The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-01-22


tention to take such servant with him; or
unless he shall leave the state for the pur-
pose of visiting some one or other of the
American colonies on the coast of Africa.
Prop. l4th. TO avoid all sales or
gifts hereafter to be made of slaves to free
negroes and mulattoes, the slave so sold
or given, to be liable to be sold out of the
state. and the master so selling, punisha-
Bile by fine in the discretion of the court.
Prop. 18th. That an additional provi-
sion be made to the act of 1885 CHI. 1926,
TO make it prima facie evidence of circu-
lating such papers as are mentioned in
the act of 1885, CHI. 1926, that the same
have been found in the possession of any
one within the state.
Of the first and second propositions,
we have to say, that they are intole rable,
and if similar laws were enacted, in regard
to any property, other than slaves, they
would be pronounced insuferable, and
would not be submitted to. Slaves are
acknowledged by our laws to be species
of property and are as much under the
control of their owners as any other spe-
cies of property, but the intention of
these propositions evidently is to res
trlct our citizens in exercising the right
Of ownership--to deprive them of just
control over their own property.
The Bird. is unjust in the extreme. A
negro who resides on the border of a
neighborng state, may have occasion to
go into it to obtain employment; ne may
have to 60 there TO bury dead relative,
or on some urgent business, and could
never again return to his home, were this
proposition to become law.
To the l4lh proposition, there exists
the same objection, as TO the LIST and End
as Gar as the master is concerned. 1t de-
prves free parent, from purchasing the
liberty of his child, who is slave.
The 18th proposition is outrageous
and ridiculous. The act of 1885 referred
to, makes the offence of circulating or as
sisting to circulate, infamatory (aboli-
tom newspapers, or pamphlets, having a
tendency to create discomfort among the
people of color, &C., punishable by con-
confinement in the penitentiary, for not
less than ten, nor more than twenty years.
And according TO this proposition every
person in whose possession prints OF
such nature are found, are TO be sub
jected to this punishment. Where is oul
Liberty if our citizens may not have in
their| posse sion whatever newspaper oil
pamphlet, they please-if they may MOI
read what they please. We sometimes
find on our desk newspapers and pam
phle,s from Northern states, of red ho
aboltionist cast, sent to US by we know
! not whom, and the possession of them by
the worthy convention Is resolved to be
a crime, punishable by confinement in
the penitentiary, Ridiculous
The 18th prop. is Intended TO prevent
any free negro after the present genera,
ton from holding real estate.
! According to the 23rd prop. if a runs,
way slave is found on the premises of q
free negro it is prima facie evidence a.
gainst said free negro, that he was aiding
the slave to make his escape, and upon
the strength Of this evidence he is to be
sold out Of the state, although the slave
might have secreteG hlmselfon his premi-
ses with out his knowledge. There are
many Of the propositions which we have
not room nor time to mention which are
as bad as those given, and which by their
severity. are in our opinion eminently
calculated to increase the evils they
would remedy.
That there should be some efficient
barrier against the efforts of Northern
fanatics, who would stir up in the slaves
Of this State a spirit of discontent and
prompt them to Instruction, is not doubt
ed, but it is entirely unjust that the ne
groes should be made to suffer on their
account.