The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-03-14

condition of affairs brought about not by
any agency of our own, but by those
who have precipitated this unnatural
war.
Having viewed the subject in refer
ence to an admitted necessity, as we'll as
a question of right under the Constitu-
ton, let us now look at it in its more
practical bearing upon the State of
Maryland. No one who takes up the
satisfies of the last census can fail to
be struck with The singular inequality
between States occupying position alike
advantageous in reference to trade and
the capacity for growth and production
in other words, between the free and
slave States. What is the cause of this
dsparity-in wealth, in population, in
all that tends to make people strong
and prosperous While have been the
underwriting advocate of the rights of
the States under the Constitution, and
could not be induced by any action of
mine to break faith WI h the weakest of
them, have, nevertheless, entertained
the conviction that slavery is draw
back wherever it exis in any of the
agricultural or grain growing States.
In This opinion find myself endorsed
by declaration in the will Ia few days
ago admitted 20 proba'e) Of the late
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, the heir
of The illustrious signer of the Declara-
ton of Independence, and one of the
largest Shareholders in Maryland. Mr..
Carroll says: & have always regarded
slavery as grca evil, producing injury
and loss in graln-growiug $ ates, 10 de
whites principally an evil for which we
are not responsible who now hold slaves,
considering that God in his wisdom
placed them here, or permi ted them to
be introduced" Mr.. Carroll further
speaks of removing them 20 the South to
cultivate cotton, and expresses the
opinion that even ually Il fund would
be provided to establish them, at some
future day, in Africa or West Indies"
An experience of more than TWEEN y
years, during which time, from mo ives
of humanity rather than profit, | have
been shareholder, has satisfied me that
the institution has stood in the way of
our growth and Development. 1t has
limited he value of our lands, it has
crampcd the energies Of our people, and
checked the increase of wealth by ex-
c'udng from our borders bo h capital
aud population. In an address to the
| people OF Baltimore more than ten years
ago, took occasion to remark upon the
rapid increase Of the city of Boston as a.
compared with our own. = Her foreign
commerce. says the address, F." includ-
ing exports and imports, has increased
from Sl9,S59,Sl1 in 1912 to S39,24l,
6S2 IN 1880. The shipping interes,
increased during the same time from
l93,3o5 tons to 1892 tons. The
expansion and growth of population ard
wealth of B"s on, says Mr.. Cheesboro,
he City Surveyor, and the ncighbonug
owns in which the families of so many
Of her business men reside, has been
very remarkable during the past ten
years. la 1910, the population of this
diStric WAS 100, DIG in 1850, 269, S74.
The valuation of property in 1910 was
Sl2u, l,514 in 1850 it was S2G6,
f4G,S44. The population Of the State
a large has increased from 49,, 900 in
1910 o 94S,G05 in 1850, and her pro-
pcrty "auation from 1920, SOS, 1899 to
S391 1886, 995, or about duuble.' This
extraordinary expansion has continued
without abatement, Notwithstanding the
drawbacks Of an admitted isolated posi-
tlon, which must place her at disadvan-
tage when brought into comparison with
the geographical position of our own
city. In fertility of soil the State of
Maryland possesses decided advantages
over Massachusetts. Her mineral re-
sources are not surpassed, and her
manufacturing facilities, when viewed
in reference to cheapness of fuel, or
the presence of super-abundant
wa empower, are believed to be equal
to those of any other State IN the Union
What, then, | repeat, is the cause of
this disparity The answer is no diff
cult. 1t is, in my opinion, the effecl OF
the existing system of slave labor -
Capital and emigration flow towards the
free States. They have been effectually
excluded from our borders by the pre-
valence everywhere of prejudice which
1t would be difficult 20 struggle agains'
and the absence of these powerful auxil-
iaries has thrown the State of Maryland
upon it's own unaided resources, while
S population has been held back and
retarded by the enervating influences
which are everywhere felt as a conse-
quence of this evil. These facts need
no illustration.
The city of Baltimore is as near to
the producing center of the great West
as any of her sister cities-certainly
much nearer than Boston. Why does
she not take the lead in the supply of
that vast population with he products
Of her manufactures, in return for the
mixed commerce that seeks her market
on her scaboard, BY means of her rail-
ways? Why is not her foreign tonnage
equal that of Boston, We have
within our borders nnumcrable water
courses, lying idle and unappropriated,
that mi ght with proper industry con rib
ute to the support of a large population
Look at the reduced value of our lands
in every par of he State. What is he
cause Of this widespread inactivity and
depression.