of Liberty & several anonymous pieces were published
in News papers on both sides of the Question. Those on the
other side generally concealed their names
but their arguments were not suffered to rest long, without an
answer. The con-
troversy began about the year 1766 & was kept up
renewed with great spt
at various times till 1773, when it was very warmly agitated.
& was a subj of public
disputan at ye Comencnt in H
College
In 1767. an attempt was made by the Genl Court
Legislature
of
Massts to discourage the Slave trade. A bill
was
bro't into the Ho of
Reps entitled An act March
4th "to prevent the
importation of slaves into the Province unnatural &
unwarrantable custom of enslav-
ing mankind & the importation of slaves into the
Province." In its progress it was changed to an act
"for laying an impost on negroes imported" -- It was
so altered & amended curtailed by the Council, then
the
upper House of Legislature yt the other House
would
not concur & thus it failed. Had it passed both
houses in any form whatever the then Govr
Bernard
would not have consented to it.
In 1773 another Attempt of the same kind was
made. The Negroes presented a Petition It was grounded on a
petition presented to the Legislature
for ye f their freedom by the Negroes. It was read in
the assembly June 23 & referred to the next Session.
In Jany 1774 a C bill was
bro't in entitled "an act to
prevent the importation of Negroes & others as
Slaves into this Province." It passed all the forms
in ye. 2 houses & was laid before the then Govr
Hutchinson for his consent on ye 8th of March --