ro men lately brought into this state, as prisoners taken on the
high seas, and advertised to be sold at Salem, the 17th inst., by
public auction."[588] The resolve in full is here given:--

"IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SEPT. 13, 1776:

"Whereas this House is credibly informed that two negro men
lately brought into this State as prisoners taken on the
High Seas are advertised to be sold at Salem, the 17th
instant, by public auction,

"_Resolved_, That the selling and enslaving the human
species is a direct violation of the natural rights alike
vested in all men by their Creator, and utterly inconsistent
with the avowed principles on which this and the other
United States have carried their struggle for liberty even
to the last appeal, and therefore, that all persons
connected with the said negroes be and they hereby are
forbidden to sell them or in any manner to treat them
otherways than is already ordered for the treatment of
prisoners of war taken in the same vessell or others in the
like employ and if any sale of the said negroes shall be
made, it is hereby declared null and void.

"Sent up for concurrence.

"SAM'L. FREEMAN, _Speaker_, P.T.

"IN COUNCIL, Sept. 14, 1776. Read and concurred as taken
into a new draught. Sent down for concurrence.

"JOHN AVERY, _Dpy. Secy._

"IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Sept. 14, 1776. Read and
non-concurred, and the House adhere to their own vote. Sent
up for concurrence.

"J. WARREN, _Speaker_.

"IN COUNCIL, Sept. 16, 1776. Read and concurred as now taken
into a new draft. Sent down for concurrence.

"JOHN AVERY, _Dpy. Secy._

"IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Sept. 16, 1779. Read and
concurred.

"J. WARREN, _Speaker_.

"Consented to.

"JER. POWELL, JABEZ FISHER,
W. SEVER, B. WHITE,
B. GREENLEAF, MOSES GILL,
CALEB CUSHING, DAN'L HOPKINS,
B. CHADBOURN, BENJ. AUSTIN,
JOHN WHETCOMB, WM. PHILLIPS,
ELDAD TAYLOR, D. SEWALL,