That the views presented by the memorialists are various, and
the recommendations contained in some of the memorials are
entirely repugnant to those contained in others. The
subjects, however, upon which legislative action is required,
may be embraced under a few general heads:
First, That a law be passed prohibiting the future
emancipation of the slaves, unless provision be made for
their removal from the state.
Secondly, That a sum of money adequate for the attainment of
the object, be raised and appropriated for the further
removal of those already free.
Thirdly, That a system of police be established, regulating
the future conduct and morals of this class of our
population.
And, Fourthly, There are several memorials from different
parts of our state, signed by a numerous and highly
respectable portion of our citizens, recommending the entire
abolition of slavery in the state.
On the 14th of March, 1832, the State Legislature of Maryland
appropriated for the use of the State Colonization Society the sum
of two hundred thousand dollars, payable in sums of twenty thousand
dollars per annum for ten years. Having made the grant, the
legislature next proceeded to pass acts to obtain the consent of the
colored population to quit the state and country, and emigrate to
Africa. He (Mr. T.) claimed special attention to some short extracts
from those laws. They would reveal more powerfully than any language
of his, the benevolent or rather atrociously cruel designs of the
'good people' of the state. He should quote first from 'An Act
relating to Free Negroes and Slaves,' passed within a few days of the
grant and part and parcel of the same benevolent scheme:--
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That after the passage of this act, no free negro or mulatto
shall emigrate to, or settle in this State; and no free negro
or mulatto belonging to any other state, district or
territory, shall come into this State, and therein remain for
the space of ten successive days, whether such free negro or
mulatto intends settling in this State or not, under the
penalty of fifty dollars for each and every week such persons
coming into, shall thereafter remain in this State; the one
half to the informer and the other half to the sheriff for
the use of the county. * * * and any free negro or mulatto
refusing or neglecting to pay said fine or fines, shall be
committed to the jail of the county; and shall be sold by the
sheriff at public sale, for such time as may be necessary to
cover the aforesaid penalty, first giving ten days previous
notice of such sale.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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