The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-10
SLAVERY DIDN'T PAY.
Why New EngIanders Were
Red 4ot AboIitionists.
An Article in The Boston News ster of 1706
Shows The Attitude Of Down
Casters.
(By 0. w. Blacknall.l

sectional attitude towards slavery was,
in the main, a matter of geography-of
the totally different natural and economic
conditions that prevailed in the two Sec
lions. But 1 have lately come across
such clear and frank outpouring of the
old New England spirit touching the
slavery question that / think it is worth
reprinting
In 1718 a bill was introduced into both
houses of the Massachusetts, Legisla-
ture, the Council and General Court: For
the encouraging of the Importation Of
white male servants, and the preventing
the clandestine bringing in of negroes
and mulattoes." Northern orators have
pointed with pride to this bill, which
failed to become law, as the first official
effort on record against African slavery.
Now there was published in the Boston
News Letter of June 10th, 1706, an article
giving the reasons why negro slavery
should be prohibited by law. 1t is such
an ingenious avowal of New Englandism,
which, like it's embodiment, the late P.
T. Barnum delighted in, Profitable
philanthropy" that it is impossible not
to take it as the main spring of the
legislative movement of 171S. Doubtless
posterity will find as much selfishness.
albeit more thickly yelled, behind our
Wanted philanthropy of today.
The article which is of no small his
torical value reads as follows:
by last years bill of mortality for
the Town of Boston. in number leo News
Letter, we are furnished with list of Al
negroes dead last year, which being COM
p6 Uit of
amounts to the sum of one thousand,
three hundred and twenty pounds, of
which we would make this remark: That
the importing of negroes into this or the
neighboring Provinces is not so bene-
fetal either to the crown or country, as
white servants would be.
For negroes do not carry arms to
defend the country as whites do.
Negroes are generally eye-servants,
great thieves, much addicted to stealing,
lying and purloining.
''They do not people our country as
whites do, whereby we should be
strengthened against an enemy.
"By encouraging the importing of
white men servants, allowing somewhat
to the importer, most husbandmen in
the country might be furnished with SER
wants for s, or 109 head, who are
not able to launch out 40 or 5OG for
negro, the now common price.
"A man then might buy a white SER
want, we suppose, for 10G to serve A
years, and boys for the same price to
serve 6, or 10 years; if white servant
die the lass exceeds not 10G but if a
negro dies it's very great loss to the
husbandman; three years interest of the
price of a negro will near upon if not
altogether, furnish white man servant.
eff necessity call for it that husband
man must fit out a man against the
enemy; if he has negro he cannot send
him, but if he has a white servant twill
answer the end, and perhaps save his
son at home.
Were merchants and masters encour-
aged as already said, to bring in men
servants, there need not be such COM
plant against superiors impressing our
children to the war, there would be men
enough to be had without impressing.
THE bringing in of such servants
would enrich this Province, because hus-
bandmen would not only be able to man
ure what lands are already under i'm
provement but would improve a great
deal more that now lie waste under
woods, and enable this Province to set
about raising of naval stores, which
would be greatly advantageous to the
Crown of England, and this Province.
For the raising of hemp here, so as
to make sail-cloth and cordage to fur
nish, but our own shipping would hinder
the importing it, and save a considerable
sum in a year to make returns, for which
.~i.A
citated to furnish England, not only with
sail-cloth and cordage, but likewise with
pitch, tar, hemp, and other stores which
they are now obliged to purchase in
foreign nations.
Suppose the government here should
allow forty shillings per head for five
years, to such as should import every
one of these years 100 white men SER
wants, and each to serve 4 years, the
that would be but 2O0E a year and a
1,000G for the years. The first 100 SER
wants being free the fourth year they
serve, the fifth for wages, and the sixth
there are 100 that go out into the woods,
and settle 100 families to strengthen
and barricade us from the Indians, and
also 100 families more successfully every
year.
"And here you see that in one year the
Town of Boston has lost 1929 by A
negroes, which is also a loss to the coun-
try in general, and for less loss Gf it
may improperly be so called) for 1,00e
the country may have 500 men in five
years time for Al negroes dead in one
year.
"A certain person within these six
years had two negroes dead. computed
both at 60G, which would have procured
him six white servants at 10e per head
to have served "a years, at years apiece,
without running such great risque, and
the whites would have strengthened the
country, that negroes do not.
g 'Twould do we'll that none of these
servants be liable to be impressed dur
ing their service of agreement at their
first landing.
THAT such servants being sold or
transported out of the Province during
the term of their service, the person that
buys them being liable to pay Be into
the treasury