The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-05
A portion of the press outside of MARYLAND is

Baltimore, MARYLAND +"
A portion of the press outside of Maryland is
giving itself deal of unnecessary trouble by dis
cussng Memorial, said to be in circulation in this
city, praying the Legislature to enslave the free
negroes of the State. That any serious effort has
been made here 10 obtain signatures to this docu-
ment we do not believe, and when such propo-
sition as it contains is deliberately submitted to
that body, it will not be necessary for the North
papers to denounce it in order to insure its de-
feat. The publication throughout the country of
this Memorial is calculated to convey to people
abroad unjust and erroneous impression about
the citizens of Baltimore, among whom we VEN
ture to say, it would be impossible to find fifty
persons of character and influence who would adj
vocate such measure. The frequency and vio-
lence with which the incendary doctrines of the
abolitionists have latterly been urged and the
practical exemplifcation of them, which JOHN
Brown and his gang furnished us have, it is true,
aroused here considerable feeling. The issues
with which we are called on to deal were serious
enough in themselves, but they have been render
ed doUby difficult of solution by the adventurous
excitement with which recent occurrences have
surrounded them. As we are, from our geograpl-
ica position most exposed to the direct and covert
assaults upon our institutions, which the emissa-
ries of the 'higher law" party may instigate, and
as we are not likely to make an instant surrender
of our opinions on the subject of slavery at the
dictation Of the fanatcal followers of Messrs.
BEECHER, GARRISON and PHILLIPS, common pru-
dence suggests that in the present temper of the
times we should consider carefully our situation
and prospects. The people of Maryland refuse, and
properly so, to admit the religious element into
the discussion of this topic and they hold the
question of slavery 10 be simply political one,
which they will insist upon settling for themselves
within their own borders. Had they been left free
to do this they would have determined more speed
lily and satisfactorily upon their line of policy than
they can now expectto do. That portion of our pop
ulation about whose welfare such camor has been
madeby those who are most ignorant of its wants
and condition, is in the main well fed and clothed
and as happy as any laboring class of Europe; and
but for the ceaseless endeavors made to render it
discontinued or sedtious, our Legislature might
now lie enacting laws tending to enlarge rather
than restrict It's immuntes. It's condition would.
at all events, have been candidly and dispassion-
ately considered, and from such an investigation
much good would have unquestonablv resulted
But, as it is, many of our people have been led to
believe that the danger of being assailed from with
out, grows more and more threatening. Some are
satisfied that invasions like that which Virginia
was so suddenly summoned to repel are not i'm
probable and Others, fearing that the much talked
ofdissolution of the UNION is imminent, look for
ward with dread TO the hour when a hostile, in
stead of friendly, State shall adioin our borders
Under these circumstances, they cannot but regard
with anxiety whatever causes they may deem to
be productive of internal weakness or distraction
Public attention has therefore been drawn to the
anomalous position of the free negroes in this State
who, standing between the dominant and subject
races, are in a situation to disturb the relations
subsis,ing between these classes. 1t is said they
would very materially embarrass us if we were
compelled to meet an attack from without and
that their presence is, in any contingency, likely
to interfere with the maintenance of the existing
order Of things, because of the jealousies and
hear-burnings they continually foment In these
views we do not concur. We are satisfied that
the free negroes here are, in the MAN. orderly and
well disposed, and they certainly comparatively
powerless. IT, from time 10 lime, few of them
have caused trouble or annoyance to the residents
OF the counties, it is because the laws applicable
to them are not enforced. The statutes already
enacted are numerous and stringent enough not
only to repress INSTRUMENTATION, but TO check the
most trivial misdemeanors. They may possibly
need some slight amendments, but we think it
will be found On examination that those who
ought to execute, and not those who make the laws
should be appealed TO in the first instance The
case but illustrates the defects of our system, of
which we might cite many examples. We have
superahundance of legislation on all conceivable
pc nts, and there is a great scarcity of proper
officials to carry itinto effect. Ill-pad and unedu-
Gated magistrates cannot be expected to exercise
the necessary supervision over their districts and
many enactments become obsolete through the
neglect or ignorance of those entrusted with their
execution. All these matters the Legislature will
duly consider, aud doubtessly with moderation
and discretion. Whatever action it may take in
regard to the memorial we have mentioned,
will we are sure, be characterized by
humanity as well as prudence. The pro-
posal to enslave Danish the free negroes will
meet with little liberation, nor will any other
measure find favor unless it be consonant to Justice
and consistent with the dignity of the State Ex-
IRENE men will probably advocate extreme opin-
IONS and the aholitioniss have only themselves to
blame for this, and they would have no right to
complain if the most ultra suggestions were carried
into effect