The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-12
PROGRESS IN MARYLAND.

A Convention of the Free Coored People of
Maryland was held in Baltimore on the 26th
July, for the purpose of taking into considera-
ton the condition and prospects of the colored
race. The following delegates appeared, viz:
East Baltimore-James A. Handy, James r.
Jackson, Chas. o. Fisher, Stephen w. Hill
Daniel Koburn, David e. Bailey.
Kent County--James A. Jones, Isaac Ander-
son. Levi Rogers, VIM, Perkins
Dorchester County-B. Jeniler, C. Sinclair
S. Green, Thos. Fuller, s. Camper, j. Hughes
Caroline County-jacob Lewis, Philip Can
ada. John Webb
Northwest Baltimore-Saml B. Hutchings
David p. Jones, VIM H White Francis Johns,
John H. Walker Cornelius Thompson.
Frederick COunty-Rev VIM Tasker, Perry
f. Walker, Joseph Lisles, Robert Troby, T..
Lawson, Nicholas Penn.
Northeast Baltimore-Charles Williamson,
Rev. Darius Stokes, II. H Webb J. Forty, c.
Perry Fred Harris
Hartford County--Daniel Ross Henry Hop
kins
Talbot County-Garrison Gibson, Charles
Dobson, Joseph Bantem.
The following officers We're chosen, viz:
Preudent-Rev VIM Tasker, of Frederick
Vice PreSidents-C. Sinclair of Dorchester L..
Rogers. of Kent; f. Lawson, of Frederick s
w HILL of East Baltimore Charles Dobson, of
Talbot Francis Johns, of West Baltimore; and
John Webb, of Caroline. SecretGricS-John
II. Walker, of Baltimore and Josiah Hughes,
of Dorchester.
The Convention held its session three days,
and numerous speeches were made, some urg-
ing emigration to Liberia and others opposing
it, The proceedings are fully reported in the
Sun, which says that the proceedings We're
conducted in the most creditable manner
The following, among other resolutions, were
adopted:
Resolved, That, comparing the relative al
vantages afforded us in Canada the West In
dies. and Liberia-these being the places be
yond the limits of the United States to which
circumstances have directed our attention--we
are led TO examine the claims of Liberia par
ticularly for there alone, we have been told
that we can exercise all the functions of a free
Republican Government and hold an honor
able position among the nations of the earth.
"Resoired, That this Convention recommend
to the colored people of Maryland the forma-
ton of societies in the counties of this State
and the city of Baltimore, who shall meet
monthly. for the purpose of raising means to
establish and support free schools for the edu-
cation of our poor and destitute children
"Resolped, That rs this subject is one of the
greatest importance to us, and the considcra-
ton of which, whatever may be the result can
not be put aside, we recommend TO our people
in this State to establish and maintain an or
ganizaton in regard to it, the great object of
which shall be inquiry and discussion, which,
without committing any may lead to accurate
information and that Convention like the
present, composed Of delegates from the re-
spectve counties in the State, and from Balti-
more city, be held annually at such times and
places AZ may be hereafter designated
ReSoiued, That in thus expressing our opn-
ions il IL not our purpose to counsel emigration
a. either necessary or proper IN every case.
The transfer Of an entire people from one
country to another must necessarily be the
work Of generations. Each individual now and
hereafter must be governed by the circum-
stances of his own condition, Of which he alone
can Do the Judge, as well in regard to the time
Of removal ~ 10 the place 10 which he shall
remove but deeply impressed ourselves with
the conviction that sooner or later removal
must take place, we would counsel our people
to accustom themselves to that idea
Resoiued, That this Convention recommend
to the ministers OF the Gospel among the free
colored population of Maryland to cndeavor,
by contributions from their congregations and
by other means, to raise funds for the purpose
Of forwarding the benevolent object Of educa-
ting the children Of the destitute colorcd per-
sons in this State and that they also impress
upon the minds Of their hearers the benefits
which would necessarily result from develop
ment of their intellccts and the bringing into
fullest use those mental powers and reasoning
faculties which distinguish mankind from the
brute creation and that this be requested Of
them as "A part of their duty ~ ministers of the
religion of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ"
VIM. Perkins spoke of the law enforced in
Kent county, by which the children of free
colored persons, whom the officers decided the
parents were unable to support, were bound
out and also of the law which prohibited "A
colored person returning to the State if he
should happen to leave it, They were OPP
pressed and borne down.
Charles O. Fisher moved that committee of
five be appointed to draw up memorial to the
Legislature of Maryland praying more indul
gence to the colored people Of the State, in
order that they may have time to prepare
themselves for change in their condition,
and FOR removal to some other land
Daniel Koburn, Of Baltimore, in referring to
the oppressive laws of the State, said the hog
law Of Baltimore was better moderated than
that in reference to the colored people. The
hog law said at certain seasons they should run
about and at certain seasons be taken up; but
the law referring to coored people allowed
them TO be taken up at any time.
Charles Dobson, OF Talbot, said that the time
had come when free colored men in his county
had been taken up and sold for one year and
when that year was out, taken up and sold for
another year Who knew what the next Legis-
latIre would do and if any arrangements
could he made 10 better their condition, he was
in favor of them. lie was for the appointing
the committee on the memorial.
Chas. Wyman of Caroline; Joseph Bantem,
Of Talbot John H. Walker, Charles O. Fisher,
and Others, discussed the resolution, which was
finally adopted
The following is the committee appointed
John X. Walker and James A. Handy, OF
Baltimore VIM. Perkins, OF Kent; Thomas