The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-02
The Negro ArItationIn Maryland.

nc negro agitation IN WafYlhnds
The following article from late num-
Der Of the Baltimore American is valuable
or its compilation Of testimony on the
fleet Of the presence Of free negroes
IN the security Of slave property |
IN Maryland. Several facts are
developed by this testimony of pro-
,areJy men, which will surprise most Of
our readers as much as they have us,
II appears that oae-laycf the negroes in
MaEyla,d are fee. II appears that the
regarded them as valuable
laborers and voted against their removal
from the State. But our readers must
judge for themselves
THE ANOMALOUS POSITION OF THE coLoNI-
zATGoN QUESTION
Certain of the citizens of Maryland
are at the present time in a most anom-
alous position with reference to the con-
dition of the negro here, as he might
possibly be affected by the Presidents
emancipation and colonization measure,
supposing it should be brought TO bear.
The anomaly is this that whereas the
message in question has lately elected an
expression Of the utmost reluctance at
having any more free negroes added
to the free negro population of the State,
when the same citizens, three years ago
and upon being provoked TO il by another
issue, concluded that free negroes were so
essential here that they could not be par
ted with at all. It's true that only In the
the case has the decision been something
like officially pronounced, and that we
have to come at the other in the best
manner we can, taking the declarations
of individuals in private circles, and the
sentiments Of the newspapers and their
correspondents, as something like fair
index And so the question occurs that
if the present free negro population is
a desirable institution, how large or how
small would it have TO be TO be eract7y
the thing?
We have been struck with this aspect
Of the case from a glance at a late speech
of the Hon. Mr.. Porter, of Indiana, in
Congress, in which that gentleman takes
occasion TO allude to the action of por-
ton of our citizens with reference to the
free negro population Of the State, and
the case is so acutely put that we pur-
pose giving the substance of it for the
benefit of all interested in this matter
We quotc-premising that Mr.. Porter is
abiding to the emancipation of negroes
belonging TO disloyal men-afliming
that such an act "would not tend, if
allowed TO take place peacefully, TO
weaken or impcril the rights of loyal
men in the slaveholding States 10 per-
sons held to service, nor disturb their in
dusrial interests, nor Lessen the founda-
lions Of social order"
He proceeds TO say q" A conspicuous
proof of the truth Of this assertion is
furnished by the State Of Maryland.
With the exception Of partial insecu-
rity in that part Of the State next to an
extensive border upon a Free State aris-
ing from facilities of escape, there is no
State In which slaves are held more Sc
curely than in Inc State of Maryland.
Yet, according TO the census of 1860,
with slave population of eighty seven
thousand one hundred and eighty eight,
she has free colorcd population of
cighty-thrcc thousand seven hundred
and eighteen. One-half, therefore, with
in a small fraction, Of the colorcd popu-
lation Of that state are free Yet who
has ever heard that the presence Of that
free population has excited uneasiness
or alarm among the owners of slaves, or
has weakened the tenure by which slaves
are held to service, or has injured the in
dustrial interests or the State?
"In 1859, when the slavery agitation
was at it's height, there was held in Bal
tlmore what was distinctly known as the
Shareholders Conventional the State of
Maryland It was a large asscmblage,
and none but Shareholders were admitted
as members. A resolution that the Leg
islaturc of the State should be requested
at its next session thereafter 10 tcrmn-
ate rcc-ncgroism in Maryland at an carly
day, and on the most advantageous terms
to the white population, was defeated,
and resolution was adopted that the
Convention considered any measure for
the general removal of the free blacks
from the State of Maryland as impoitic,
incXpcdicnt, and uncallcd for by any pub 4.
lie cxigcncy which could Justify it,
The report which embraced TINS resolu.
ton, was prepared and presented TO the
Convention by distinguished Democrat
ic statesman of the State of MARYLAND.
now honorably rcprescnGpr that Slate in
the Other wing of the Capitol, (Mr.
Pcarcc) quote from the report the fol-
lowing significant passages:
90 The existence of so large q number
Of free blacks in the midst OF slave.
holding State is believed to be of itself
an evil, and this evil is readily perceived
to be greater, when IL is considered that A