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Act for imposing a duty on the importation of enslaved people into Massachusetts (draft), [20 March] 1767

Act for imposing a duty on the importation of enslaved people into Massachusetts (draft), [20 March] 1767

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    29.9 cm x 18.4 cm

    From the Bowdoin-Temple papers in the Winthrop family papers
    This act is comprised of 4 pages and 2 attachments; (6 pages total).


    Draft of a bill to impose a duty on the importation of enslaved people into Massachusetts, in an attempt to curtail or eliminate the slave trade.  The Massachusetts legislature voted on the bill between 17-20 March 1767.  If approved, the bill was to have taken effect from April 1767 to April 1768, but it was "unanimously non-concurred."   It is signed by Thomas Cushing (1725-1788), the speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.  This bill is very similar to another manuscript draft act.  (See the online presentation of the draft act, [April 1767]).