Kelo, New London, CT, and the past

bowenj10 — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:18:12 GMT

I was googling information on the northern black codes and came upon an interesting piece of information. According to Douglas Harper New London, CT had a history of property rights violations prior to Kelo.

"As far back as 1717, citizens of New London, Connecticut, in a town meeting voted their objection to free blacks living in the town or owning land anywhere in the colony. That year, the colonial assembly passed a law in accordance with this sentiment, prohibiting free blacks or mulattoes from residing in any town in the colony. It also forbid (sic) them to buy land or go into business without the consent of the town. The provisions were retroactive, so that if any black person had managed to buy land, the deed was rendered void, and a black resident of a town, however long he had been there, was now subject to prosecution at the discretion of the selectment."

Question: does anybody know where to find more information on this town meeting, the law, and the effects?

History

Kelo, New London, CT, and the past