the methods of accumulations, the people of the Province of New York clamored for more exacting laws by which to govern the slaves.[234] Notwithstanding Lord Cornbury had received the following instructions from the crown, “you shall endeavor to get a law passed for the restraining of any inhuman severity ... to find out the best means to facilitate and encourage the conversion of Negroes and Indians to the Christian religion,” the Colonial Assembly (the same year, 1702) passed severe laws against the slaves.  It was “An Act for regulating slaves,” but was quite lengthy and specific.  It was deemed “not lawful to trade with negro slaves,” and the violation of this law was followed by fine and imprisonment. “Not above three slaves may meet together:” if they did they were liable to be whipped by a justice of the peace, or sent to jail. “A common whipper to be appointed,” showed that the justices had more physical exercise than they cared for. “A slave not to strike a freeman,” indicated that the slaves in New York as in Virginia were accounted as heathen. “Penalty for concealing slaves,” and the punishment of Negroes for stealing, etc., were rather severe, but only indicated the temper of the people at that time.[235]

The recommendations to have Negro and Indian slaves baptized gave rise to considerable discussion and no little alarm.  As was shown in the chapter on Virginia, the proposition to baptize slaves did not meet with a hearty indorsement from the master-class.  The doctrine had obtained in most of the colonies, that a man was a freeman by virtue of his membership in a Christian church, and hence eligible to office.  To escape the logic of this position, the dealer in human flesh sought to bar the door of the Church against the slave.  But in 1706 “An Act to encourage the baptizing of Negro, Indian, and mulatto slaves,” was passed in the hope of quieting the public mind on this question.

“Whereas divers of her Majesty’s good Subjects, Inhabitants of this Colony, now are, and have been willing that such Negroe, Indian, and Mulatto Slaves, who belong to them, and desire the same, should be baptized, but are deterred and hindered therefrom by reason of a groundless Opinion that hath spread itself in this Colony, that by the baptizing of such Negro, Indian, or Mulatto Slave, they would become Free, and ought to be set at liberty.  In order therefore to put an end to all such Doubts and scruples as have, or hereafter at any time may arise about the same—­

     “Be it enacted, &c., that the baptizing of a Negro,
     Indian, or Mulatto Slave shall not be any cause or reason
     for the setting them or any of them at liberty.