In 1702 the representatives of the town of Boston were “desired to promote the encouraging the bringing of White servants and to put a period to Negroes being slaves."[372] This was not an anti-slavery measure, as some have wrongly supposed.[373] It was not a resolution or an Act:  it was simply a request; and one that the “Representatives” did not grant for nearly a century afterwards.

“In 1718, a committee of both Houses prepared a bill entitled ’An Act for the Encouraging the Importation of White Male Servants, and the preventing the Clandestine bringing in of Negroes and Molattoes.’”

It was read in Council a first time on the 16th of June, and “sent down recommended” to the House; where it was also read a first time on the same day.  The next day it was read a second time, and, “on the question for a third reading, decided in the negative."[374] In 1706 an argument or “Computation that the Importation of Negroes is not so profitable as that of White Servants,” was published in Boston.[375] It throws a flood of light upon the Act mentioned above, and shows that the motives that inspired the people who wanted a period put to the holding of Negroes as slaves were grossly material and selfish.  It was the first published article on the subject, and is worthy of reproduction in full.  It is reprinted from “The Boston News-Letter,” No. 112, June 10, 1706, in the New-York Historical Society.

“By last Year’s Bill of Mortality for the Town of Boston, in Number 100 News-Letter, we are furnished with a List of 44 Negroes dead last year, which being computed one with another at 30_l._ per Head, amounts to the Sum of One Thousand three hundred and Twenty Pounds, of which we would make this Remark:  That the Importing of Negroes into this or the Neighboring Provinces is not so beneficial either to the Crown or Country, as White Servants would be.

     “For Negroes do not carry Arms to defend the Country as
     Whites do.

     “Negroes are generally Eye-Servants, great Thieves, much
     addicted to Stealing, Lying and Purloining.

     “They do not People our Country as Whites would do whereby
     we should be strengthened against an Enemy.

“By Encouraging the Importing of White Men Servants, allowing somewhat to the Importer, most Husbandmen in the Country might be furnished with Servants for 8, 9, or 10_l._ a Head, who are not able to launch out 40 or 50_l._ for a Negro the now common Price.

“A Man then might buy a White Man Servant we suppose for 10_l._ to serve 4 years, and Boys for the same price to Serve 6, 8, or 10 years; If a White Servant die, the Loss exceeds not 10_l._ but if a Negro dies, ’tis a very great loss to the Husbandman; Three years Interest of the price of the Negro, will near upon if not altogether purchase a White Man Servant.

“If necessity call for it, that