Year: 1862

well written article from the Baltimore
american, on Emancipation in Maryland"
that appeared in May last and which we cut
out for publication at the tlme but mislaid
and overlooked it, till brought to our notice
by friend. The article was written by
Brantz Mayer, Esq, of Baltimore, and con
tains some valuable statistical information
The author touches his subject gingerly, and
after stirring it a while leaves it where he
| finds it, with wish that it be left to enjoy
a comfortable nap, like naughty child, till
after we dispose of the war. This policy of
! step softly lest you wake the baby, while
said baby is roaring fit to deafeE you is, to
use the homely phrase, about "played
out"


We hate o firm and abiding faith in the
honesty and ability of the people to govern
justly, and all that is requisite, or all they
wish, is to be properly informed. We have
attempted, and We think have pretty effect.
ually succeeded, as far AS our sphere extends,
IN satisfying them that the State has been
governed by negro representation, and some
900 shareholders have had their interests
bolstered up by this means, at the expense
of every other interest in the State. We
don't apprehend that making the people
acquainted with these facts will tend to
divide the Union party in the State. And
any profcssed Union man who thinks it bad
policy to teach the people the moius opernnd,
by which the secession influence has main
tanned great power in the State, may as
well be sloughed off and drift into the seces.
sion ranks soon as late. In the article from
the 'amer'co" the writer says it has long been
evident to plain, common people that


1.-The Negro question, rather than the Sia-
rery question, or emancipation. would become
OF immense importance in its bearing on
labor and taxation in Maryland


That predicted time has arrived, and it is
our province to examine the question sin
its bearing on labor and taxation in Mary
land'


The figures cited in Mr.. Mayors article
prove very conclusively that slavery is
dying out Of the State by degrees, and while
this destiny for the State is pronounced as
unavoidably certain, a fear is expressed
about the disposition of the free negroes
This shows the imperative necessity of the
citizens of the State making themselves
familiar with the difficulty, and if 10. 9OG
free negroes are likely to work more injury
to the welfare of the State, and offer more
formidable competition to white labor, than
when half of those blacks are slaves as now,
it demands our earist attention, in order
that we may anticipate the evil by removing
the cause.


If the statistics of negro population in the
New England States prove anything, they
prove that cmanci patton balishes from the
State, as well the colored free, as slave
population. The statistics of population of
Pennsylvania more conclusivcly prove this
to be the case. With an area of more than
four times that of Maryland, the two States
bordering on each other, the latter has a
free negro population of upwards of 27, 900
more than the former. Facts are stubborn
things and one is worth world of theory.
And what do the figures prove? Why, that
the free States are not only rid of slaves,
but IN great measure of free negroes also
while on the other hand the slave States are
not only stocked with slaves, but are abun-
dainty supplied with free negroes also. The
reason is obvious. The slave States are
under a monopoly of the masters, who con.
stantly discriminate against white laborers,
showing them out of their employ, and by
thus excluding white men, the owner of
slaves creates purposely, negro social sys-
TEN that attaches to manual labor, which
rcpels the laboring white man, and attracts
the free negro to it. Hence you find free
negroes but sparsely scattered through the
Northern, while they abound in the slave
States. The laws that govern society are as
perfect and irresistible as those which con-
troll the elements. They were ali created
by the same wise power, and for some good
purpose. Free negroes are but fraction of
the population in the free States, because
they become there the slaves of social
system, as the writer above alluded to
admits and drop out of existence when
brought into competition with the white
man, not backed by the capital of a master,
and favored by an unjust legislation that
discriminates against the white man, in this
our State of Maryland, as we'll as in the
other slave States. The article from the
american says:


" 1t is precisely question of ren,oral, or
Of co-ertacnce with the liberated"


Facts prove precisely the reverse. Look at
Pennsylvania. Look at the comparatively
free counties of Maryland. The social sys,
tenn of these localities excludes the free
negro, making him 'iaue to society without a
protecting owner.


But it has been shown that emancipation
in Maryland is inevitable from natural
causes, and this war must quicken those
causes. Consequently, for our own welfare,
as we'll as that of the negroes, we should
calmly deliberate how that removal - is to
be effected, and 60 to work with an honest
purpose to accomplish it.


The writer continues:


1t will not do to allow this question to
be treated by reckless political demagogues,
or to approach it with subserviencv to the
behests of party leaders, or under the seduc-