Middletown transcript., 1897-07-10

Deen SO inclined; OUT Iney proven 10 DC OAR
riers to the noble minded persons who af-
terwards desired to set their slaves at lib
erty. The act declared that, Whereas tis'
found by Experience, that free Negroes are
ap idle slothful People, and often prove
burthensom to the Neighborhood. and af-
ford i'll examples to other Negroes There
fore be it enacted by the authority afore-
said, that if any Master or Mistress shall
discharge or set free any Negroe, he or she
shall enter into Recognizanee at the respec-
tive County Court. with sufficient Sureties,
in the sum of Thirty Pounds, to secure and
indemnify the City, Township or County
where lie resides from any charge or In
cumbrance they may bring upon the same,
in case such Negroe, by sickness or other
wise, be rendered incapable to support
him or herself; but until Recognizance be
given. such Negroes shall not be deemed
free" It also provided that if any person
left viii without such provisions, and if
the executor did not Immediately enter in
to the like recognizance, the slave was not
deemed free. This law likewise provided
that ifa free negro was tit and able to
work, and neglected it and loitered about
and misspent his time he was to be bound
out from year to year. He had to pay a
fine for trading with a slave or for enter
tanning him in his house. If he was caught
tipling or drinking or was found out after
nine o'clock at night he received ten
lashes upon the bare back. He received the
like number, if he was found ten miles
from his masters habitation without
written leave. Should he be unable to pay
his fine and costs, he had to make satisfac-
ton by servitude.
"An act for laying Duty on Negroes,
imported into this Province" was passed
in 1923. The sum levied on each negro inn
ported was two pounds. This act, like the
one laying duty on felons, imported into
the Province, was obnoxious to the Crown.
So in 1871, the King instructed Patrick
Gordon, Governor of Pennsylvania, to pro-
hibit the passage of such acts for duty
ON negroes was great encouragement to
the merchants trading thither from the
Coast of Africa" and duty to prohibit the
importation of felons was a direct viola
ton of former act of Parliament. This
order from the King, perhaps, accounts for
the long period that followed in which no
duty was laid on imported negroes. Not
until 1851 was another act passed. entitled
an "Act for laying duty on Negroes and
Mulatto slaves imported into this Province"
The merchants ihoweVer opposed the bill,
and petitioned the governor to withhold
his assent, as the people were greatly in
need of laborers, and that free importation
of slaves would reduce the exorbitant price
of labor, and sin all probality, bring our
Staple Commoditys to their usual prices"
Despite their remonstrance the bill became
a law 1t was continued in 176S, and in
1773 the act was made perpetual. "laying
on additional duty on the said slaves"
In 17SO-ninety-t years after the Ger
mantown Friends had declared it to be
wrong to hold and sell slaves, the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania passed the famous
act for the gradual abolition of slavery in
the State. Although the snbject had been
agitated by few jealous advocates for
fifty years or more. yet the Revolution evi-
IDENTIFY hastened its elimination.
On the 9th of November, ITS. the Coun-
Gil in message called the attention of the
Assembly to the snbject in these words: |
''The late Assembly was furnished with
heads Of bill for manumitting infant ne
groes born of slaves, by which the gradual
abolition of Servitude for life would be OBJ
tanned, in an easy mode. It is not proposed
that the present slaves, most of whom are
scarcely competent of freedom, should be
meddled with, but all importation must be
forbid if the idea be adopted: This or some
better scheme would tend to abrogate slav-
cry, the ,opprobrium of America, from
among us, and no period seems more
happy for the attempt than the present, as
the number of such unhappy characters,
ever few in Pennsylvania, has been muc h |
reduced by the practices and plunder of
our late invaders. In divesting the State of
slaves you will equally serve the cause of
humanity and policy. and offer to God one |
of the most proper and best returns of
Gratitude for his great deliverance of US
and our posterity from Thraldom. You
will also set your character for Justice and |
Benevolence in true point of view to all |
Europe, who are astonished to see q peo- |
pie eager for Liberty holding Negroes in |
Bondage"
On the 9Th of February, 1779, the Su-
preme Executive Council called the atten- |
ton of the Assembly to the subject again. [
I'VE think (they say I'VE are loudly |
called on to evince our gratitude in MAX
ing our fellow-men joint heirs with us of |
the same inestimable blessings, under such |
restrictions and regulations as viii not In
jure the community, and will impercep- |
tibly enable them to relish and improve the |
station to which they will be advanced. |
Honored will that state be in the annals of /
mankind which shall first abolish this vio-
lation Of the rights of mankind; and the
memories Of those will be held IN grateful
and everlasting remembrance who shall /
pass the law to restore and establish the |
rights of human nature in Pennsylvania.
Notwithstanding this strong plea, the mat
ter was dismissed by the Assembly as the
Constitution would not allow them to re-
ceive the law from the Council" The sub
ject however was not dropped. George Bry
an, formerly Yice-President of the State
having been elected member Of the Legis-
Iature, urged the passage of bill which he
had drawn up. On the frstof March. 1850.
the act passed the Assembly by vote of
Ehirty-four yeas, to twenty-one nays. Some
opposed the pa ssage of the. bill on the
ground that it might have bad. effect
upon the slaves Of the Southern States, us
Ihe field Of action in the war had been
.hifted 10 the South. Ii
Strange to say the Presbyterians haYe ihs