Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-09
Slave stampedes.

In looking over our Maryland exchanges
we have recently been struck by the number
of advertisements of runaway slaves. On
our border counties especially that species of
property is becoming very unsafe invest
ment. The evil too seems to be constantly
increasing, and it is not singular that the
owners of slaves are beginning to arouse
themselves to the necessity of instituting some
effectuai means of protection from such great
and frequently recurring losses which
annually amount throughout the State to
sums that would scarcely be credited.
Meetings of slave-owners have been held in
Kent, Queen Anne's, Worcester, and other
counties with the view of calling an Eastern
Shore Convention, to take into consideration
the existing state of things, and devise. if
possible, a remedy. A meeting of the slave
holders and others of Dorchester county. for
the same objects. is also called for the I4th
instant. at Snow Hill. These meetings have
so far been numerously attended, not only by
those personally holding slave property, but
! by other citizens. and have manifested ear
nest and determined feeling. The Conven-
ton will be held, though the time and place
have not yet been determined, and the dele
gates to it have yet to be elected. The pro-
position has met with such general approval,
and is so obviously requisite, that there is no
doubt it will be made point of union and
organization, which cannot fail, to some
extent at least, to check the evil complained
of. When it assemblies, the body will have
serious work before it. Something more than
speeches and resolutions will be required and
measures permanent in their character will
have to be determined on. even though they
may involve considerable expenditure of
money. Large amounts are appropriated by
abolition societies for the very purpose of
engaging parties to run off slaves, which
operate as so many rewards. A regular sys-
tenn is in operation for this purpose. Certain
parties. as appears from the abolition society
reports, receive one hundred and fifty dollars
for every adult male slave they decOy from
their masters. These persons in their turn
employ agents to effect their objects, and are
thus enabled to make a lucrative business of
plundering the citizens of our State OF their
property. One of these slave-stealers, resid-
ing in Delaware. showed by his books 10
the society which employed him that he had
run off to the free States 2,059 slaves. Funds
in abundance are furnished by Northern and
English tanaticism for this purpose.
1t is evident where such organized agencies
are at work they must be met and counterfeit
ed by something more than the efforts Of
individuals. Combination and concert Of
action, whatever form they may take. must
be resorted to. Unless our slave-Owners are
to be compelled 10 part with their property,
and the Institution of slavery is to be la this
way eliminated and removed from the soil OF
means of counteracting the ceaseless machina-
tions against them. People of one State have
no right to Interfere with the domestic
institutions and concerns of another. Those
are matters to be decided solely and entirely
by the inhabitants of the state itself. Any
such interference is violation OF State
sovereignty which the people have right to
provide against in the most etfectual manner
or punish with unrestricted severity. 1t is a
a IF pnnulTe
far the citizens of one State have right to
conspire against the laws and the rights OF the
inhabitants of another. The situation of
border States in reference to the institution
of slavery is delicate and peculiar. They are
presented as a sort of breakwater to abolition
influences, and though they SprOtect those |
behind them, they themselves, as in the |
instance of our own State, suffer severely |
Abolitionism, throughout its whole extent |
including England contributes to the means
of assault upon the property of slave owners |
on our borders, why should not the more
southern States i'm their turn contribute to |
their protection? The suggestion may be
found one worthy of consideration. The |
proposition to get rid of our free negro popula-
ton, or to give them the alternative of going |
back into slavery will no doubt be brought |
before the Convention. This course is too |
unjust and harsh to be ultimately adopted, |
but some means of regulating that class of
our population might be devised which would
modify many of the Objectionable features
they now present. Such, for instance, as re-
quiring every free negro to place himself
under the protection of some respectable
citizen who would be responsible for his good
conduct. 1t cannot be doubted that, in our
State as well as others, the free negro ele-
ment is getting to be very undesirable one,
and must be placed under some different
regulations. 1t is probable, however that the
chief means of protection relied on will be in
the formation of a body of border police,
measure which would seem to nave become a
really necessary one With Gordon of this
kind. and proper vigilance together with
suitable regulations for our free negro popula-
ton. the opportunities of tampering with
slavery will be greatly lessened, and the bust
ness of decOying negroes from their masters
becoming dangerous and ceasing to be
profitable, will no longer be pursued with the
eagerness with which it is now prosecuted
Baltimore american.