Thus, from the foregoing, it appears that while
In 1790 there were but 8,043 free people of
color in the State, at the end of the seventh de-
cade there are 73,158, making a constant annual
increase of 1,052, for the whole period of 60
years.
The slave population of 1790 were 103,036,
while in 1850 it numbers 90,000, making an an-
nual decrease for the same time of 217. The
white population in 1790 numbered 208,649; and
in 1850, 412,803,—showing an annual increase
for 60 years, just expired, of 3,404; not having
doubled their number in that time, while the
free negroes in same time have duplicated their
numbers nine times over; or while the whites
have increased upon their numbers less than 100
per cent. for the last sixty years, the free negroes
have increased over 900 per cent.
The relative rate of increase between whites
and free colored from 1790 to 1850, will appear
by the following table :
Alleghany county in 1790 had 1 free colored
to 278 whites—in 1840, 1 to 68—in 1850, 1 to 54.
Washington in 1790 had 1 free colored to 226
whites—in 1840, 1 to 16—in 1850, 1 to 14.
Frederick in 1790 had 1 free colored to 126
whites—in 1840, 1 to 13—in 1850, 1 to 8.
Baltimore county in 1790 had 1 free colored
to 23 whites—in 1840, 1 to 10—in 1850, 1 to 9.
Baltimore city in 1790, 1 free colored to 37
whites—in 1840, 1 to 4;—in 1850, 1 to 5.
Harford in 1790, 1 free colored to 14 whites
—in 1840, 1 to 4 3/4—in 1850, 1 to 5.
Montgomery in 1790,1 free colored to 39
whites—in 1840, 1 to 6 3/4—in 1850, 1 to 7.
Prince George's in 1790, 1 free colored to 61
whites—in 1840. 1 to 7—in 1850, 1 to 7.
Charles in 1790, 1 free colored to 25 whites—
In 1840, 1 to 7—in 1850, 1 to 6.
Saint Mary's in 1790, 1 free colored to 34
whites—in 1840, 1 to 4 1/4—in 1850, 1 to 3.
Calvert in 1790,1 free colored to 30 whites—
in 1840, 1 to 2 1/2—in 1850, 1 to 2 1/3.
Anne Arundel in 1790, 1 free colored to 14
whites—in 1840, 1 to 2 4-5—in 1850, 1 to 32.
Carroll in 1840, 1 to 17.
Cecil in 1790, 1 free colored to 61 whites—in
1840, 1 to 5,—in 1850, 1 to 6.
Kent in 1790, 1 free colored to 10 whites—In
1840, 1 to 3—in 1850, 1 to 1 2/3.
Caroline in 1790, 1 free colored to 16 whites
—in 1840, 1 to 3—in 1850, 1 to 2 1-5.
Talbot in 1790, 1 free colored to 6 3/4 whites-
in 1840, 1 to 2—in 1850, 1 to 21.
Queen Anne's in 1790, 1 free colored to 13
whites—in 1840. 1 to 2 1/3— in 1850, 1 to 2 1-5.
Somerset in 1790, 1 free colored to 30 whites
—in 1840, 1 to 4— in 1850, 1 to 3 4-5.
Dorchester in 1700, 1 free colored to 19 whites
—in 1840, 1 to 2 2/3—in 1850, 1 to 2 4-5.
Worcester in 1790, 1 free colored to 43 whites
—in 1840, 1 to 3 4-5—in 1850, 1 to 3 1/3.
Baltimore, Frederick and Carroll, the latter
taken off between 1830 and 1840—in 1840, 1 to 9.
Statement of the manumissions reported to
the commissioners of the State fund, since 1833
to January 1st, 1851, as follows :
Total number of manumissions since March, |
1833, are, 4,199; of this number were manu-
mitted forthwith, 1,587; number prospective,
and to take effect at a further time, 2,612.
This number falls far short of the actual
manumissions, as in many instances by will,
neither names or numbers are given, but all
slaves are set free at the testator's decease, or
at some future time.
The actual increase or decrease in the several
counties and Baltimore city, of the whites and
free colored since the census 1840, up to the
census of 1850, and the relative increase per
cent. during those ten years) will appear by the
following table:
Actual Increase or Decrease since the Census of 1840.
Increase pr.
ct in the 10
yrs. between
1840 and '50.
Counties.
Baltimore city, 63,294 6,658 78 36
Harford, 2,373 349 19 14.3
Montgomery, 1,156 56 13.9 4.4
Prince George's, 1,079 58 13 5
Charles, 357 94 dec. 10.2
Allegany, 7,089 182 66.5 85
Washington, 2,235 305 9 19.1
Frederick, 6,804 1,259 27 62
Baltimore Co., 10,038 114 41.5 3.2
Saint Mary's, 045 210 7.5 15
Calvert, 025 46 .7 3
Anne Arundel, 3,519 105 17.6 2.3
Cecil, 2,203 61 16 dec.
Kent, 18 641 dec. 25.8
Caroline, 762 1,068 14.3 62
Talbot, 1,034 250 16.7 10.6
Queen Anne's, 908 642 14.7 29.9
Somerset, 1,932 807 16 30.5
Dorchester, 059 184 .5 dec.
Worcester, 059 520 .5 16.9
Total white increase per cent. 29.9
Free black do. do. 17.9
Slaves have decreased.
Thus it appears from an increase, demon-
strated by the actual returns of the present cen-
sus, the free negro population on the given rate
of progression, must, in a few years, exceed the
white population in eleven counties of the
State.
Baltimore county exhibits the largest white
increase over the free colored; from their known
partiality to village or city life, that is easily
accounted for—Baltimore city being located in
that county. The city of Baltimore shows a
very large increase of free blacks, but the ratio
of white increase exceeds that, because of large
accessions from the country and foreign emi-
gration added to the actual city increase proper,
Kent and Worcester show the largest increase
of free blacks over the whites, to be found in
any of the counties.
The cause of this state of things in the coun-
ties is sufficiently apparent. The white popu- |
