The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-23
A LAW PERVERTED.

A LAW PERVERTED.
| Some time since, a free colored man, named
Douglas, resident of neighborng county of
Virginia, was returning to Washington from
Philadelphia. where he had been trying to
raise money to aid him m redccming from sla
very his wife and four children. He met with no
success; and, coming back with heavy heart
and light purse, was obliged to leave the cars,
and walk homewards He was hailed at Belts
vile, a little place about twelve miles from
Washington, by the keeper of the station there,
and compelled to stop. Having his free papers,
he produced them but they were coolly taken
from him, and he was led off by the keepers
to a neighboring hotel, where he was con-
fined by a chain. They wrote letter for
him to friend in Washington, stating that
he was arrested for a violation of the law of
Maryland, prohibiting the entrance of colored
persons into the State, and that he could be re-
leased only on payment of forty dollars. Sus-
pectng trick that gentleman went out to the
place in the evening train; but on arriving
there, he heard that Douglas, having been per-
mitted to walk about the premises had sudden
ly disappeared The fact was as we learned
subsequently, that inferring from certain mys-
terious whisperings, he was not at all safe
where he was and knowing that he was free
man. he gave them leg bail, and contriyed to
reach his home without being caught
Free colored people, returning from business
at the North, are seized on passing from the
boat at Havre-de- Grace to take their seats. for
which they have paid on the cars and informed
that they must pay fine of twenty dollars, be-
fore they can be suffered to proceed.
We quote the law under which these petty
outrages are perpetrated;
An additional supplement 10 the act of
eighteen hundred and hirty-one, chapter
three hundred and tweatv-three, entitled an
act relating TO Free Negroes and Slapes
"SEcTIoN |. BE ii enacted bv he General
assembly Of Maryland, That after the passage
OF this act no free negro or mulatto, belonging
| to or residing in any other State, shall come
| into this State, whether such free negro or mu-
latto intends settling in this State or not, under
fence; and no free negro or mulatto shall come
into this State second time, where he or she
has been arrested under the provisions of this
act under the penalty of five hundred dollars:
the one half of the said sum of five hundred
the dollars to the iniormer and the other half to
sheriff for the use of the Colonization Society of
the State of Maryland. to be recovered on COM
| plant and conviction before the county court of
the county, or during the recess the Orphans
court of said county in which he or she shall
be arrested; or any free negro or mulatto re-
iusng or neglecting h. pay said fine shall be
committed to the H. he county, and shall
est bidder VIII NE his Ell lent Of ibis State or
NOT Grst g;v; ain were S;oo - snoh ' aaIa 20
serve aS m garry Se Of 's slave 80
and the said siisrif, al6er dsducting prison
charges and n commission OF ten per cent shall
pay over one half Of the nett proceeds to the
intormer, and the balance he shall pay over, if
sold in a county on the Eastern Shore. 10 the
treasurer of said Shore, or il sold in n county
! on the Western Shore, to the treasurer of the
| Western Shore for the use of the Colonization
| Society of the State of Maryland; and for all
sums of money so received by the said sheriff
| his bond shall he answerable ON his failure to
pay the same over, in an action ut law in the
name of the State Of Maryland for the use of
the parties entitled to receive the same by this
act and all sherias and constables are hereby
required to arrest any free negro or muatto
who may come into this State contrary to the
provisions of this act and all other persons are
authorized to arrest any such free negro or mu-
lattO who shall have come into the State con-
trary to the provisions Of this act shall be en-
titled to the penalty Of twenty dollars hereby
inflicted to be recovered on complaint and con-
yiction, as before stated, and such free negro or
mulatto shall pay the said penalty of twenty
dollars and all jail fees and expenses incident
to his or her arrest and detention. or upon his
OF her failure to do 10, he or she shall he CON-
nittcd and sold as herein provided, in relation
to those who have incurred the penalty of five
hundred dollars Proridsd that if said negro
or muattO shall not remove out Of the State
within five days after he shall have paid the
said sum Of twenty dollars he shall be deemed
to have come a second time into the State, and
shall he liable ~ IL he had 10 done
The clear intention VI the law il To prohibit
free colored people from coming INTO The State
on business, or for pleasure, or to nee their
relatives and friends. The original act forbids
their settling; The supplement forbds them to
visit, in the State. This IL quite oppressive
enough but when gang Of petty officials un-
dertake 10 stretch the Law 10 cover the cases of