, and another method was resorted to,
most disgraceful to the State as well as the town. Foiled in
their attempts to frighten away Miss Crandall's pupils by their
proceedings under the obsolete 'pauper and vagrant law,' Mr.
Judson and those who acted with him pressed upon the Legislature,
then in session, a demand for the enactment of a law which should
enable them to accomplish their purpose; and in that bad purpose
they succeeded, by securing the following enactment, on the 24th
of May, 1833, known as the '_black law_.'

"'Whereas, attempts have been made to establish literary
institutions in this State for the instruction of colored persons
belonging to other States and countries, which would tend to the
great increase of the colored population of the State, and
thereby to the injury of the people: therefore,

"'_Be it enacted, etc._, That no person shall set up or establish
in this State any school, academy, or other literary institution
for the instruction or education of colored persons, who are not
inhabitants of this State, or 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 select-men of the town in which such school,
academy, or literary institution is situated,' etc.

"'And each and every person who shall knowingly do any act
forbidden as aforesaid, or shall be aiding or assisting therein,
shall for the first offense forfeit and pay to the treasurer of
this State a fine of $100, and for the second offense $200, and
so double for every offense of which he or she shall be
convicted; and all informing officers are required to make due
presentment of all breaches of this act.'

"On the receipt of the tidings of the passage of this law, the
people of Canterbury were wild with exultation; the bells were
rung and a cannon was fired to manifest the joy. On the 27th of
June, Miss Crandall was arrested and arraigned before Justices
Adams and Bacon, two of those who had been the earnest opponents
of her enterprise; and the result being predetermined, the trial
was of course brief, and