439]                          The Convention.                             61

have removed from Maryland all blacks then free who
might be willing to leave. All those who might be freed
subsequently to the act were to be removed whether wil-
ling or not.⁶⁷

In 1834 the State Colonization Society purchased terri-
tory in Liberia, Africa, to the extent of one hundred and
thirty miles on the Atlantic Coast, and to an indefinite ex-
tent into the interior. The seat of the government was
Cape Palmas. For the removal of the free black popula-
tion the treasurer of the State was authorized to contract
loans to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars.
Ten thousand dollars were placed annually upon the tax-
list to pay the interest on the loans, and to provide for the
payment of the principal. Between the years of 1831 and
1850 there were one thousand and eleven free negroes
colonized in Africa from the State of Maryland, at a cost
of two hundred and ninety-eight thousand dollars. Of
this amount one hundred and eighty-four thousand five
hundred and thirty-three dollars was paid by the State.

The committee reported the following to be placed in
the constitution:

Sec. 1. "The General Assembly shall have power to
pass laws for the government of the free colored popula-
tion and for their removal from the State, and at its first
session after the adoption of this constitution, shall pro-
vide by law for their registration."

Sec. 2. " No person of color shall be capable of pur-
chasing or holding real estate within this State, by title
acquired after the adoption of this constitution, ......."

Sec. 3. " No slave shall be emancipated or become free
except upon condition that he or she leave this State
within thirty days next after his or her right to freedom
shall accrue."

Sec. 4. " No free person of color shall immigrate to, or
come within this State to reside."⁶⁸

⁶⁷ Brackett, The Negro in Md., p. 165.

⁶⁸ Debates, vol. ii, p. 223.