refuge of the fugitive slave, is beginning to murmur and show symptoms of uneasiness at the rapid increase of its colored population, and seems preparing to adopt measures for its exclusion.[1]
Now, the laws of the slave-holding States, or of most of them, absolutely forbid emancipation, unless the slaves emancipated be at the same time removed beyond the limits of the State. But we perceive, from the
- ↑ * In a New York journal of the 7th June, 1853, we find the following statement, which is indicative of the state of feeling beginning to arise in Canada, in reference to the increase of blacks: —
"A petition has been presented to the Canadian Legislature from the Municipal Council of Kent, representing that by reason of the rapid increase of the colored population of the said County, by immigration from the United States, many evils are resulting and are likely to result to the said County, and praying for the adoption of certain measures in reference thereto."
dollars; and so on, with an addition of fifty dollars to the penalty for every offence."
In regard to Indiana, a New York paper of the date of June 28, 1853, states that "the free negroes of that State are leaving it in hundreds in consequence of the rigid enforcement of the 18th Article of the New Constitution, by which all colored persons who came into that State since November 1, 1851, are required to leave it under heavy penalties."
The terms of the Delaware provision are as follows: — "That no free negro or mulatto, not now an inhabitant of the State, or who shall leave the State with an intention to change his residence, shall, after the adoption of this Constitution, settle in this State, or come into or remain within the State, more than ten days. All contracts made with any free negro or mulatto, coming into this State, contrary to the provisions of this section, shall be void; and any person who shall employ such negro or mulatto, or otherwise encourage him to remain in this State, shall be fined in a sum not less than twenty nor more than five hundred dollars." The Constitution of Oregon, just adopted, forbids the entrance of colored persons into the State, or their holding real estate therein, or even making contracts, or maintaining suits in any Court of the State.
