The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-03-03
THE CONFLICT IN MARYLAND.

The following letter, written by dis
tinguished clergyman of Baltimore, appears
in the "Clipper" of the 18th ult:
To Mr. jacobs, Chairman of the Committee on the
Coiored Population, N the House Of Delegates Of
Maryland.
4 FEW THOUGHTS
On Lh0Se mos. monStrouS propositions before the
Legislature to erpet the free cOlOred people from the
STATE, unless they voluntarily become sGhs-f then
decline, to sell them into sldgery By compulSiOn. To
sell their property an the counties to sell their church
es, and place the same in The treasury for school
fund to educate our children, de-, de-,
Violent and extreme men at the present
time are thrown upon the surface of the
political world with them come violent and
extreme propositions which would have
Mortified our fathers. Mad on their idols
they are enraged at all who will not bow
down and worship the image they set up.
The time has come, said man to us a
few weeks since, when every man in this
State and the South will be set down as
pro-slavery or abolitionist-wit no mid
die ground. Against both we protest, even
if the furnace be heated seven times hot
ter.
Born and reared in this State, having
lived in it nearly half century, all our in
terests South, and knowing it, we have
reason for saying that it is misrepresen-
tation of the South, and say unqualifedly,
of the people of Maryland Werepudiate
it as one of the grossest calumnies to say
that one tenth, or one in one hundred of
the people approved of the proposition of
Mr.. Jacobs, to expel the free blacks OF
compel them into slavery, ard sell their
property, &c. Are the people of Mary
land dogs, tibet they should do this thing2
The Hon. James A.Peerce, our Senator,
in Jan. 1859, at the shareholders conven-
ton said, "He did not think there was
man in that convention or in attendance
upon it, who would approve of such pro-
position. If they had nothing better to do
than expel all the free negroes, or to sell
them into slavery, they had better adjourn
sine die"
We thought when these propositions
were hooted out of convention of slave
holders, and ridiculed by the press, the
free colored people would be let alone.
Not SO. Propositions equally monstrous
are before our Legislature.
No StoUe hereafter to be en1ancipated.
Those emancipated since 1882 to be made
slaUes again. No free colored person to
hold on acquire real estate What they
hare, take 1t from them and sell 1t. If
they aoont voluntarily become Saves, take
them and sell them into. slarery Sell
their churches IN the counties Place the
proceeds IN the State treasury, for a school
fund, &c, dc.
These propositions are made in Mary
land in 1860. Thirty years back, slave
holders here, in Virginia, Tennessee and
Kentucky, and other States South, were
century in advance of such ideas. They
held that God, in his providence, had
thrown these people among US, and design
ed that we should exert an influence to
elevate and christianize, and prepare them
for return to their fatherland.
Masters felt a responsibility to act hui
namely, provide fortheir support, give them
instruction. Many in their last wills, as
the records of our Orphans Court will
show, emancipated them. This was an in