come within the description of state paupers, to be main-
tained at the expense of the state, and not of any particular
town. Others say, they are properly town-charges ; but to
this it is answered, that they are within no description of
town inhabitants ; that towns could never give them warn-
ing to depart, and that they could never gain a legal settle-
ment. Disputes of this kind are not much known in Bos-
ton, but exist in several places in the country. Suits are
still pending on this question, and the judges have not form-
ed any system of opinion on the subject. Application has
been made to the legislature, and a bill has been before them,
but no decision is yet made. In the mean time, they are
either maintained by the towns, with some hope of reim-
bursement from the state, or else by private charity.

By a law made at the same time with the prohibitory act
in 1788, all negroes, not citizens of any state in the Union,
but resident here, are required to depart in two months, or
they may be apprehended, whipped, and ordered to depart.
The process and punishment may be renewed every two
months. The design of this law is to prevent deserting
negroes from resorting hither, in hopes to obtain freedom,
and then being thrown as a dead weight on this community.

I will only add under this head, that the negroes are fond
of taking the surname of their former masters, or such one as
they were most pleased with, not forgetting the titles which
appended to them, as captain, colonel, doctor, esquire, &c.
This shows that they have as much vanity as other people.

Query 8. What are their political rights or disabilities ?
is there any discrimination between them and white persons ?

They are equally under the protection of the laws as
other people. Some gentlemen, whom I have consulted,
are of opinion, that they cannot elect, nor be elected, to the
offices of government ; others are of a different opinion.
For my own part, I see nothing in the constitution which
disqualifies them either from electing or being elected, if
they have the other qualifications required ; which may be
obtained by blacks as well as by whites. Some of them
certainly do vote in the choice of officers for the state and
federal governments, and no person has appeared to contest
their right. Instances of the election of a black to any
publick office are very rare. I know of but one, and he