1858.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 453

Our own State has colonized only about 1,100 since 1831,
the larger part of whom were slaves, set free on condition of
going to Africa.

Nor does Christianity prosper in a free negro community.
Take our own State and Pennsylvania, and you will find that
the statistics show a Church membership in Maryland (chief-
ly slaves) of ten to one in Pennsylvania. We hazard nothing
in saying that, the institution of slavery in these United States
Las christianized more heathens than all the missionary ef-
forts throughout the habitable globe. We venture the as-
sertion, that there are more of the negro race now in Heaven,
redeemed by grace while in a state of slavery, than would get
there in the next thousand years, if all were set free; and
more than are there from all the combined efforts of Mission-
aries since the Reformation took place. And yet the institu-
tion of slavery, the only hope for the redemption of Africa, is
held up by many to the gaze of the world, as a moral wrong
in the eyes of God. The people of Maryland are of a differ-
ent opinion; for we find Art. xxi., of the Bill of Rights, that
they reserve to your Honorable body, in express terms, the
power to "govern, regulate, and dispose" of our free negro
population.

This language clearly recognizes on inherent right to legis-
late for them; and it also indicates the sense of the Convention
that framed the Constitution, as to the particular kind of
legislation best adapted to their case. The legislature has
passed numerous laws to "govern and regulate" them but
the "disposing'" of them yet remains to be tried. Has that
time and necessity come? We think it has.

We do not dictate to your Honorable Body, but we assure
you, that the institution of slavery in Maryland depends up-
on your decisive legislation towards the free negro popula-
tion. Either they must be expelled from the State, or made
slaves, or slavery will soon terminate in Maryland. We lose
yearly in runaway slaves, at least $200,000, and the insecuri-
ty of this property forces upon us the necessity of selling them,
or removing with them further South.* The operation of
these causes, unless speedily checked, must ultimately make
Maryland a free State.           

The ultimate destiny of our free negroes in this State, de-
mands candor and frankness at the hands of our legislature.
For we all know, in any event, their stay here is very pre-
carious, and the past temporizing policy of our laws towards
them, irritates rather than cures the evil.

We therefore pray your Honorable Body for the passage of
a law embracing and disposing of our free negroes under four
cardinal heads, as follow: