The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-14

! plAntauOn.-EG. FREEMAN
From the Pennsy Wv ania Freeman.
A GROAN FROM THE PATRIARCHs.
We copy from the Centreville, (Md.) Times
the following article, as one OF the "slgns OF the
times 1t will repay an attentive perusal. The
belief that slavery must soon cease IN all the pro-
vision growing states, is by no means confined to
MARYLAND. but is almost universal throughout the
South
| FREE NEGROES AND SLAVES.
When it is too late, the people of Maryland
will begin to look for the means of protection in
their slave property We still say slave proper
ty, although, notwithstanding slaves are recognize
ed as property by the constitution, without which
recognition this confederation never would have
been formed, yet such has been the effect OF Ia
natacism and ipation-of the intermeddllng
Vaccinations of aboltionists, and the mschlev-
Gus agency Of free negroes, that the gerry o,0'erS
Of this species Of property seem to begin 10 do~6t
auhether SlaUeS are property or poland so much
has its value become impaired, in the possession
of those who reside contiguous to the non-slave-
holding states, that the question has been raised
whether they are in fact worth keeping. Either
discipline must be so much relaxed, as that the
labor Of the slave will scarcely pay for his sup
port--or if forced to labor no more than is even
necessary to health and contenment, they abscond,
and passing over the lines into non-slaveholdlng
state, are there concealed and protected. The
number and success of elopements leave no doubt
of the establishment of a regular chain OF posts
accessory to. and of systematic plans deliberately
torganized for their reduction and concealment.
In these escapes the free negroes are, for the most
part undoubtedly instrumental, as they are to
Al cd hv ella
While at Easton two weeks since, the slaves OF
two gentlemen made their escape, being of each,
| if not recovered, loss of one thousand dollars
and the firm persuasion was, that in both cases,
the negroes were furnished with passes by tree
negro barber Even if apprehended, these gen
tlemen will have been put to the expense OF not
less than three hundred dollars, and this without
the slightest pretext Of i'll usage or any unklnd-
ness
The usual process is, when the owner is sup
posed to have despareG of his recovery for some
abolition or free negro lawyer to open cores
pondence with the owner representing the runa-
way to be in Canada, or otherwise beyond appre-
henson-coolly adding, with a highwayman
impudence, take that or nothng-and the owner
has to put up with total loss, or compromise Tor
third of the value of his property--the result In
either case proving incentive to others to make
off in like manner.
If the Legislature would require the owners oil
steamboats, and railroads to render an account Of
the number of free negroes to and fro, between
MARYLAND and Virginia, and the states Of Della
ware and Pennsylvana-and especially those
who 90 between Baltimore and Philadelphia, Il
would give them eyes to the extent OF the inter
course which is maintained between the free ne
groes of MARYLAND and the District Of Columbia
and the aboltonists of the North-and all won
/ der would cease, if any still exists, at the number
! of runaway negroes, their success IN escaping
!, and their concealment. The truth is, II th'
STAKEHOLDER would bring himself to look the trutl
in the face that nothing which is called propert!
J, is so precarious as that which is now held II
+ slaves in Maryland-and those who hold then
, would do well to make up their minds at once
! whether means can be taken TO secure themselves
in the enjoyment of property, which it was valnl.
supposed at the time of the confederation, wa
secured to them by the law and the constitution
r OF whether if they cannot, they must submI
to the necessity of securing it, while yet they may
by sale to the South-or by going there with II
Will they be forced to yield TO ianatlcal ehcroach
ment the land of their fathers-the finest portion
of the Union, seeking security and support IN tn
South-or will they, or can they, take some Ell
fectual measures to guard themselves from depre
datlon-lOr depreciation may o'
well by entcement away, as by direct invasion
y and seizure Of your property.
e If free negroes, allies of the aboionlsts oil tn
North cannot be hanished altogether from fh
state, can they not be prevented from passing t
and fro between the slaves in one state, and lanai
IF les of adjoining ones, acting MS promoters
: elonement, aud instruments Of sedition? Has nc
d the Legislature the power to prevent the retur
# into the state of all the free negroes who go be
!. yond its limits? Have they not the power t
Of compel them to bind out under the direction {
/ the Magistrates or Orphans Court, their chi
n dren, until they arrive at certain age'to person
l. who will bring them up in habits of honesty, an
,r industry? Look at those who are free, and Sc
ut the difference in the appearance, character an
e. condition of such as born free and those WI
A. have been manumitted at mature age, by the mi
a. taken philanthropy of their masters. In nine Ct
8 ses out of ten, the manumitted slave is as m9c
" superior to the free born negro as industry m