IMPORTATION OF INDIAN SERVANTS FORBIDDEN.--AN ACT CHECKING
THE SEVERE TREATMENT OF SERVANTS AND SLAVES.--SLAVES IN THE
COLONY UNTIL THE COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES.

Anterior to the year 1679, the provincial government of Massachusetts
exercised authority over the territory that now comprises the State of
New Hampshire. It is not at all improbable, then, that slavery existed
in this colony from the beginning of its organic existence. As early
as 1683 it was set upon by the authorities as a wicked and hateful
institution. On the 14th of March, 1684, the governor of New Hampshire
assumed the responsibility of releasing a Negro slave from bondage.
The record of the fact is thus preserved:--

"_The governor tould Mr. Jaffery's negro hee might goe from
his master, hee would clere him under hande and sele, so the
fello no more attends his master's consernes._"[504]

It may be inferred from the above, that the royal governor of the
Province felt the pressure of public sentiment on the question of
anti-slavery. While this colony copied its criminal code from
Massachusetts, its people seemed to be rather select, and, on the
question of human rights, far in advance of the people of
Massachusetts. The twelfth article was: "If any man stealeth mankind
he shall be put to death or otherwise grievously punished." The entire
code--the first one--was rejected in England as "fanatical and
absurd."[505] It was the desire of this new and feeble colony to
throw every obstacle in the way of any legal recognition of slavery.
The governors of all the colonies received instruction in regard to
the question of slavery, but the governor of New Hampshire had
received an order from the crown to have the tax on imported slaves
removed. The royal instructions, dated June 30, 1761, were as
follows:--

"You are not to give your assent to, or pass any law
imposing duties on negroes imported into New
Hampshire."[506]

New Hampshire never passed any law establishing slavery, but in 1714
enacted several laws regulating the conduct of servants. One was _An
Act to prevent disorder in the night_:--

"Whereas great disorders, insolencies, and burglaries are
ofttimes raised and committed in the night time by Indian,
negro and mulatto servants and slaves, to the disquiet and
hurt of her Majesty's good subjects, for the prevention
whereof _Be it_, &c.--that no Indian, negro or mulatto