New-York daily tribune., 1845-02-06
From the Baltimore Saturday vl'iter
rHE BlAcK LAWS Or MARYLAND.


We are pajned 10 the neart, to see the hand oil
cruelty al work in relation to the fee black and
muiatto residents of the State. There Is now
under way, movement TO increase the penalties
Of cons,ables in relation TO the suppression oi
meetings of the coorcd people. In the name oi
mercy, do our Legislators wish to degrade the Of
fee Of constable still lower Better use blood
hounds at once?
A law of 1881 provided that any free colored
person should only leave the State to return again.
on condition of such person filing certificate oi
his intentions, the nature of his business, &c. 1t
seems that the law has been SO altered that q
coored person is forbidden to return 10 the State
after an absence Of thirty days. We denounce
this law as dark stain upon The statute book
cruel exercise OF petty yrunny And we warn
Gov. Pratt To think of the interests OF his own
party Qeaying higher considerations out oi view
before ne sanctions this aud other bills IN con,en-
plation. Tamper not with the growing senli-
nient of our citizens, upon this subject, un-
less you arc willing to drive hundreds OF anti
slavery Wings from your ranks-ny, hundreds OF
anti-slavery Eeu in 1M0rytdnd. Rest assured
thar these will hold Wing Legislature and Wing
Governor answeruble for these returns 10 Barba-
rism, for the purpose Ct propplng the rotten fabric
of slavery!
We write not as n politician, but as man
pleading for our teiiow men. And would to God,
there were now III our Legislature, some one
with enough of moral courage 10 speak Tor the
down-uodden--to rebuke tins spirit oi heartless
cruety-to tell the projectors of such laws, that
they cannot consistently complain OF "norhern
interference" while class Of our fellow men are
placed III as bad light TO the Yankee, as that
in which we Of the South have beeu won't to view
,i,. ~ nh Inndct WnuI fhpre ypra
some member who had the courage 10 tel them
that they arc destroying, II their madness, that
which they are aiming 10 preserve-that they are
playing into the hands of their enemies, giving
them fresh prctexts for the kind Of action Of
which they 50 bitterly complain. God grant our
Legislators more wisdom aud humanity, and II
power 10 discriminate between needtul laws and
despouc cruelty We go for the protection OF
slave property, as other property, while 1t is re-
cognised, but we will not consent 10 have II pro-
tected by laws Of such needless severity.
Some of the Legislators of Maryland really
seem TO conduct themselves rs though they We're
sent TO Annapolis and paid for staying there, Tor
the express purpose ui protecting their slave-pro-
perty, ON tho one hand, and cOncoctlng modes oil
petty tyranny toward the free blacks, on the other.
To the first Ne have no obectlon-nay we should
be ready To applaud II, were there no; DISPOSE
ton shown to treat slavery il the only great
interest of the State. To the last, need
hardly say, we do object, and that most
solemnly and earnestly. AS Marylander,
ready as the next man, 10 proclaim sincere IN
terest in the prosperity OF the State, we plant our
self upon our constitutional rights, with firm
determination TO speak out amid the shametuly
apathetic silence which prevails on this subject
We learn that the lower house OF our legisa-
ture has passed bill bringing Baltimore city and
Anne Arundel County under the provisions o
chapter $50 OF n law of 1886, which prohibIts
any boat being sailed in our waters under the
sole command of colored men. or this mea
sure we are not prepared 10 speak, not having
heard the alleged reasons for the law. There
may be those of n sufficiently urgent character
AT nnv rate, il seems 10 look 10 uniformity ol lie
gislation, and we presume 1t is designed To ope
ate upon the freeman and the slave alike "a
least ii should do
1t seems the House has also passed bill pro
viding for the Registry of Free Blacks and Mn
lattoes in this State IL enloins upon nil Free
males between - and 30 years OF age, who ar'
capable of supporting themselves by labor. Il
present themselves annually TO the County Clerk
between the lst April and lSt June. 10 registe
their names and ages. For the registry each Il
10 pay the sum of 81, and for failing 10 comply
?
with the law, he is subjected To hne ot from y.
10 $40, for the paymeu, OF which he Is liable {,
be hiicd out. Ii is gratifying 10 learn that thi
bill only passed by majority ot three voIes-2t
10 %; and had Mr.. Williams OF thlSciW beer
present (as he was not, owing 10 indISpoSiuon
the majority would have doubtless been less still
No wonder this bili proved unacceptable Il
t,peRts-three hHiadn hearts Ii Is al once ahSnr'
aud barbaons, and carries the seal o its own IN
fanny upon It's very face. Look ut lis provision
10 make hundreds OF oppressed aud down-,roddei
men pay from FIVE 10 ten dollars, tor what, Why
for nos being able 10 pay 81 Was such ahsnr
dity ever heard or Then the proposition L
" hire them CUT to pay the .,ipe imposed on ac
count OF taeir porerty, In the name Of jusuce
is poverty crime 1t would really seem som,
of cur legislators u SO think Now the fac, i
Just this: The trainers OF TINS bill hope 10 dtiv,
the free blacks from the State by the Gint OF op
preston heaped upon oppression; or, no, sue
ceeding thus, virtually 10 sell them into slarery
Who will youch for the rights OF coloreG mar
hired tor single month 10 some unprinciplc,
slave dealer or his more nnpriseipled tool No
we veri!y--for we have known too mach Of thei
way of doing things.
Again We say 10 Wing Senators and Viii!
Governor, ihink OF your party, II not Of You
obligations 10 humanity. The eyes OF thousand,
will be upon you, when you come 70 aet upoi
these bills of abominations
P. S. Wiil SOM one of our legislative read
ers. be kind enough 10 give us the nGa'es OF tn
voters on these odious bills ; We want to Know
forwhom 10 cost oar voic hereafter.
p "The New York aad Maryland Iron am
Coal Mine Company ai Savage Mountain, ar
said to be making satisfactory progress. The.
are sending forward considerable quantities Q
coal, and making considerable IRON a, is salt