, 1874-08-23
SLAVERY IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. George II. Moore's ''N Notes"
Thereon.
Wrong Impressions Created by
That Work.

nat t4Ork.
To the Editor Of The CHICAGO Tribune:
SIR: Mr. George 81. Moore's <sNotet on the
History Of Slavery III Massachusetts" of which
an admirable notice appeared in THE TRIBUNE OF
Aug. 8, is valuable contribution to the early
history Of Slayesy in our country. Its examina-
ton Of facts is well nigh exhaustive; and yet
the authors reasoning and his inferences drawn
from the facts which he has with 30 much iudus~
try uneartlel and eollated, cannot be accepted
WITHOUT SOME HEs1rA TON.
Your reviewer has detected the weak spot in
the historians position. and Gays: HE betrays
an unn,istakable bitterness OF feeling towards
Massachusetts. The feeling probably springs
from the rivalry between New York and Boston,
and from the very human tendency to rejoice
over the modification Of q conceitcd ncighbor,'
That Mr.. Sumner. 3lr. Palfrey. Prot. Wash
burn, aud other Massachusetts, writers,
have exhibited some conceit in discussing
this question, there can be no doubt. They
have often asserted that, s. In all her annals,
person was ever born q slave on the SOL If Mas
sncbusctts; whereas. tho fact is, thai, for more
than lao years, persons we're born into Slavery,
we're sold INTO Slavery, and lived and died AZ
slaves, in Massachusetts,, as in other States
where Slavery existed. II this fact we're in
doubt, 3Ir. Moore has established it. The idea
III the minds of Mr. Sumner and the other Nus
sachusetts writer's evidently WAS. that, Slavery
being in itself wrong and opposed to the law
of Nature, could legally exist only by positive
enactmon: establishing it. No such legal enact
ment was made in Massachusetts. and Lence no
pers on was bor., into ia,rf,A Londago.
=. ,.4o~,o.+, t;1.o ,ho,, ,h;,h ;r,,;-o7
"a'
Alr. Moore 10 prepare tne "ofA NJ" unoa1
notice. Tn thus occAsion no il
THE CONTROVERSIAL
md ,ot tha imnartia1 and unimnsssioned bis
AAo A'o' - -s.--.. t... -a,
tof'an. he never 1o'eeS 1or nonell. TUG teo
flag Of Nassachusetfs concert which III haunting
befefe bis eyea. II nail Tue story WILL aus yer
Ills purpose better than tho Whoie, ne telis bas
hatf tue story. tor Instance, hs rela:es from
Josse!vn now Samuel Maverick, living on
Nodllo's island (now East BOSTON, IN !635, at
tempted to improve the breed OF hls negro
slaves. Tie story ID not adapted Tor ialnil;-
reading, and hence DO not reproduce 1t
from Josselvns BOOK lSng oe1ofe me-
1t exhibits very Improper conduct on the
part OF ME: Maverick II II story
Which WILL strike the attention or auy
one who roads Mt. Mooro's book, and Will leave
an impression on tue mind OF Tue 1enaeE that
there was = very 10" standard OF morals about
reviewer evidently made such an Inference, and
al1udes to the story as being the first attempt to
breed slaves III America which IL not correct, as
slaves had been breeding IN Virginia Tor nearly
twenty years. 1t doubtless Was the h1st re-
corded instance 10 America OF breeding Slaves
in that ray- ME. Aoore knowing who Sam
Alaverlck Was, leaves his readers, who nave uot
this knowledge, to infer that ne was = furltRn
aud representative man in tho Massachusetts
Colony.
1YTHH
he makes OF his most effective hits at the
character and good name OF the Massachusetts,
colouiets.
When Winthrop and his company arrived IN
Boston Harbor in 1880, they found Maver1ck
settled on Noddlo'. Island, and William
pei sons probably took up their settlement year
or two before; but when, Is lot known. Iller
wore both Episcoraliano and Ifoyalists. and never
had any sympathy with the plans and purposes
Of the Massachusetts, co'oulets. They were
squatters and iuterferers, ~ the &aseachueet:s
Company Ind . title in full from the Crown TO
al the territory from the Merflmac RlvoT to the
Charles River, and 3 miles beyond each. The
Company might have warned them Gil. 1t. how
ever. made an agreement with Maverick that
ho ehoud remain on the island, by paying an an
nual rent for the same. 10 Blacdsfone, who had
formerly been ia orders IN the Church or En-
glsnd. tract OF lam was EiFen oot ne BOON
abandoned 1t aod left for parts unkno"n- Nav
click remained. and Kept up 9an11ng ~a9lare
Rith the constituted authorities OF the toonV
for slIteen years or more, abo t!len went DICE
to England, avirulent enemy OF the colony. a
contemporary ustoflao OF 3iasSacuusetIs bi'cnhs
Of him as - man OF very loving and courteous
behavior, very ready to entertain strangers. g yet
an enemy to the reformaton In hand being >,
srRosa FOR THE IonoLr phELAT1cA4 POWER.
After the restoration OF chaIies les II, M Ne came came
back to New England as one OF the four Royal
Commissioners. with snthor1ty to harnss the
Colonies and 70 deprive them OF thei1 Charters
His house at Noddle's Island, during his resi-
dence there, was general resort Of discontent-
ed Spirits aud persons under ban IN the Colony:
Much Of his troubles with the Court grew out ol
this circumstance In March, 1852, ne Has
ordered to remove to boston before De-
ccmbe., aud IN the meantime not 10 elVo
entertainment to any stranger TOT more shnn one
night, under penalty Of El0o. La September the
order WAS Ieuealed In 164l ne was hned 3loo
for coluslon with s"o persons CONVERGE VI
adultery 10 oreaA JAIL anu 1o1 eouoeau1e 'neba
upon the 1aland. Ii 1855 &c "as one oi cho a1s-
contented parties VINO signed the petls'on OF
l'r Child, which was regarded rs an attack upon
the validity OF the Colonial government Al