Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-13
From a correspondent of the American Citizen

From correspondent of the American Citizen.
Baltimore, May 90, 1916.
Lucius G. Matack-Dear Sir-I received a
letter from---, sometime since, dated in
Philadelphia, in which he states it is your Gear
nest wish" that write for your paper accept
the invitation with thanks to you for the favor
able opinion you may have been led to form of
the productions Of my pen through the kindness
of brother j., and with gratitude to God who
hls thus, in his good providence, in answer to
my prayer, opened, through you and your paper
another means of communicating with the great
public mind, by which may hope to assist the
friends of Liberty in the great work they have
taken in hand
The aspect of affairs at this time in this state,
in relation to the great incubus of slavery is GER
tainly of an interesting character to the mind of
every intelligent observer. But | cannot say
that l think that there are many thoughtful, in
telligent observers in this state 1t is astonish-
ing how unconscious the mass of our citizens
seem to be to the silent, gradual, yet powerful
and constant progress of things in relation to
this one subject slavery | hate that word slave
ry, and never write it without loathing and de-
testation.
[ have carefully observed the progress of
things in this city and state for the last eight or
nine years, and within the last two years the
progress of anti slavery sentiments has been more
rapid, apparently, than for the six previous years
The tide of opposition to slavery has increased
not in arithmecal ratio, but in a geomerica
proportion 1t is impossible for slavery to con-
tinue much longer in Maryland. | confidently
hope and expect the next five or ten years will
give the death blow. May heaven speed the
day of lubeel Yesterday, the colorcd people of
this city had made arrangements to have great
temperance meeting, few miles from this city,
They were going by the steamboat but the chv-
alrous Major G. Davis, went and ordered the
boat not to 60. | suppose the excuse is, that
slaves might run away by the steamboat. 1t is
suggested that the real cause was, the unwilling
ness to let his own slave man 90 to the meeting.
Since writing the above paragraph, have
heard it denied that the mayor of the city
stopped the boat but one thing is certain, the
boat was stopped, and that too, by some infu-
CHIidI Ill INT Cllys IL HOI uHCCllI ny tic Ct)
authorities, shall inquire more particularly
about this matter, and let you know the particu-
lars. The object Of the colored people was a
most noble one. They have done we'll in the
cause Of temperance in this city, which has been
great blessing to them. They had made ar
engagements for temperance festival and dinner
the tickets for the occasion were fifty cents
each, and the object of raising funds was to pur-
chase the freedom Of their president, an intelli-
gent colored man. who rejoices in the name of
George Henry Washington, but who is unfortu-
nately slave!
In this noble enterprise, the cultivation of
temperance and freedom, were this band of wor-
thy people frustrated by the nigger-hating, "
pro-slavery spirit of the chivalry of the " far
famed monumental city!" Shame on such des-
potic humbuggery, palmed off in the name Of
Iepublicanism and democracy.
There is law of this state prohibiting any
captain of steamboat from taking slaves away
from the city as passengers, although they return
in safety. And although people came to Rev.
John Fortic and brought tickets for their "slaves
to 60 on this excursion yet somebody was mean
enough to take advantage of the law, and have
them stopped. Mr.. Fortic is an elderly coored
man, respectable Methodist preacher and tea
cher in this city for many years His son, j
Charles Fortc, is also teacher, intelligent and
enterprising, and much of a gentleman in hi:
manners There are a large number Of sucl
among the colored people in this city, and they
are doing much for their own elevation and i'm
provement. They have schools temperance ant
debating societies, Sabbath schools, and man,
other religious privileges. More soon.
"MELvI1LE