The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-02-18

more Markets for the past week, neatly printed
on letter sheet, may be obtained at our counting
ROOM.
We do not hesitate to say, that if the bills re-
lahng to the colored population Of this State,
which have been reported to the House of Dele
gates by Mr. JACOBS, are suffered to become laws
they will infict serious injury, not only upon our
industrial interests, but also upon our reputation
for justice and humanity. These bills prohibit all
future manumisson of colored persons; Danish
from the State or force back into slavery, such as
have been manumited since 1881; deny to the
remainder the privilege of acquiring real estate;
deprive them of their places of religious worship
throughout the counties; forbid negro preachers
from exercising their calling, and institute sys-
tenn of forced labor for all negroes under twelve
years OF age, and between the age of twelve and
ffty-fye. Framed doubtless, under CALLING
sense OF injury, and as measure of precaution
consequent upon the Harper's Ferry raid, they
reflect the passions and the prejudices of those
who have really suffered or who believe them
selves to be endangered by the secret Vaccinations
oil the Abolitonists and their emissaries, rather
than the impartial Judgment and calm good sense
by which all acts Of legislation should be dis
tingushed. 1t is very clear that crusade COM
menced under such auspices, have no other
effect than TO increase the agitation already exist
ing on the subject of slavery, and to render still
more insecure that species of property which the
proposed laws are avowedly designed to protect
We believe that we speak the sentiments of
large majority of the people of this State, when
that baro
oppressive measures. We doubt, indeed, whether
they could be enforced even if they were enacted;
for, however much men may be disposed to OBJ
serve just and equitable laws their moral sense
would revolt at stripping the free negroes of the
few rights and privileges which belong to
them That they are not all of Them models of
propriety, may be very true. That, in some in
stances, they may have harbored fugitives from
labor, or melted them TO run away, might natll-
rally be expected from people in their condition
and circumstances. But that ninety thousand of
them shall be held responsible for the acts which
have been charged upon few of their number,
is too monstrous proposition to be justified by
any principle of morality known among men, 1t
would be an act Of oppression unparalleled in the
history of the State; and instead of being ''for
'the good Of the negro. and the peace and order
''of society," as the report declares it would ope-
rate injuriously upon both. 1t is contended that
al free negroes are the property fthe State that
they are subject to be dealt with like any other chat
tells, and thatthey have rights which the members
of the Legislature are bound to respect. The best
answer to these sweeping assertions, which are
either expressed or implied, may be found in the
Io+4a, Il
OF the Supreme Court of the UNITED STATES, when
bill for similar purpose was introduced recent
ly into the Legislature of Tennessee In entering
an earnest protest against the passage of the BILL
he declares that 'these people, this depressed and
''helpless portion of our population, which it is
designed shall either be driven out of the State
"or sold into slavery, harea rested right to freedom
''6yh judgment and DEGREES Of Courts" He also
bases his defence of them upon the higher grounds
of humanity and right reason; points out the
damaging efectit would have "upon those staunch
land upright men who are struggling to uphold
'the Constitution and the laws, and to protect the
'rights of the South,' and closes his letter by
predicting that if such a measure of persecution
should receive the sanction of the Legislature of
Tennessee, ii would go far towards crushing out
all sympathy with the South in the Northern
States, and 'would yet more strongly mark the
'biack sectional line between the free and the
'save States" It's gratifying to know that this
spirited remonstrance has not passed unheeded.-
The bill is still pending before the Legislature but
no one now imagines that it will ever become a
law. Is it possible that majority of the members
of our General Assembly will be found willing TO
incur the odium from which the Legislature of
Tennessee have already shrunk? Are they dis
posed, not only to widen the breach between the
North and the South, but also to introduce new
element of excitement in our very midst? If
there were any real good to be achieved by the
enactment of such laws, the approved loyalty of
the people of Maryland might be Justly and Success
fully appealed to for ;heir support however strong
might be the adverse current of outside opinion.
But the measures proposed by the Committee on
Colored Population are harsh, cruel and oppres-
sive, and are to be defended only by the tyrants
plea that ''might makes right" OF what series
of crimes, eopardiZing the security of slave
property, and the peace and good order of the
State at large, have the free negroes been guilty,
that the time has come when it is necessary that
they should be banished from the State en- 0,asse9
ilaNe ticy peen conSpflng 10 promote an lnsurrec-
ton? Have they set fire to our planters dwell
ings, BARNS or outhouses? Have they taken 10
robbing on the highway, or have they manifested
spirit of INSTRUMENTATION? None of these CHARGES
are brought against them. The head and front of
their offending is declared to be that they are con-
stitutionally indolent and prefer iob-work to
steady labor. But even this statement is contra
dicted by the accusing party themselves who also
complain that they have become obnoxious bv
crowding out white labor. We do not propose to
reconcile these discrepancies, and merely refer to
the charges to show upon what shallow grounds
they are based. There are as we have stated on
previous occasion, at least thirty-sx thousand
free colored people residing in this city 1t is re
sonaole, therefore, to suppose that if there were
any really serious cause for complaint against
them, the first appeal for relief would have come
from Baltimore. Yet the only memorial that has
been circulated for signatures here is one respect
fully protesting against the ostensibly remedial
measures now pending before the Legislature.
What need is there for any further comment? The
whole project has originated in a fanaticism as
intense as that which we reprobate in certain
class OF agtators at the North, and deserves
equally TO he frowned down