Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/393

 too dishonest to acknowledge either. But, without pretending to any prophetic sagacity, we can certainly predict to that Society the ultimate triumph of their hopes and labors; and disappointment and defeat to those who oppose them. Men may theorize and speculate upon their plans in America, but there can be no speculation here. The cheerful abodes of civilization and happiness which are scattered over this verdant mountain — the flourishing "settlements which are spreading around it — the sound of Christian instruction, and scenes of Christian worship, which are heard and seen in this land of brooding pagan darkness — a thousand contented freemen united in founding a new Christian empire, happy themselves, and the instrument of happiness to others — every object, every individual, is an argument, is a demonstration, of the wisdom and goodness of the plan of colonization."





History of Slavery in the North American Colonies.

 Early existence of Slavery in England. — Its forms. — The Feudal System. — Serfdom. — Its extinction. — African Slavery introduced into the North American Colonies, 1620. — Slavery in Virginia. — Massachusetts sanctions Negro and Indian slavery, 1641: Kidnapping declared unlawful, 1645. — Negro and Indian slavery authorized in Connecticut, 1650. — Decree against perpetual slavery in Rhode Island, 1652. — Slavery in New Netherland among the Dutch, 1650 — Its mild form. — First slavery statute of Virginia, 1662. — In Maryland, 1663, against amalgamation. — Statute of Virginia, conversion and baptism not to confer freedom; other provisions, 1667. — Maryland encourages Slave-trade. — Slave code of Virginia, 1682, fugitives may be killed. — New anti-amalgamation act of Maryland, 1681. — Settlement of South Carolina, 1660. — Absolute power conferred on masters. — Law of Slavery in New York, 1665. — Slave code of Virginia, 1692: offenses of slaves, how punishable. — Revision of Virginia code, 1705: slaves made real estate. — Pennsylvania protests against importation of Indian slaves from Carolina, 1705. — New act of 1712 to stop importation of negroes and slaves, prohibiting duty of £20. — Act repealed by Queen. — First slave law of Carolina, 1712. — Its remarkable provisions. — Census of 1715. — Maryland code of 1715 — baptism not to confer freedom. — Georgia colonized, 1732: rum and slavery prohibited.--Cruel delusion in New York; plot falsely imputed to negroes to burn the city, 1741. — Slavery legalized in Georgia, 1750. — Review of the state of Slavery in all the colonies in 1750. — Period of the Revolution. — Controversy in Massachusetts on the subject of slavery, 1766 to 1773. — Slaves gain their freedom in the courts of Massachusetts. — Court of King's Bench decision. — Mansfield declares the law of England, 1772. — Continental Congress declares against African Slave-trade, 1784.

Slavery existed in England in early times, and slaves became an article of export. Prisoners of war were reduced to slavery; criminals and debtors were added to the number, and unfortunate gamesters who had staked their liberty. There were also hereditary slaves, who derived their condition from heir parents, and who were sold and transferred from hand to hand. This