but
Tom fatty refused, but compromised the matter
by gong into the usury line. The lat lot Of slaves
brcught into Massachusetts, arrived At Salem, In
l777 An Euglish vessel, with slsves on board, had
been captured by an American prvateer, end taken
m.o Saem, where the slaves were advertised for
yale. The General Court interiered, ard caused the
slaves TO be made free men. iris proceeding oc-
cure III der the exalted tone of feeling caused by
the Revolution. II happened the year after the
declaston OF Independence, which Massachusetts,
had bad so much to do in bringing about. 1t may be
tween 1920 and 1865. As sort of Offset to this,
MAJ be mentioned that, short time before, the
Provincial Congress OF Massac husetss had passed
resolve ,nat no negro slave should be enlisted in tie
~ OF The Institution Of slavery ~ ever was made
W BODY whose acts bad certain forcs.