Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-06-06

The Black Ldics of Maryland. That is certain.
~ gloomy and unpleasant looking caption, but
perhaps the better therefor. We have, heretofore,
repeatedly denounced the barbarous as well as TN.
wise laws OIL Maryland, with respect to the free
people oil color, and we shall not hesitate to repeat
our denunclations openly and heartily, whenever
the SUBJECT Is forced upon our attention. as it has
been by the revolving facts stated below
In le39, law was passed TO prohibit free blacks
from coming into this State from other States,
whether TO settle or not under the penalty of TWEEN
ty dollars for the first offence. If the offender be
unable to pay the fine, he is to be committed to
Jail and sold as d siaue for ifel The twenty dol
airs goes to the inforner. In the offender re.
mains five days in the State after his first convic-
ton, or return into it after his departure he is liz
bic to pay fine Of five hundred dollars, one half
sold for life.
Alter statement, as above, of the conditions of
the odlous "back laws" of Maryland. the ed tor of
the Frederick City Examiner declares that he ufeels
1t necessary to his readers that This is the
ory-fiith year of the nineteenth century. and that
thS law exists IN America, and not in any of the
datkened countries OF Europe" and then proceeds
to describe the following recent instance of the
laws oppression, adding with q show of impulse
rare indeed among the timid editors OF this aliude
that II must shock the sensibillties Of every right
minded man."
Last week, under this law negro was broupht
before the Orphans Court, by q late corporation
constable, for having come into this State. being n
free negro. The statement of the poor old fellow
for he was old and vergng to the limit OF his years
with little OF the strength ofmanhood left him. was,
that he was removing his family from Virginia TO
Pennsylvania, having been set free for that purpose.
and that he was now on his way through Maryland
simply passing through the State, with no THOUGHT
OF harm, no knowledge of the ferocous tolls ofthe
law which hung around him. lie was sentenced
to pay the fine, and the inlorner having consented
! to remit one half, Mr. Bromet one of our new
| wing Magistrates, generously and kindly under
took to raise the money, by collections among tho
citizens Of the town, to release the unfortunate old
man. lie was, of course, successful in his efforts
and had the exquisite enjoyment of winning bles-
sings from sorrowiul heart, and sending the poor
grey headed man on his way rejoicing.
we cannot let corresponding home fact in the
history OF THIS shameful enactment pass unnoticed
Although not more than twenty minutes in the in
teresng meeting of the African Methodist Epis-
copal conference" which we noticed recently. we
were there long enough to hear rule of the church
set aside, on the plea OF necessity and candidate
for deacon's orders accepted while absent-it hay-
been shown that he was actually prevented from
being present at the Conference (which includes
Carlisle, Pa. the place Of his residence) by fear of
the law complained of by our manly brother of the
Examiner. While his case was under consdera-
ton, some members of the Conference cited an in
s'uHce III Whch some heartess police officer OF our
enlightened Monumental" city, arrested Penn
syvania member of the Conference, and caused
him TO be fined twenty dollars and cost for the
dreadful crime Of striving to do his duty as prea
cher of that gospel which commands its proclaim
ers, OF whatever nation or hue, to preach it every
where
Thus we see Jesus commanded his disciples 90
into all the word"-but our Christian legislators
have determined they shall not come into MARYLAND!
NO, not even in the forty-ftih year of the nine
facts, which true as they are shameful-facts
which ought to be and shat be kept before the peo.
pie, until they determine to send such men to An.
napos as Will see to the repeal of all such odous
laws .-Baltimore Saturday Visiter.