lation are constantly removing to the Western
States, in quest of homes and fortunes, when
their situation here becomes crowded or un-
comfortable; while the free negro, conversant
only with what he sees around him, hesitates to
relinquish a tolerable abode, for one of which
he knows nothing, and of questionable advan-
tage at best. Besides, the free negro knows that
when he once leaves the State, the law forbids
his return, and he makes up his mind to remain
where he is, trusting to events, precarious as
they may be, for future good.
Thus, the motives, prompting the industrious
and enterprising white man to leave the sterile
lands, and already sparcely settled counties, in
pursuit of wealth, ease and happiness, do nut
affect the free negro; and he remains where he
is, increasing and propagating his kind, nurtured
and reared in all the vices, ignorance, wants
and degradations, characterizing a class of our
population called free, but in reality the veriest
slaves on earth, from the very force of circum-
stances surrounding them, and over which they
can never have any control.
The next point of inquiry is—"the numbers
that have been colonized in Africa." The ques-
tion applies to the operations of the Maryland
State Colonization Society, aided by the act of
12th March, 1832.
That act appointed a board of Managers,
whose duty it should be, "to remove from the
State the people of color then free, and such as
should thereafter become so, to the Colony of
Liberia in Africa, or such other place out of
the limits of Maryland as they should consent
to go to." To do which, the Treasurer was authorized
to contract loans to the amount of
$200,000, and there was levied upon the coun-
ties and city of Baltimore, the annual amount
of $10,000, to pay the interest and principal of
such loans.
That act expires on 12th March, 1852.
Previous to the passage of this act, the Ma-
ryland State Colonization Society had been in-
corporated, and was in full operation; the board
of managers appointed by act of 1831 were re-
quired to be taken from that society, 90 that,
combining the resources of the State and the
society together, and all directed by that society,
the fruits of the enterprise flow from both, and
the answer to this inquiry includes that other
also; "the amount of Colonization taxes, and
to what purposes applied."
There have been Colonized in Africa since
November, 1831, 1,011 souls; and the entire ex-
penditures of the society from its organization
in 1831, up to the 1st January, 1851, have been
$298,000; of which there has been received
from the State, the sum of $181,139 91, under
the law of 1831; $12,463 35, from the tax upon
slaves brought into the. State; $930, from the
appropriation of the act of 1827; and the bal-
ance $103,467 74, from other sources. Of other
resources, the principal ones have been the con-
tributions of individuals, and the gain on the
profit and loss account of trade by the society,
to the coast of Africa. The gain on the trade
alone amounting to over $59,000 in that time. |
The expenses in Baltimore, since the com-
mencement of the society's operations, say
since 1831, have averaged annually about
$2,200, or, in all, $44,000. This is made up of
various sums, such as $1,000, paid as a salary to
home agent; a clerk at a salary of $300; and a
traveling agent of $50 per month; office rent,
fuel, &c, make up the balance. Besides this,
there is paid the sum of $2,800, annually as
salaries to officers in Maryland, in Africa.
The Maryland State Colonization Society,
incorporated by the Legislature at December
session 1831, chapter 314, the object of which
was to employ the means collected in Maryland
to the removal of the free colored population of
the State under the auspices of the American
Colonization Society at Washington, formed in
December, 1816; thought this purpose could be
better effected by a separate and independent
action on the part of the State and society;
hence, in the fall of 1833, the State Society de-
termined, with the co-operation of the mana-
gers of the State Fund, to found the Colony of
Maryland in Liberia; the seat of whose govern-
ment should be Cape Palmas.
The purchase of territory was made in Feb-
ruary, 1834, to the extent of 130 miles on the
Atlantic Coast, and to an indefinite extent in
the interior. So that a part of the above ex-
penses of the Society, is attributable also, to
the purchase of territory, as well as the col-
lecting, sending and settling of Colonists there-
in, together with the necessary expenses attend-
ing the municipal and practical developments of
a government, which now forms a nucleus of a
future, and it may be, mighty empire.
The committee conclude this report by add-
ing the census of 1850, just completed; to-
gether with the results of their deliberations,
which they propose to incorporate in the con-
stitution, as most likely to secure the objects
sought for in the last paragraph of the order!
Census of 1850.
Counties. Slaves. Free cl'd. Whites. Total.
Cecil, 343 2,612 15,482 18,937
Kent, 2,426 3,132 5,598 11,357
Caroline, 808 2,788 6,096 9,692
Talbot, 4,137 2,590 7,087 13,811
Queen Anne's, 4 271 3,174 1,040 14,485
Somerset, 5,588 3,453 13,417 22,458
Dorchester, 4,282 3,803 10,788 18,873
Worcester, 3,453 3,593 11,824 18,570
Allegany, 724 397 21,752 22,873
Washington, 2,089 1,885 26,969 30,943
Frederick, 3,912 3,771 31,595 40,983
Baltimore county, 3,767 3,600 34,422 41,569
Baltimore city, 2,946 24,625 141,441 169,013
Harford, 3,166 2,785 14,414 19,365
Montgomery, 5,114 1,311 9,435 15,860
Prince George's, 11,510 1,138 8,902 21,550
Saint Mary's, 5,811 1,590 6,280 13,681
Calvert, 4,488 1,520 3,610 9,618
Charles, 9,584 913 5,665 16,162
Anne Arundel, 11,244 4,602 16,524 32,388
Carroll, 976 963 18,676 20,615
Sec. 1. The General Assembly shall have
power to pass laws for the government of the free |
