e same_, That if any negro or malatto
servant or slave disturb the peace, or shall offer to strike
any white person, and be thereof convicted, such negro or
malatto servant or slave shall be punished by whipping, at
the discretion of the court, assistant or justice of the
peace that shall have cognizance thereof, not exceeding
thirtie stripes for one offence."[441]

In 1711 the General Court of Connecticut Colony signally distinguished
itself by the passage of an act in harmony with that of 1702. It was
found that indentured servants as well as slaves had been made the
victims of the cruel policy of turning slaves and servants out into
the world without means of support after they had become helpless, or
had served out their time. This class of human beings had been cast
aside, like a squeezed lemon, to be trodden under the foot of men. The
humane and thoughtful men of the colony demanded a remedy at law, and
it came in the following admirable bill:--

"An Act relating to Slaves, and such in particular as shall
happen to become Servants for Time.

"_It is ordered and enacted by the Governour, Council and
Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same_, That all slaves set at liberty by
their owners, and all negro, malatto, or Spanish Indians,
who are servants to masters for time, in case they come to
want, after they shall be so set at liberty, or the time of
their said service be expired, shall be relieved by such
owners or masters respectively, their heirs, executors, or
administrators; and upon their, or either of their refusal
so to do, the said slaves and servants shall be relieved by
the selectmen of the towns to which they belong, and the
said selectmen shall recover of the said owners or masters,
their heirs, executors, or administrators, all the charge
and cost they were at for such relief, in the usual manner
as in the case of any other debts."[442]

In 1723 an Act was passed regulating the social conduct, and
restricting the personal rights, of slaves. The slaves were quite
numerous at this time, and hence the colonists deemed it proper to
secure repressive legislation. It is strange how anticipatory the
colonies were during the zenith of the slavery institution! They were
always expecting something of the slaves. No doubt they thought that
it would be but the