The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-21

room.
The people of Ohio are beginning to reflect upon
question that must sooner later present itself
significantly to the inhabitants of the other free
States. The Cincinnati Enquirer asks what is to
become of the horde of free blacks that will in all
probability, begin soon to overflow the South
ern border? That journal, evidently looking at
the matter from what is called the phianthropic
point of view, proceeds to interest itself about the
future physical condition of this fugitive class,
which it calls "improvident and destitute" and
states to be ''unit for a residence in new coun-
''tries," and ''without the industry neces-
''ary to subdue a wilderness " The destiny
of the free negroes, under such circumstan-
ces, and the suferings they are likely TO undergo
are certainly subjects for serious and kindly con-
sderation but it seems to us that there is another
and more important inquiry to be made, which has
been altogether overlooked. Is it not time to ask
what will become of the white men in those States
which will one day be inundated by the migrating
negroes2 Those who confne their observation to
the present situation of the two in the North
and who estimate merely the existing disparity
between them in point of numbers, activity and
energy may be disposed to regard this uues-
ton as so purely speculative, as to conceive it
scarcely worth while to deal with the imagi-
nary difficulties it suggests. But does the aspect
of affairs justify gus in believing the embar-
easements we have indicated at to be either unreal
or remote? The violent agitation of the slavery
question in the North, and the direct assaults upon
Southern institutions of which it has already been
hoy 1lv
portion of the people of the South to believe
that they are threatened with imminent and fear
full dangers. As their position u.s. in their udg-
ment, growing more and more critical, they are Of
course celebrating about the measures best CAL
culated for their protection, and no one can be
surprised, though many may regret it, if the Leg
islatures of the various States should pass more
stringent laws than ever heretofore to insure the
complete subsection of the blacks and the further
security of the whites. Should such action be
taken, the free negroes would unquestionably be
the first 10 feel its effects. This would be the case
in the border States particularly, and the immediate
effect of such legislation, as has been proposed,
would be to drive ninetenths of that class across
MASON and DIxoN's line. We have said that we
do not deem any such measures to be either just or
called for, but we cannot be blind to the fact that
they may one day be rendered imperativey neces-
sary, by persistence in such assaults upon us as
CHEEvER and WENDELL PHILLIPS instigate or the
repetition fsuch attacks as JOHN Brown planned
and executed. Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky
contain upwards of 100000 free negroes who
would betake themselves to the free States in such
an emergency as we have imagined. They would
he wi Nortb
of the confederacy, for, from many of the States
composing it they are now, and from others they
soon would be excluded by law. They would con-
gregae in those localities where public sentiment
and the course oflegislation have been heretofore
most favorable to them, and they would be Joined
by thousands upon thousands who would aban-
don every section of the South upon the first in
timation that they likely to be subjected to
further coercion. Ohio, we may presume, would
derive by far the largest accession to its inhabi-
tants from such exodus If it should so hap
pen, as in all likelihood it would, that the free
negroes concentrated in certain counties, their in
fuence and power would be vastly enhanced
Wherever they may settle in such numbers as to
constitute large fraction of the population, the
whites will realize the fact that there are political
and social questions which philanthropic and re-
ligious distractions cannot SETTLE If the blacks
are worthless and lazy, they cannot be dealt with
as few hundred foreign paupers might be, and it
will be no easy task TO provide for the proper reg
ulation Of such multitude of insubordinate out
casts. But if on the other hand, they should
prove to be industrious and enterprsing, the peo-
pie of Ohio will have still more serious difficulties
a. Al
be determined on Northern ground, whether two
antagonistc races can exist side by side, where
one neither holds the other in absolute subsection
nor consents to place it on a footing of equality
SO long aS the negroes are as one to five hundred,
the theories Of certain Northern politicians not
likely to be brought face to face with practical and
unpleasant facts, but when in the regions they
have colonized they shall constitute fifth or
sixth of the population struggle for equal
ity, Or perhaps, supremacy on their part, will
inevitably commence. When once possess
ed of all the power that property, num-
hers and education give, that instant
would they insist upon their right to such political
privileges as the more favored classes enjoyed.
insignificant as the influence of the free negroes
is in the North, such claims have already
been put forward on their behalf, in several
States, and are more strongly pressed in each
successive year. Their desire for the rights
of citizenship has been stimulated by the re-
cent proceedings of the Abolition Societies
and the JOHN Brown sympathizers. 1t can
not be doubted that if any such influx of ne
groes, as we have alluded to, should seek an asy-
lum in a State where they are permitted to vote,
they will, before long, crowd into the smaller
towns and districts until they constituted majority
of the legal voters Step by step they will struggle
for the advancement of their own race, and when
they have obtained foothod in Legislative As
semblies in jury boxes, and on the bench, The
whites must amalgamate with or Danish them.
We cannot conceive of any middle course between
Withholding from the negroes every political privi
lege and consenting to a ceaseless and determined
effort on their part to obtain perfect political and
social equality. In some count tries where the CEN
trail authority is held always by an exclusive
caste, subject race may be assigned and compelled
to remain in whatever position the government
may choose to accord it. But under our system
the supreme power of the State is shaped and
swayed by the pressure from below, and is COM
PEELED to adapt itself to the wants of simple MAJ
jority of the people. Mere numbers count here
and when the negroes shall be able in town.
county, Or one of the smaller States, to poll the
most votes, there they will govern. Under such
circumstances it would soon be seen that they had
more regard for than their white allies
and the latter would find themselves as regularly
excluded from Town Councils and Legislatures as
the negroes are now. We may be mistaken, but
II e
undaes Ohio, as the Cincinnati Enquirer fears will
be the case, the most momentops question for the
people of that State to decide will be, unless they
pass more stringent laws for their own protection,
"What will become of the Whites?"
Yesterday afternoon, Mr.. CALLS offered reso-
luton in the City Council, which was adopted
directing the Committee on Police and Jail to re-
port as speedily as possible an ordinance for the
re REORGANIZATION of the Police Force As this hodv