The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-10
THE SLA VEHoLDERS' CONVENTION
SECOND DAY.
At 10 O'Clock the President called the Conventi

submitted, had all been we'll considered The re-
port was drawn up during the morning and he was
compelled to ask the charity of the Convention in
its behalf.
The following is the report of the majority of the
Committee:
The Committee Resolutions beg leave to submit to
the Convention the following report
A number of resolutions were submitted to them by
members the Convention, all Of which they read
sidered and discussed carefully as the time allowed
them permitted This however was too short for the
Committee to entertain fully the consideration Of several
papers proposing details of legislation upon minor points
which were thought by those who suggested them by
Importance occupied most of the Committees time
These were the proposed expulsion from Maryland of
free negroes now residing in the State and the policy
adopted by the Legislature in 1881 of restraints upon
manumssion and the necessity Of procuring additional
legislation to vitality and vgor the
year which probably from the imperfecon ofts details,
has fallen into disueude
In regard to the first of these questions the committee
came to the conclusion that it highly inexpedent
undertake any for the general removal of our
free black population from the State that the best
interests of the State and Of that class of people
qured only due enforcement of the statutes this subject
already existing and of such additional laws as seem to
he necessary carry the purposes of former
lures, and make these people orderly Industrious and
productive BY the last this class Of our popuIa-
ton numbered about "A 900 Within the last nine years
they are estimated by natural and manumissons
to have reached over so 900.
The existence of large number Of free blacks in the
midst OF Sayehoding State is believed be of itself
an evil and this evil is readily perceived be greater
when it is considered that PORTION of them are idle
vicious and unproductye This however, not the case
with the majority of them and their removal woud AZ
the Committee believe be far greater than all evils the
people of Maryland suffered from them In the CITY
of Baltimore it is estimated that there are more
% 900 of them employed chiefly domestic servants
as aborers in various departments of industry In many
OF the rural districts of the State where labor by no
means abundant, they furnish large supply of agricul
tural labor and it is unquesonable that quite large
portion of our soil could not be titled without their aid
In some districts they supply almost all the labor de
manded by the farmers
Their removal from the State would deduct nearly so
per cent from the household and agricultural labor
nshed by people of this color and indispensable the
people of the State would produce great discomfort and
inconvenience to the great body householders would
break the business and destroy the property of
numbers of land owners and land reners-a class whose
interests are entitled much consideration as those
any other portion of citizens would be harsh and
pressVe to those people themselves would violate public
sentiment which is generally not only just but kindly
and would probably lead to other evils which commit
tee forbear to mention. We satisfied that such
measure could not receive the legislative sanction and
would not be tolerated by the great body of the people
Maryland, even with that sanction. The committee
therefore cannot recommend their expulsion from the
State Still more unwilling should they be favor any
measure which looked to their being deprived of the right
to freedom which they have acquired by the ndulge
our laws and the tenderness of their masters whether
wise or unwise, or which they have inherited birth
right.
On the other proposton-the restraints upon manu-
msslon-the Committee think that the policy in this
gard, adopted by the act of 1881 ch 2S1 wise and
proper The act provided for the compulsory removal
OF all blacks manumittcd after the passage of the law
It's provisions were numerous and cumbrous 1t provi
ded for the appointment of board of three managers
who should be members Of the Colonization Society
whose duty it should be to such people of color
as should become free in this State thereafter required
Clerks of Courts and Registers of Wills inform this
Board OF Managers of every manumisson by deed or
will wi hin five days after the recording of the one or
the probate of the other required the Board Mana
gers to notify the Colonization Society and arrange
them the removal of each manumitted slave to Liberia
IT the Society declined to do the Board was to
them to some other place without the State with their
consent and they refused to leave the State then the
Sheriff of the county to be notified by the Board and
thereupon it was he duty of the Sheriff arrest and re
move them beyond the State.
directed the Shers of the several counties to make
an enumeration and list of the of all the free blacks
in the pectve countless but it expressly recognized
the right of all free blacks then in the State to remain
therein if they so pleased.
Thus it is evident that the policy of the State in 1881
was the compulsory removal from the State of slaves
manumed after the dae of the act with view to pre-
vent the too great and rapid increase this part Of our
population; The Committee see reason for discard
ing this policy now but believe that the same
which influenced the Legislature of 1881 exist greater
force
The Act OF that Legislature failed to prove operatiye
rev or none were willing to TO Liberia any Other
place out Of the State No compensation to the Sheriff.
for their compulsory removal provided or to the
clerks and registers for the performance of the duties
joined upon them, and the law fell neglect and
was almost forgotten except by the gentlemen of the
and yet the evils attending the increase of this population
neither citizens nor slaves have been generally felt
almost universally admitted.
No doubts that it is through their agency in the
ma that the slaves are induced to awaythat the
example which many Of them thrftles laziness
sustained only ny dishonest practices, is cOrruptng
the slaves and to many of their cass-that they
courage slaves to characterization. The avoidance of tn
moderate labor required them the habits theft and thu
dissatisfaction with their condition all this which wa
apparent in 1881 is only more papabe now. The Com
mittee forbear to speculate upon all the consequence
which may hereafter flow from the increase among thu
people of Maryland of the free black population an infe
ror whose proper condition when mixed with the
peror white race few will deny to be that of servtude
at least of well regulated subordn alton The
without hesitation recommend that the Legislature
voked to pass such laws may he necessary give eff
cheney to the policy 1881 and to enforce the prompt re-
mova from the state of all persons manumited hereafter
majority of the Committee would prefer however, thu
future.
1t has been suggested, also that the State should re
vert to its former policy in regard to manumsson by las
will and entirely prohibit all SUCH unless when the viii
shall have been made by the testaor long previous
his death as to afford probability that the manumissoI
the deliberate act of person whose faculties wer
unmpaired by disease and not by the near ap
prOach of death 1t has also been suggested that
tive manumssion should be entirely prohibited That il
future the acquisition of real estate by free negroes shou
be prohibited, and that free negro residing in Mary
land, who out of the State should be allowed to
turn to it.
In regard to those negroes who have been manumtet
since 1881 it would to be contrary to the policy
that act that they should acquire real estate since
Joyment of it incompatible With the policy which
bids such person remaining in the State in a condition
of freedom. Such the opinion of Charles johnson
expressed in the 1st volume of his reports page 3S7
But is supposed that the possession real estate by
these people is not only inconsistent with the policl
which looks TO their removal from the State but is ais
productive of evil in other respects
1t not unequenty happens that those people obtai,
small parcels of land where they form close settlement
cultivaing much less than Is necessary to yield them
support and laborng very little for such persons wou
be glad to hire them on liberal terms. The conclusion
that they seek out their support by unlawful means
that the evil would be prevented by depriving them
power to hold real estate On the subject free
going out of the State and returning it. the Legislature
has heretofore acted by the general laws of 1881 which
however allows absence of thirty days by other gen
era acts and by the special local law applicable
three counties of Cecil, Kent and Queen Annes.
Tla Hrs ha1ia ha;
cient-thr latter is str ngent and has recently been
forced The committee have not time digest these
other subjects brought to their notice thoroughly bu
they think that the attention of the Legislature wei
be invited to them and such legislation in regard then
be asked for upon careful consideration the wisdom
the General Assembly may think will enhance the publ
interests.
The laws in relation to coored population
tered through many volumes, running through hun
dred and fifty years 1t has been proposed ask tn
legislature to reenact them in one body. The object is
good one and is likely accomplished without fur
ther legislative action The codifiers preparing
their work have already completed a chapter, whic
groups all these statutes. Should that work be accepe
by the legislature, all that is necessary will have bee
done.
The Committee do not think it advisable to prepare a
this time detailed bills propositions to be submitted
the legislature The most that can be DONE they think
is to indicate the subjects which legislation is desired
and the general purpose of such egs alton; appoint
Committee to the views of the Convention
Legislature and to assist in preparing such bills
be necessary leaving however, to the wisdom and discre
ton of Legislature to determine the measure anC
mode OF relief the various subjects which the
of this Convention has reforred
They recommend to the Convention the adoption Of tn
following resolutions
ReSolred, That this Convention consider any measur
for the general removal OF the free blacks the
of Maryland impolitic inexpedient, and uncaed 70
by any public exigency which could justify it.
. ResOUed, That the free negro population should
well and thoroughly controlled by efficient laws, to tn
end thatit may be orderly industrious and productive
j. ResotUed That for the purpose of diminishing IA
as possible the evils which proceed from an excessive
increasing free negro class the policy of the State de-
clareG 1881, should be reafrmed
be made to the act of that year will give to it acv
force and certain operation and will either prohib
emancipation altogether compel the prompt
from the State of those emancpated and that the Legis
should be asked review and amend the laws rela
ting to free negroes and to emancipation to remed
all the defects of sysem which time and experience hav
disclosed.
submit the views of this Convention and ask
ate legislation by the General Assembly.
Col. Jacobs, of orcester, said that as membe
of the Committee he could not subscribe to the re
port just submitted, but he asked the indulgence
the Convention while he read a minority re
port.
He then read the following report:
WHEREAS The State of Maryland, for long successo
years has been augmenting her free negro popuao
till their numbers attained to go OO0 who are pos
lively injurious to the best interests of this State the
fore
Be 1t Resolved, That the Legislature of this State at il
next session be requested by this Convention
nate free negroism in Maryland at early day, and
the most advantageous terms to white population.
Resolved, That no STAKEHOLDER owning limite
number of slaves shall be eligible become the owner
any of such conscrpt slaves and that person
owner of any slave, shall become the OF MOI
than limited number of such conscrpt slaves; and th
the price of said conscript slaves be made low
payments thereof in such instaments, as enable
citizens OF limited means to become the owners of sue
| slaves
Resolved, That law ought to be passed exempt fro
execution one or more slaves belonging to any perso
! ReSored, That if freedom is really worth anything
free negroes advise that they shall be required
leave the State if they wish to retain their freedom