Some Recollections of Our Antislavery ConflictMay, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph)
History
Some Recollections of Our Antislavery Conflict
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph)
Antislavery movements -- United States
Of course this process was abandoned. But another was resorted to, most
disgraceful to the State as well as the town. That shall be the subject
of my next.
THE BLACK LAW OF CONNECTICUT.
Foiled in their attempts to frighten away Miss Crandall’s pupils by
their proceedings under the provisions of the obsolete “Pauper and
Vagrant Law,” Mr. Judson and his fellow-persecutors urgently pressed
upon the Legislature of Connecticut, then in session, a demand for the
enactment of a law, by which they should be enabled to effect their
purpose. To the lasting shame of the State, be it said, they succeeded.
On the 24th of May, 1833, the _Black Law_ was enacted as follows:--
“SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives, in General Assembly convened, that no person
shall set up or establish in this State any school, academy, or
literary institution for the instruction or education of colored
persons who are not inhabitants of this State; nor instruct or
teach in any school, or other literary institution whatsoever, in
this State; nor harbor or board, for the purpose of attending or
being taught or instructed in any such school, academy, or literary
institution, any colored person who is not an inhabitant of any
town in this State, without the consent in writing, first obtained,
of a majority of the civil authority, and also of the Selectmen of
the town, in which such school, academy, or literary institution is
situated,” &c.
I need not copy any more of this infamous Act. The penalties denounced
against the violation of it, you may be sure, were severe enough. That
the persecutors of Miss Crandall were determined to visit them upon
her, if they might, the sequel of my story will show.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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