The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-16
MARYLAND SHAREHOLDERS CON
VENTION.

Maryland convened at Baltimore on Wednes-
day of last week, and, after session of two
days, adopted resolutions unanimously, con-
demning as impoliic and impracticable the
object lchich called them together. That object
was the recommendation to the Legislature the
adoption of measures for the removal of the
free negroes beyond the limits Of the State, or
their sale into slavery. There can be no doubt
that one or the other Of these measures was ear
nestly desired by large majority Oft the delegates
to the Convention, who for the most part ex-
hibited the Pro-Slavery spirit in its most odious
and revolving form. But they were overawed
by the public opinion of Baltimore and the
more northern counties of the State. They
were made to feel that the cruel tyranny they
meditated would react against Slavery, and
perhaps lead to the organization Of formidable
| Aut-Slavery party; and this consideration
alone constrained them to forbear The Con-
vention of oligarchs was literally swed by the
majesty of the people into silence or modera-
ton, and made to put forth resolutions the re-
verse of what they intended.
The first days proceedings consisted in the
organization ofthe Convention, by the election of
officers, and the appointment of a committee Of
twenty-one, representing every county in the
State. The whole programme seems to have
been arranged outside of the Convention and
such was the outside pressure, that the commit
tee assumed the entire direction of affairs.
| Some disposition was manifested by the more
indiscreet ultraists to enter at once into gen.
eral discussion of the objects of the Convention
but they were not listened to, and by common
consent everything was thrown into the hands
Of the committee. On Thursday the commit
zee reported. They recommend to the Conven-
ton the adoption of the following resolutions
a. ResolUed, That this Convention consider
any measure for the general removal of the free
blacks from the State of Maryland as impoltic
inexpedient and uncalled for by any public
exigency which could Justify it.
40. ResOlUed, That the free negro population
should be well and thoroughly controlled by
efficient laws, to the end that it may be orderly,
industrious, and productive.
80. Resolred That for the purpose of dimin-
e. ----<-;.s> u as.s Yl1. .r,s M.
made to the act of that year as will give TO It
active force and certain operation, and as will
either prohibit emancipation altogether, or COM
! pei the prompt removal from the State of those
emancipated; and that the Legislature should
be asked to review and amend the laws relating
TO free negroes and to emancipation, so as to
remedy all the defects of system which time
and experience have disclosed.
"a. ReSolUed, That a committee of - no
/ appointed to submit the views of this Conven.
ton, and to ask appropriate legislation bv the
General Assembly"
After which, c. w. Jacobs ESQ.,, of Worces.
ter, submitted a report, signed by himself, with
the following resolutions:
Whereas the State of Maryland, for a long
! succession of years, has been augmenting her
/ free negro population, till their numbers have
attained to 10000, who are positively injurious
/ to the best interests of this State therefore.
/ BE 1t ReSotced, That the Legislature of this
1 State, at It's next session, be requested by this
| Convention TO terminate free-negroism in Mary
land at an early day, and on the most advan.
tageous terms to our white population.
! ResOtred, That no STAKEHOLDER owning lin.
tied number of slaves shall be eligible to bs.
come the owner of any such conscript slaves
and that no person not now an owner of any
slave shall become the owner of more than a
limited number of such conscript slaves and
that the price of such conscript slaves be made
so low, and the payments thereof in such install
ments, as to enable our citizens oflimited means
to become the owners Of such slaves.
ResOtced, That law ought to be passed to
exempt from execution one or more slaves be-
longing to any one person.
/ Resolred, That if freedom is reallv worth
anything to our free negroes, we advise that
| they shall be required to leave the State if thew
wish to retain their freedom, and that laws be
passed to allow them to enslave themselves
voluntarily TO our citizens, and that, failing to
leave the State or go into slavery within the
tune limited, they and their posterity be sold
slaves for life to our citizens.
ReSotred, That all bound or apprenticed free
negroes, or slaves held to service for q term
only, be placed under the same restrictions and
subject to the same laws as are indicated by
the preceding resolution, when their several
terms Of service shall have expired.
ReSotred, That the Legislature be also re-
/ queSted to inaugurate an efficient black police
system throughout the State, whose dnt;as sbaII
extend to all classes of negroes. slaves as we'll
as free, till the latter become extinct in the
] State.
" Resotced, That, in adopting the foregoing
resolutions, prudent discrimination should be
made IN the case Of meritorious and aged free
negroes"
! Mr.. Jacobs followed up his resolutions with
long speech in their vindication. He announced
| himself as a member of the Methodist church
OF twenty-six years standing and, as a matter
OF course, he could be moved by nothing but gen.
uine philanthropy in his efforts to have his col
ored brethren sold into Slavery. Our modern ia
cob, like his patriarchal namesake, is a "smooth
man. morally, and nothing but the purest and
most disinterested considerations could induce
him to cheat his hairy" or, as he would say.
woolly brother, out of his birthright Accord
mgly, he informs US, in the very outset of his
remarks, that If there is one gentleman on
this hoor, or within the limits of MARYLAND. who
claims to be the negroes friend, think have
a right to that appellation. Ny earliest recol-
lections, and indeed my entire life, have been
intimately associated with the negro; and their
character moral, mental, and physical. has been
to me subject of deep and profound research.
This interest in the negro has been increased
of late years. since modern school of philoso-
| piers, under the name of Abolitionists. has
sprung up in our Northern States, who claim
for the negro equality with the white popula-
ton, in all the civil, social, and political rela
tons of life. 1t is remarkable the negro never
made this discovery for himself ground down
Il