Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
A Bill Entitled “an Act respecting Negroes & Molattoes” and a Bill Entitled “an Act to prevent the practice of kidnapping or stealing persons for the purpose of making sale of them” Read & thereupon Ordered that the same be committed to the Committee for revising the Laws & that the said Committee be instructed to revise all the Laws respecting Negroes & Molattoes & to report a Bill such as may be proper to be adopted by the Legislature 330 to discountenance and prevent any Inhabitant of this Commonwealth being concerned in the slave trade & that the said Committee also consider & report what measures are necessary to be taken relative to Negroes who now are within the Commonwealth & who may here after be brought or come within the same and report at the next sitting of the General Court.
sent down for concurrence
Read & concurred