The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-11
FRIDAY. MARCH II. 1898,


We learn from Boston newspaper that
Mr. Abram English Brown recently read
an interesting paper in that city on
Negro Slavery in New England
Mr. Brown prefaced his paper with the
remark that Negro slavery is am ano-
maly Of New England history for moro
than century and a half. Tho most
superficial student cannot fail to detect
It. so indelibly is it stamped upon the
yellow leaves OF our records"
Naturally Mr.. Brown made excuses.
declaring that slavery was forced upon
the New England people by the mother
country and was in contradiction of the
spirit which actuated the first settlers.
Yet DC confessed that the system was
common in tho commercial towns and
appeared early I'm Boston. Tie quoted the
following from description Of Boston in
the year 1861:
you can bring with you hired help i'm
any vocation whatever. there is am abb
s0lute need OF them 10 tin the land. You
may also own negroes and ncgrcsses:
there is not % house In Boston however
small may be its means that has not
one or two: there are those that have five
or six. and an make a good living
Mr.. Brown then explained the difference
between the colored servant and the
slave. "lhe former" he said. could not
be bought and sold except for q limited
period while there was no difference be-
tween the possession of a negro slave and
a COW or any other piece Of property, tDr
the slave was not legally person
Slavery was most general ne went ON,
IN Rhode Island and Connecticut and of
much longer duration than in sister
provinces. This ne accounted for I'm the
fact that charter governments I'm those
colonies were retained TO much later
day. New Hampshire was Well repre-
scented in the slave business. particularly
at Portsmouth and the vicinity of pis-
catagua. where Sir William Peppcrrcn
fourished and imported negroes and rum
in liberal quantities.
Mr. Brown pointed out the inconais-
tency. as he termed It, of the Magsachu-
settles people in opposing the acts OF
Parliament from 1865 TO 1775. and declaring
that they would not be made slaves.
while they were at the same time hold
ing negro men and women I'm bondage.
But be added. while Boston was the first
TO act in the resistance Of the threatened
slavery by tho mother country, she was
the first also TO act in the matter Of free
ing slaves.
\ careful but decided step. he con-
tinued. was taken in the cause OF abou-
ton when there was inserted in the Bin
OF Rights OF Massachusetts the clause
IAN men are born free and equal" This
he declared was incorporated into the
Bill OF Rights with a view TO the abolition
OF slavery and was so regarded by the
people. The test came whom in 1881
white master was arrested Tor foggng
his slaves, and in defence he urged that
the negro was his property and as such
should be used as he chose. To this the
court paid little heed. and fne was inn
posed. The case was passed upon By the
e'Hf-Nh'' NN"At = anu AitN AthlnihIA NnAAiilNA
was that under the new state constltu-
ton and Bin Of Rights slavery cou.. not
have legal existence IN Massachusotts.
Thus the death blow was struck 10
that system which had been kept UP DIR
ing the colonial ana provincial govern
ncnts
The speaker amused and entertained the
audience for "a while by showing the au-
dience the manner In which slavery was
conducted IN Boston. lie cited ADVERTISE
ments where negroes were offered for
sale as any property IS to-day The
names OF prominent merchants come TO
light IN these. wis were cited where ne
sroes were disposed OF as the other estate
and appraised with COWS. hogs and horses
Negro babes we're Of hut little value ana
-~ere given away as are kittens Of the
resent day.
Mr. Brown might have told his Boston
audience that not only did New Eng
land own slaves but that she engaged
largely In the tranc. bringing the slaves