The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-04-15
Freedoms Breech-CiOut.

The Maryland Legislature, at the last ses-
sion, repealed the laws prohibiting the i'm
migration Of free negroes into this State
prohibiting "thc navigation of vessels by
negroes prohibiting all persons from IDEAL
ing with free negroes prohibiting the
meeting of negroes fer religious purposes.
unless conducted by white person"-requir-
ing "icense to keep dog or gum" &c. &c,
and all the balance of the article imposing
restrictions upon our colored population.
known as the "Black Code" or article &c
of the Code of General Laws, except sec
tons 80 and s5. These sections remain in
force and are in these words:
"SEC. 80. If any free negro shall contract
in writing to hire to any white person, for q
year or less time, and for certain wages, and
shall afterwards refuse to enter into the ser,
vice of such person, and shall hire to another
person, the person first hiring said negro
may recover from said negro, before JUS
tice Of the peace, two fifths of the amount
of wages contracted to be paid by the per,
son first hiring which Judgment shall be a
lien on the wages in the hands of the person
in whose service he may be engaged, from
the time notice of such Judgment shall be
given to said person, and shall be paid when
due, and may be recovered before any JUS
tice of the peace as common debts are"
'SEc. 50. No Judgment shall be rendered
against tree negro, or person hiring such
negro, il the justice shall believe that the
wages agreed to be paid to said negro were
not reasonably secure, or if he shall believe
that said negro left the service, or refused to
enter into such service, on account of i'm
proper usage or treatment"
Now, since there are no longer any slaves
in Maryland, it strikes us that free neeroc"
is about as Pathological an expression as
male man, or female woman, and could
have been left standing on our statute books
only as an evidence Of the astuteness of body
of men who were ambitious to perpetuate
the shame of Being citizens of State once
desecrated by slavery; or as very pitiful
attempt to pander to the prejudices of GER
tain class of milk and water Unionists and
semi-secession sympathizers, who consider
it highly necessary-and we dare say with
good reason, too-that restrictions should
be placed upon colored people to prevent
them from getting on an equality with them
We have no objection to a law Furnishing
in some way those who contract to hire and
afterward refuse to fulfil their contract. In
fact we consider such law an excellent
one. But why should it apply only to free
negroes? Why make an invdious distinc.
ton? Is the negro who fails to comply with
his contract any more Of wrong doer than
the white man who fails to comply with his :?
Does the color ofthe laborerv violating the con.
tract, add to the Nervousness of the offense :?
Is it wrong in black man to contract to
hire and atterward refuse to comply with his
contract but right in white man to do so :?
Why punish the black man and let the white
one 20 scot free, where the ofrense is as
henions in the case of one as in that of the
other? If the law Is good, let US make it
"pply to all alike; if it is bad, wipe it from
the statute book. Justice is Justice and
should be meted out to all impartially, with
out regard to class or color. Our Legisla-
ture, however. appear to have entertained a
different opinion or they would not have
been guilty Of tearing such dirty rag from
the foul garment Of slavery, and fastening
it as breech- clout to the statue of Freedom.