Page:Notes on the History of Slavery - Moore - 1866.djvu/25

 at this reult, we will add the following record—evidence afterwards dicovered—which it will puzzle the mot atute critic to make "void and of none effect."

In May, 1670, on the lat day of the month, a committee was appointed by the General Court "to perve all our lawes now in force, to collect & drawe vp any literall errors or miplacing of words or entences therein, or any libertjes infringed, and to make a convenient table for the ready finding of all things therein, that o they may be fitted ffor the pree, & the ame to preent to the next eion of this Court, to be further conidered off & approved by the Court." ''Mas. Records,'', ii., 453.

At the following eion of the Court, the committee preented their report accordingly, and on the 12th October, 1670, the following order was made:

"The Court, having perved & conidered of the returne of the comittee, to whom the revejw of the lawes was referred, &c., by the Generall Court in May lat, as to the lieorall erratars, &c., do order that in * * * * *

"Page 5, lj: 3, tit. Bondauery, read 'or uch as hall willingly,' &c." ''Mas. Records,'' ii, 467.

As the circumtances under which all thee laws and liberties were originally compoed and after long dicuion, minute examination, and repeated reviions, finally ettled and etablihed, forbid the uppofition that lavery came in an unbidden or unwelcome guet—o is it equally impoible to admit that this alteration of the pecial law of lavery by the omiion of so important and ignificant a word could have been accidental or without motive.