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

three centuries in this country. 1t is remark
able this fact was not known to our patriotic
ancestors, or to the Christian Church, until with
in quarter of aoentuTy past; and 1T is still
more remarkable that the teachers Of this phi
losophy do not practice it themselves, and have
only partially succeeded in Massachusetts, with
weak, deluded women, where some two or three
hundred Of such silly creatures have recently
amalgamated with negro fellows, to generate
race of mulattoes."
It will be seen that our ProSlavery Method
list is determined to rescue the negro from the
hands of the Abolitionists, who, though so for
midable as to threaten the peace Of the South,
are composed of few weak, deluded women
in Massachusetts,. He would sell the free ne
groes into Slavery, or Danish them beyond the
limits of the State but above all things he would
save them from the Abolitionists, who propose
to ruin them by cOnceding to them the nights
which, according to the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, belong to all men. But it is not clear
that our Methodist brother, who above all the men
in Maryland is the Negroes friend" regards
the especial object of his philanthropy as man.
A passage in his speech might lead to con-
trary inference. He repels with bitter scorn
the interference Of Northern MethOdists, and
particularly the Christian Adrocate and Jour
nal, with the domestic affairs of Maryland. Re-
ferring to the editor of that paper, he says:
/" But he does not stop here he commands
them to remember their colored brethren as
they did in ls4l-'2l' Does the editor mean
that all free negroes are Oto- brethren? He GER
tainly must for the action of the Cambridge
Convention included ALL without exception. We
think the Methodists of Maryland will hardly
submit to this degradation"
We had been taught by the New Testament
Scriptures that God has made all the nations
of the earth of one blood, and Chr st says that
"all men are brethren :" that our neighbor is
he who needs our assistance, although he hap
pens to belong to despised nation; but our
Methodist pietist of twentysix years standing
scorns the imputation of being the brother of
free negroes.
Col. Sothoron, of St. Mary's, said that his
view of the subject was, that the Legislature
should enact law to prevent emancipation,
and that the state or condition of free negro
ism should be abolished, and proceeded at some
length to advocate his views. He then pre-
scented the following resolutions:
" Resolced, That it is the sense of this Con-
vention, that emancipation should not be al
| lowed within the limits of this State, aud that
free negroism should be gradually abolished !;
therefore,
"Resolred, That committee Of -- be
| appointed to memorabilia the Legislature, and
obtain the passage of such laws as will attain
these desirable objects.
Judge Mason said that he entertained sim
| liar views to Col. Sothoron.
"Mr. James Pearre, of Frederick, moved that
the majority report and resolutions be so
amended as to include the views Of Col. Soth-
| oron.
Mr.. Marcus Duval, Of Prince Georges
county, offered the following resolutions
"Whereas it is believed that the portion of
the African race now held in Slavery in the
United States are better provided for and ia
ken care of and are happier, morally, and So
cially, than any other portion of said race, and
whereas it is shown that the free negroes of
Maryland can animate and corrupt the slave
portion of our population, and looking upon
the free negroes in Maryland as nuisance,
and evil in our society, it would not be
equitable and Just to drive them beyond the
jurisdiction of this State into any of our sister
States therefore.
Be II resolped By the citizens Of Maryland
IN Contention assembled, That we recommend
to the voters of this State the propriety of
electing members this fall for the General As
senbiys are insfavor OF enaeslng hltai en- lle
city of Baltimore, as soon as possible after the
passage of the bill, to cause every free negro
within their respective jurisdiction, who is not
over torty-five years Of age, to be sold to the
highest bidder, and that onehalf of the pro-
ceeds of the sales DC forwarded to the Treas
urer OF Maryland, and the remainder retained
by the Commissioners i. llcal purposes"
majority Of the speakers showed strong
sympathy with these ultra resolutions of Messrs.
Jacobs, Sohoron, and Dual. But the men
of sense and Sagacty, who can Z discern the
signs of the times" though not differing alb.
stractly from them, saw the folly OF attempting
to force them upon the people OF MARYLAND. 1t
will be seen that the resolutions reported by
the committee reject the idea of expatriating
or selling the free negroes, not because such
measures are wrong, or revolving to the moral
sc Sc of honest men and Christians, but because
1t would be inexpedient, and uncalled for by
any public exigency which could Justify it."
Senator James A. Pearce presided over the
committee, and directed its action. The reso.
lutions are characteristic of his cautious policy.
They are bad enough, but not so bad as thew
might have been. They are cold and heart.
less, but discreet.
The following extracts from the debate. will
show that 1t was not principle, but policy for
the most part, which controlled the deIibera.
tons of the Convention
Judge Mason said the question was. shall
Maryland continue a slave State, or shall il ha.
come a free State He then spoke of the in.
crease of the free negro in comparison with
the increase OF the free white population, and
remarked, that if it continued, MARYLAND
would soon become Il free-negro State He
spoke of the removal of the free negroes
as not oppressive. Slaves would spring IN on
the disappearance Of the free but if things
went on as at present, the State would glide
into free condition within the next quarter of
century. The gentleman from Cttlrer satreIy
aid not kno'c 'ohdt a feeling of Init .S2areyy
existed IN the State Of Maryland. Let him take
Tie stump an faror Of Anft SlaveyU-TMr. Sol.
lers. hope the gentleman will not mention
my name IN any such connection. Judge NJ.
begged pardon he only made the remark "a
compliment--or any other gentleman of aonai
talent and he 1could hare thousands fockiaq to
ms standard IL tces not the oagaJond nc0ro
rho made SloveIy SIT uncom tortaJly on the
stare, 6,H the thrifty, 'oho are seen By the slayes.
make the Dissatisfaction.
Mr.. Dorsey, of Howard, said he was Cd.
posed to the call of the Convention, and his
county was represented because thew were on
posed to the Convention. Shareholders Con
venhons had been held years ago, and what
had been done? Shareholders rp5n oo,.la ".le 10.