The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-06-15
Ulle s9edfprd 6azette.
SLAVERY IN THE EARLY DAYS OF
MASSACHUSETTS.

ID. Appleton & Co. have published a
volume entitled Notes on the History
Of Slavery in Massachusetts, by Geo.
II. Moore, Librarian of the New York
Historical Society, and Corresponding
Member of the Massachusetts Historic
al Society. Contributors to the Histo-
ry of Slavery in Massachusetts will al
ways be acceptable to the American
student. Thepart played by that State
in forming public opinion on subjects
connected with Ourrecent conflict, gives
singular interest to her early connec-
ton with human bondage. An inves-
tigatiOn of the manner in which she
gradually adopted Abolition views, and
became their propaganda, is worthy
of the attention of our most philosoph-
zeal writers.
Mr.. Moore has undertaken that task
SO far as the early history of Massachu-
sets is concerned, and gives us the re-
suit of his labOrs in a handsome octave
of two hundred and fifty pages. Skill
fully arranged and pleasantly written,
it will add greatly to his present fame
as a historian, and we doubt net will
find very numerous readers in Massa-
chusetts, many critics.
Mr.. Everett taught us to believe that
Massachusetts was always anti-slavery.
He maintained that her opinions on
that point had never changed. He af-
firmed that the South and the North
had once conceded in their views, and
that what ever modification had taken
place, had been in the South, which
had become moreand more pro-slavery
because of her growing interest in the
production of cotton. But MasSaChu-
sets had always been true to his pris-
tine faith.
Mr.. Moore's volume has a very dif-
ferent story to tell. 1t destroys a very
delightful New England delusiOn. Mas
sachusetts has always carried herself
with such prudish dignity in the tami-
~ of States, her younger sisters have
hitherto so unhesitatingly accepted her
assertions Of her exemplary virtuesa and
spOtless character, that we doubt not
they will enjoy with zest Mr.. Moore's
disclosures of her doings years ago,
and giggle among themselves at the
pretty pranks she played when she was
a girl.
Slavery began in Massachusetts with
. the cnslaving of captured Indians in
the PequOd war. Through fear Of their
escape and consequent revenge, many
of them We're exported to Bermuda,
the worthy Puritans finding that traf-
tic very profitable. Gov. Winthrop
mentions. that through the Lord great
mercy, a number of them had been Ia
ken, of whom the males were sent to
Bermuda, and the females distributed
through the Bay towns, to be used as
domestic servants. There something
very amusing in the coOlness of these
proceedings. Capt. StOughtOn page
=, who assisted in the work of eXtcr-
minating the Pequods, afterhiS arrival
in the enemy's country, wrote to the
Governorof Massachusetts Winthrop
~ follows:
"By this pinuance sou shall receive
fOrty-eight or fifty women and chill
dren: concerning which there Is one, /
formerly mentioned, that is the taireSt
and largest that / saw among them, to
/ whom | have giVena coat to clOthe her.
Ii is my wish to have her for servant
if it may stand with your good liking,
else not. There i q little ~quaW that
Steward Calacut deSircth, to whom he
hath given coat. Lieut.. Davenport
also ,le5ireth one. to wit: a small one,
that hath three marks upon her stOm-
ach. Here the good Puritan captain
give, drawing he had taken of the
marks He desireth her, if it VIII
stand with yoJr liking. Sosamon,
/ the Indian, desireth a little Squaw,
( which / know not.
, The eXpatriation Of the Indians led
I to the commencement Of the slave
trade. \ vessel. the Desire, of 120 tom,
one of the first built in the colony,
/ ll636l was used for that purpose. The
! thing was not done in secret or indi,
rertly. but by the authorities. Thus
we find in letter to the Governor:
''Mr. Endicottand myself salute you
/ i'm the Lord Jesus. We have heard 0i
I a division of women and children i'll
/ the Bay. and would therefore beglad ot
! a share, viz: young woman or girl,
anda IA boy if you think good. | write
/ to YOU for some boys for Bermuda"
The Salem slave-ship Desire, brought
negroes in exchange for Indians, from
the West Indies. Downing, in letter
to his brother-in-law, George Winthrop
/ 1G45l, writes:
"a war with the Narragansetts is
very considerable to this population
4! for doubt whether it be not sin in us
! having power in our hands, 10 suffer
! them to maintain the worship Of the
( Devil, which their pOwWOws often do
,SecOndiy-if, upon Il just war the LORD
should deliver them into our hands
we might easily have men, women and
children enough to exchange for MoOrs
which will be more gainful pillage tC
ue than we conceive for | do not see
how we can thrive until we get a stock
Of slaves sufficient TO do all our busi
ness, for our chiIdren's children will
hardly see this great continent filled
with people, so that our servants will
still desire freedom to plant for them