Middletown transcript., 1897-06-19

4
Logan one thousand acres, and my black
their freedom. as under my hand already
and toould Sam 100 acres to be his Chi
dren's after he and wife are dead. foreve
on common rent of one bushel of whes
yearly, forever Further light is throw
upon this portion of the will by q lette
written to Mrs. Penn in 1921, by James TX
an in whom Penn put utimplicit confidence
An extract of that letter reads as follow!
'The Proprietor in will left me at his de
parture hence gave all his negroes thei
freedom; but this is entirely private; how
ever, there are very few left Sam die,
soon after your departure hence, and hi
brother James very lately. Chevalier, by
written order from his master, had his lib
erty several years ago, so that there ar
! none left but Sue, whom Letitia claims O.
did claim as given to her when she went t
England: but how rightly know not
These things you can best discuss. She hal
several children. There are besides, tive
old negroes quite worn. that remained O
three that recovered near eighteen year
ago of e. Gibbs Estate, of New Castle
Co."
The large property holders and the pro-
prietor of Pennsylvania formed themselves
in 1852 into an association called "The Free
Society of Traders" and as William Penn
was very conspicuous ..member of that as
sociation, one article of the society's agree
ment is not without interest. IF the So
ciety should receive blacks for servants,
they shall make them free at IA years end,
upon condition that they will give into the
Society's warehouse two-thirds of what
they are capable of producing on such a
parcel of land as shall be allotted to them
by the Society, with stock and necessary
tools. And if they will not accept of these
terms they shall be servants till they wish
to accept of it.n fthem1.
This article may be considered very lib
eral for corporation at that time. But
three years later when Penn was in need
of laborers, he seems to have been anxious
to secure those who might serve him the
longest term. His indented servants, on
account of the short time they had to serve,
were not entirely satisfactory. So in 1886
he wrote to his steward, James Harrison,
at Pennbury. "It were better they were
blacks, for then we might have them for
life." The same year he wrote his steward
that he had disposed of his sloop to Rich
ard Song; and said, "Let him have one of
the blacks of Allen, 1.-TWO of which are as
good as bought such q. one as is most
uesd to sea-"
The facts are sufficient proof that Penn
had not at that time any scruples against
the holding of slaves. The famous protest
of the Germantown Friends had not
yet been made, and Penn belived as many
good Christian men. that it was not morally
wrong to enslaye the black mana Great
ure of gross superstition and heathen.
His mind however, was open 10 the truth,
and before the close of the seventeenth
century he was fully convinced that some.
thing ought to be done to better the condi-
ton of the poor slaves whom he considered
far inferior in many respects to the Indians.
He began both in church and state. In
100, Penn spoke to his brethren of the
Philadelphia monthly meeting of the ad-
visibility of having proper and just care
for the negroes, and Indians, and from the
minutes, it will be seen that the
the meeting acted upon his advice: sour
dear friend and Governor having laid be-
fore the meeting concern that hath laid
upon his mind for some time, concerning
the negroes and Indians; that Friends |
ought to be very careful in discharging |
good conscience towards them in all re-
spects, but more especially for the good of |
their souls; and that they might, as fre-
quent as may be, come to meeting on first |
days. Upon consideration whereof this |
meeting concludes to appoint a meeting |
for the negroes to be kept once month,
sc; aud that their masters give notice there
Of in their families, and be present with |
hem at the said meetings as frequent as
may be-"
The same year he proposed to the Gen.
sral Assembly two bills; one "about ye
marriages of negroes" and the other show
% be punisht and tried" The first was re.
ected by that august body of legislators
Tho did not consider it necessary to inn
,rove the morals of their slaves; but the
econd was passed.
1t is no demerit in Penn that he was q
laveholder. Public sentiment was for,
ather than against slavery at that time
md the scarcity of laborers in the new
olony made 1t necessary. Indeed much is
o be said in Penn's favor. He saw that the
irst step to be taken in the case of /, he ne
'roes was the improvement of their morals.
Hence the introduction to the General As
embly Of his bill for regulating their mar
iages; and his advice 70 his brethren to
ring their slaves to meetings on first
lays" ard to discharge a good conscience
oward them in all things. ."He was one of
he first, to grant liberty to his slaves. He
ave Chevalier his freedom by special order,
Believing him capable of doing for himself.
70 old Sam, be gave one hundred acres ofj
and in order that he and his family might
lot become burden upon the commu-
nifty.
Public opinion did not voice the manu-
mission of slaves; and later on q law passed
Shareholders to set free their
laYes, unless they deposit with the county
ourt sum of thirty pounds for each lib
rated slave, to secure the community
& ainst loss, should the slaYe set free be-
ONE unable to support himself ON account
f sickness or otherwise. Therefore TO
nanumit a slave meant no little trouble,
nxiety and censure; and If this stale of at
airs IS taken into consideration it will be
Understood why Penn did not free his
layes the moment it entered into his mind
D give them their liberty. He did himself
% Injustice. he gave the community no
nxiety, and under the circumstance, he
ng them under his just and kindly treat
lent until his death.