The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-10

title which some of its members seem to have pre-
ferred-FfThe Convention to Consider the Con-
edition of the Free Population of Color of this
"State" has met and adjourned. The report of
its proceedings and the result of its labors, are
now equally before the public, and the time has
therefore come, when we may, with propriety, ven
ture to express that opinion with reference to both,
which We have hitherto withheld, from desire to
do injustice to neither. OF the former we may
say-that while the proceedings of the Convention
have been undoubtedly characterized by consid-
cradle degree of warmth, that warmth has
been wholly without bitterness; and of the
latter, unhesiatingly admit that by
the wisdom and moderation manifested in the
final action of the body, we have been most agree
ably surprised. The report of the majority of the
Committee to which was confded by the Conven-
ton the delicate and responsible duty Of preparing
subject-matter for its consideration, is every way
worthy of the distinguished abilities and patriot
ism of the Honorable Senator by whom we
understand it to have been drafted, while
the very decisive vote by which it was
adopted is in the highest degree credtable
to the good sense of the body to which it was SUBJ
mitted. When the call for the Convention was
first issued, in common with the great majority of
the people of Balti more, we had not only our
doubts as to the necessity of any such measure
but serious misgivngs to the results which
were likely TO ensuc. The sequel, we are happy
to say, if it has not entirely eradicated the former,
has been very far from reaising the latter. In
the first place. the precise object of the Con-
vention was by means generally under
stood. Then, supposing that object TO have
something to do with existing laws in reference to
free people of color in this State, the necessity for
any immediate action upon the subject was neither
felt nor acknowledged Other Conventions of
similar character held in other portions of the
South, had not prepossesed US in favor of such
assemblages, or rendered us over-anxious to
see our own State follow their example. We had
read of so much violence and intemperance both
in language and action, consequent upon such
meetings and the discussions 10 which they gave
rise, that we apprehensive of similar exhbi-
ton here. In all these respects, we repeat we
have been most agreeably disappointed. If the
views of the minority, and the suggestions con-
tanned in Colonel JACOBS report were extreme and
unreasonable, those of the majority, as embodied
In Senator PEARCE's, and confirmed by the final
action of the Convention, were eminently judicious
and conservative. If there were some timid souls,
who, like Judge MASON, were afraid lest one day
Maryland might pass altogether 'under negro
''ascendancy," and seemed to think that the exis-
tence OF free negroes among us must finally result
IN the exodus Of the entire white population of the
State there were not wanting others, like Mr.
JOHNSON, of Frederick, to expose the fallacy of
such reasoning, or like Mr.. EARLE, of Queen
Anne'S, and Col. SELLERS, of Calvert, to de-
monstrate-the one the folly-and the other,
the INJUSTICE, either of bauishing free negroes
from the State, or of remanding them into a state
OF servitude. 1t was shown that nearly
nifty per cent. of the agricultural and house
mold labor of the State supplied by this class;
mat In the city of Baltimore, more than 25 900 of
them found employment, either as domestic SER
wants or In various departments of industry; and
That IN some districts, particularly in the border
counties and among small farmers, the work of
ullage was chiefly performed by them. To re-
move from the State such body of laborers
would be an act of folly not inferior to that
mtted by old Spain, in the Punishment of the
Moors from Andausia. The alternative PROPOSE
uon--that of dcpriving innocent people of the
night to freedom which they had acquired under
the authority of law, and through the kindness
OF their masters, or which they had inherited as
olrth-rlght, was too revolving to every sentiment
OF natural justice to find serious countenance, we
hope, in any quarter. Certainly it could never
have been expected that any such measure would
receive the sanction Of the Legislature or of the
people, for, as was shrewdly suggested by several
members of the Convention it could not be for
gotten that the Convention itself was after ALL as
its name indicated, but partial representation of
the people State and that the legislative action
proposed, partook altogether too strongly of the
characteristics of ciass-legislaton, and was de-
signed too exclusively for the benefit of single in
terest not to be strenuously resisted by all who
were not shareholders, and who depend upon free
negroes alike for mental service and agricultural
labor. Nor was the singular diversity of opinion,
existing among the utraists themselves, at all cal
culated to inspire confidence in the soundness
of their views. According to some the real evil to
be remedied was the existence in our midst of q
large class of ignorant, depraved and indolent
free blacks-mere drones in the hive of industry
a perpetual burden upon the State, instead of con-
tributing to its support. According to Judge
Mason, on the other hand, the idle vicious negro
was not half so great nuisance in the body poll
tic, as the thrifty, honest fellow, who made money
accumulated property, and paid taxes. We should
almost imagine from the tenor of his speech, that
the Judge would rather retain he former among
us, as a perpetual warning and example to his
slaves-in order to inspire them with wholesome
contempt for liberty; while the sober, hard-work-
ing ones, he would Danish out of hand, lest the
sight of their prosperity should awaken envy and
infuse discomfort in the breasts of his chattels.-
Upon the whole, therefore, we think the ConVen-
ton may we'll be congratulated on the result of its
labors and the people at large, upon the fact
made apparent by its proceedings-that spirit of
wise moderation and sound conservatism still the
prevailing sentiment of the State, and of her best
and most distinguished citizens. For the city of
Baltimore, we think, we may safely add that, al
'noogh for reasons which we have already indicat-
.u' her people were not represented in the Conven
uon' otnerwise than by the self-constituted dele
caves who' at the eleventh hour, and apparently