Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-06-25
PUBLIC MEETING IN NANJEMOY DIS
s. TRICT-FREE NEGROES.

PUBLIC MEETING IN NANJEMOY DIS
TRICT-FREE NEGROES.
Persuant to public notice, there was
large and respectable meeting of the people
at the Cross Roads, in Nanjemoy, on Fri
day, June 10Th, to take into consideration
the condition of the free negroes in certain
localities in the first election district.
The meeting organized by calling to the
Chair DR.. JOHN f. PRICE, and by appoint
ing SAMUEL W. ADAMS, Vice President,
and T. A. SMITH, Secretary.
The object of the meeting having been
stated, it was moved that committee of five
be appointed, by the chair, to draft resolu-
tons expressive Of the sense of the meeting
Whereupon, the Chairman appointed Geo.
W. CARPENTER, William Smith, Joseph Price,
Thomas P. Gray and Thomas A. Millar, a
Committee for said purpose, which commit
tee, after consultation, presented the follow
lowing preamble and resolution, which were
unanimously adopted by the meeting:
We, the undersigned citizens of Mamie
moy, feeling the necessity of prompt and
decisive action, have mutually resolved our
selves into an association or committee to
be known and called the ''Mutual Self-Pro-
tecting Association of Nanjemoy," the OBJ
ject and aim of which is the better govern
ment as we'll as the amelioration of the
wretched idle, and vicious condition of the
free negroes and mulatoes among us:
By requiring them to show how and by
what means they make a living, and by
compelling all who cannot thus show, to. go
Immediately to work with whom, and for
whom, and upon such terms, as we may
think most fitting and proper: -
BY aiding and prompting the officers of
the law in and to the discharge of their du-
ties toward the bringing out of all free ne
gro and mulatto children, whose parents can
not show us by satisfactory testimony how
and by what means they prudently and
honestly support them:
By diligently and watchfully guarding
our interests under the law, which relates
to shop keepers and merchants, trading and
dealing with our slaves and the free negroes,
contrary to law; and by doing all other
things that may from time to time arise and
present themselves as worthy of, and de-
handing, our consideration and action, per-
tanning to slaves, free negroes and mulat-
toes-looking always to the public good.
For these and other like objects, we mu-
tually pledge ourselves, our honors, our
time, and our means, as common self-pro-
tecting community, to stand firmly and will
ingly by each other as one common broth
erhood, until our purposes are accomplished,
which we pledge ourselves shall be perform
ed in all cases mildly, prudently, and dis
creetly; nevertheless, firmly, without fear,
favor or affection. And for the accomplish
ment, in part, Of this end
Resozved, That notice be given all free
negroes and mulattoes, now living in a state
of idleness, that they are required tolsecure
themselves parsaanent homes, and to satisfy
a committee to be appointed by this meet
ing that such homes have been actually Sc
cured, and all who may disregard this re-
quirement, and who, by the 18th day<of
July next, are found not to have complied
Herewith, be set up at some public place in
the neighborhood, to the highest bidder, for
the residue Of the year; and the person who
becomes the hirer shall give note and securi-
ty, to be placed in the hands of this commit
tee, to be safely kept until the end of the
year, at which time it shall be handed over
to said negro; provided, however, that any
negro who may abscond, or voluntarily with
draw from the service of his employer, for
feits all claim to said note but the commit
tee may in their discretion allow said negro
what they may think reasonable and fair,
which amount is to be made, out Of the note.
It was then moved that the chairman ap-
point committee or committees in accord
ance with the above resolution: whereupon,
Samuel W. Adams, George W. Carpinter,
Thomas A. Millar, Benjamin Jameston,
and Edwin Adams, were appointed COM
mittee for the district of country below the
Trappe Run and the road leading to Smiths
Point; and for the section Of country lying
above those limits, to the road leading from
Sandy Point to Wards Run, Joseph Price,
Joseph A. Gray, Thomas P. Gray, Isaac
Henderson, and T. A. Smith, were likewise
appointed committee.
On motion, the meeting then adjourned
subject to be called together whenever a
majority Of either committees deem it recess
sary. JOHN +. PRICE, President.
SAMUEL w. ADAMS, Vice President.
T. A. SMITH, Secretary.
Crops in ST.. MARY's CoUNTY.-Tle St.
Marys Beacon has the following later ntel-
ligence in regard to the crops in that vi
cinity:
We are sorry to be obliged to chrmicle
the continued depredations Of the army worm
in every section of our county. So devas-