The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-06-21

sets, Rhode Island and Connec icut-
own between them 65, 40 square miles
Of territory and yet, IN all Of them, in
1880 there were but 23,o2l colored
people, whose number had increased in
1860 to n, ! 10. In ten years the six
commemorative had received an aagu-
mcntation of but l,120 blacks while
the little State of Maryland, with but
1000 square miles, or about one-sixth
of the territory of New England, had
achieved the as onishing gum, notwith-
standing its slave code, of 5,Sl5 free
colored people. Pennsylvania, possess
ing 1925 square miles of soil, has the
largest free colGred popalatton Of aay Of
the free States numbering 5G,373: and
yet, with al, her inducemcn Of liberty,
the free blacks of her contcrminous
neighbor, Maryland, out numbered hers
by the almost incredible amount of 27,-
343, on territory not quite one fourth
the size of Pennsylvania. Well may it
be SAID that, emancipation adop ed, no
State needs so prompt an attention as
docs he State of Maryland to the start
ling social problems which must neces-
sarily arise. [ is precisely a question
of removal, or Of co-eristence wi Ii tie
liberia ed. 1t will not do 10 allow this
question to be treated by reckless politi-
cal demagogues, or to approach it with
subserviency to the behests of party
leaders, or under the seductive promises
| nf oth rInl bnl Of th &c
period OF civil war, war which has one
of is dis urbing causes in the institution
Of slavcry-with nothing yet definite as
to the principles or prospects of read
jusiment-it has been thought proper
by some persons to agitate the question
of emancipation in Maryland. With
most OF these agitators everything is
indefinite as to means, system aud re-
suits. They content themselves with
assertions. "Thc time has come :"
g the institution is doomed :" q" the
interest of Maryland is freedom - and
many other vague and explanatory
phrases content them in their summary
mode of dealing with directors. But
phrases will not satisfy the owners Of
nearly forty millions of dollars worth of
property in Maryland, nor the multi
tudcs of intelligent people whose inter-
ests and happiness arc interlaccd with
theirs.
At this time, an unquestionable con-
sentative Prosidcn', evidently sincere IN
his resolution to preserve the Constitu-
ton and the Union under i, promulg ga cs
his wishes on The subject by means of a
message to Congress. "The United
Statcs,' he says ought to co-opcra c
wi h any State which may adopt grad
ual adjustment of slavery, giving to
each Sta pecuniary and, to be used by
such State at its discretion, TO compcn-
safe for The Inconvenience, public and
private, produced by some change OF
SYSTEM"
This is the excellent sentiment of the
President of the United States it is
assumed to be his ''policy" by most pol
iticians aud, while it leaves all legisla-
ton concerning slavery where it belongs,
under the law, to the States, initiates
he idea of compensation by the General
Government. That ssseni,mcAt" was
passed by both Houses of Congress, as u
/" ReSolui,on," of large MAORI les in
each. Yet, Resolution " of Congress
as it now is-tor all praci,cal human
purposes, ii is nothing but " senti-
mint" still. l; is not law, effective
for anything but as deciaraiion OF
opan'on by the present members of an
incomplete Congress in which the major
lily Of 5 acs, possessing the property tc
be acted on, are not represented. 1t
initiates no system by which The senti-
ment is 20 become operative. 1t appro-
pria cs no money. 1t is subject to re-
peal At any moment. 1t o.Gires no gum
tum Of oaluai,on. II h0s no adhesion
Of opinion IN the Free Suites By the test
Of Subsequent elections. 1t is considered
of doubtful constitutionali.y, even if il
had appropriated money for the purpose
of compensation and, by many, it is
held to be equally doub full (cven il
accepted by the Slave States) wLethe,
the Free States would submit to taxa
ton for surrendered slaves. Nay, il
has been considered an excellent gag fol
abolition, which would become les,
venomous and i've when it found il
had to pay for its agitation!
Can such a resolution," lacking al
the practical elements either of money
system, or definite and unalterable law
be properly considered National poll.
cy relatius TO slauery, so as 10 become {
basis for the action Of statesmen 4,
.Mmyiand, in the midst Of Dur? w,
do not ask the question of politicians
absolute Legislation, even in revolution
airy times, is a poor reliance when one
under axes to affect organic ins i;u.ions
and 10 deal summarily wi h one quarter
of the popula ion of State and the
material Interests of the whole. Ii
truth, it is nothing else but the inaugu-
ration of great social revolution in the
midst of political rebellion. Nor will
it do to respond that we must have faith
aud confidence. " Confidence is child
of slow growth" especially in season.
like the present. Confidence" sale
Banks, I" may become voice, and jcal.
ousy a virtue, according to circumstan'
ccs." Confidence in what In the sur.
render of S7,lSS slaves, when you have
already in Maryland S3,7lS free, ant
no means or place whatever provided
i for their prompt exodus is the iudispcn.