Chapter IV: Letter III

In the foregoing pages, my dear sir, I have endeavored to treat of Slavery in Maryland as it seemed to me the subject required. A matter so important should have a more full and thorough exposition; indeed, I am but poorly satisfied with this attempt at one. Yet it was my purpose to be brief, and, with that design, facts of statistics and details, not absolutely necessary, were omitted. To those who are willing to reflect, perhaps, the considerations here submitted, growing out of organic social and political laws, may be to some extent suggestive, so that their own minds may fill up the deficiencies of this imperfect outline.

I can not hope that by any thing here said the violence of fanaticism will be assuaged. The assumption of being better than other people is so full of exalted ideas, the delight of meddling in other people’s business is so fascinating, that those who have been once seized with the mania and have confirmed themselves in it, by the belief that they are discharging a duty to humanity in general, as chosen instruments, are in a bad way, and not likely to be cured. These are the extreme agitators who whirl about in the vortex of abstractions; sympathizers who would ruin the objects of their solicitude for a theory; reformers of Slavery in communities where it does not exist; martyrs who will embrace any thing rather than a stake. With these, and such as these, we of Maryland have nothing to do. They are lashing themselves into an insane fury about a thing which does not concern them, which they do not understand, which they can not touch without wounding us--for it is a domestic affair and relates to our hearths and household relations. For ourselves I have written on this subject, that it may be considered among ourselves, with a view to such rational action as may in due time be proper; and for our true friends at the north also and the friends of our black people, comprising the great mass of our fellow citizens there, who do us the justice to believe that we have sense enough to find out our own condition, to appreciate it truly, and energy and humanity enough to do in the premises what duty may call for.

If I had been returned to the House of Delegates on the occasion to which you refer, my action in reference to Slavery in our State would have been confined simply to setting forth in a report, or some such way, the substance of the views contained in this pamphlet. It has been apparent for some time past that a convention to amend the State Constitution must assemble before long. That body, representing the primary sovereignty of the people, will be the most fit to take up the subject of Slavery. I have no doubt but it will take it up; and of one other thing I am equally certain, viz. that the clause in the constitution, which now makes Slavery perpetual in Maryland, will be stricken out. Most assuredly it will be stricken out, and that for ever.

With respect to the establishment of a newspaper in Baltimore, devoted to emancipation, I should think it, my dear sir, not advisable. The business in hand is of a kind to require calmness of consideration and of action. Now a newspaper, I fear, would be the instrument of agitation; it would find its pabulum in excitement. It would be regarded as the herald of abolition, and the whole body of ultra fanatics at the north would seek to connect themselves with the movement. Their contact would be deleterious in the highest degree; we wish not for their interference in any way; we prefer to manage our own domestic affairs; there can be no communion, in this matter, between our knowledge and their ignorance.

I leave the subject, my dear sir, for the present, and, with it, many things unsaid, which a full and complete discussion of such a topic would properly embrace. I might have referred to the effects of Slavery in connection with popular education and popular ignorance; but the statistics on that point are not just now at hand. It may be remarked, however, that no efficient free school system exists in any slaveholding State. Nor can it be otherwise; because where the land is held by slave owners, and mostly in large plantations, the white population is too sparse to allow of compact school districts. Besides, the planters having the means of educating their own children, either at home or abroad, they are not likely to be much concerned about the education of the children of their poorer neighbors. In every point of view it will be found that the permanent continuance of negro Slavery is incompatible with the elevation of the humble classes of white citizens.

Again, the institution of Slavery might be regarded in its effects upon social manners and usages. And here we should find many prepossessions which are strong in the minds of all of us, and which grow out of the best and most amiable features of the institution we are considering. To say nothing of those relations of confidence and regard which have always marked the intercourse of the servants of our halls and fields with the gentlemen of Maryland, the exemption from labor which Slavery gave to the whole class of landholders, with wealth in the hands of many, and a fair competency to all, afforded the leisure and the means for social enjoyments to any extent which a gay and social disposition might prompt. Hence that frank and cordial intercourse among friends; that courteous urbanity to strangers; that generous hospitality of heart and home to all--which have become the characteristics of the south. Long may she retain them. She need lose no good quality attendant upon her connection with Slavery, when, the more primitive and simple days of that institution having passed away, the institution itself has become decrepit, inconsistent with the progress of the age, and prolific of evils.

At some future time, if an occasion should seem to call for it, I may resume the discussion of this subject. In matters, however, of serious reality, and felt to be such, there is generally not need of many words--provided those which are uttered are to the purpose. With assurances of high respect,

I remain, my dear sir, very truly yours,
JNO. L. CAREY.

DR. R. S. STEWART.

_Population of the Counties of Maryland in 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840, as shown by the census taken in those years._

CECIL.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 3,407 | 163 | 10,055 | 13,625
1800 | 2,103 | 373 | 6,542 | 9,018
1810 | 2,467 | 947 | 9,652 | 13,066
1820 | 2,342 | 1,783 | 11,821 | 16,046
1830 | 1,705 | 2,249 | 11,478 | 15,432
1840 | 1,346 | 2,552 | 13,464 | 17,362
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

KENT.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 5,443 | 655 | 6,748 | 12,836
1800 | 4,474 | 1,786 | 5,511 | 11,771
1810 | 4,249 | 1,979 | 5,222 | 11,450
1820 | 4,071 | 2,067 | 5,315 | 11,453
1830 | 3,191 | 2,260 | 5,050 | 10,501
1840 | 2,741 | 2,586 | 5,513 | 10,840
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

CAROLINE.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 2,057 | 421 | 7,028 | 9,506
1800 | 1,865 | 602 | 6,759 | 9,226
1810 | 1,520 | 1,001 | 6,932 | 9,453
1820 | 1,574 | 1,390 | 7,144 | 10,108
1830 | 1,171 | 1,652 | 6,247 | 9,070
1840 | 768 | 1,727 | 5,373 | 7,868
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

TALBOT.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 4,777 | 1,076 | 7,221 | 13,084
1800 | 4,775 | 1,591 | 7,070 | 13,436
1810 | 4,878 | 2,003 | 7,349 | 14,230
1820 | 4,769 | 2,234 | 7,386 | 14,389
1830 | 4,173 | 2,483 | 6,291 | 12,947
1840 | 3,698 | 2,336 | 6,069 | 12,103
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

QUEEN ANNE’S.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 6,674 | 618 | 8,171 | 15,463
1800 | 6,517 | 1,025 | 7,315 | 14,857
1810 | 6,381 | 2,738 | 7,529 | 16,648
1820 | 5,588 | 2,138 | 7,226 | 14,952
1830 | 4,872 | 2,866 | 6,559 | 14,397
1840 | 3,979 | 2,540 | 6,006 | 12,525
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

SOMERSET.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 7,070 | 268 | 8,272 | 15,610
1800 | 7,432 | 586 | 9,340 | 17,358
1810 | 6,975 | 1,058 | 9,162 | 17,195
1820 | 7,241 | 1,952 | 10,386 | 19,579
1830 | 6,556 | 2,239 | 11,371 | 20,166
1840 | 5,385 | 2,642 | 11,477 | 19,504
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

DORCHESTER.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 5,377 | 528 | 10,010 | 15,875
1800 | 4,566 | 2,365 | 9,415 | 16,346
1810 | 5,032 | 2,661 | 10,415 | 18,108
1820 | 5,168 | 2,497 | 10,094 | 17,759
1830 | 5,001 | 3,000 | 10,685 | 18,686
1840 | 4,232 | 3,965 | 10,612 | 18,809
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

WORCESTER.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 3,836 | 178 | 7,626 | 11,640
1800 | 4,398 | 449 | 11,523 | 16,370
1810 | 4,427 | 1,054 | 11,490 | 16,971
1820 | 4,551 | 1,636 | 11,234 | 17,421
1830 | 4,032 | 2,430 | 10,197 | 16,659
1840 | 3,543 | 3,063 | 11,647 | 18,253
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

ALLEGANY.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 258 | 12 | 4,539 | 4,809
1800 | 499 | 101 | 5,703 | 6,303
1810 | 620 | 113 | 6,176 | 6,909
1820 | 795 | 195 | 7,664 | 8,654
1830 | 818 | 222 | 9,569 | 10,609
1840 | 811 | 216 | 14,677 | 15,704
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

WASHINGTON.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 1,286 | 64 | 14,472 | 15,822
1800 | 2,200 | 342 | 16,108 | 18,650
1810 | 2,656 | 483 | 15,591 | 18,730
1820 | 3,201 | 627 | 19,247 | 23,075
1830 | 2,909 | 1,084 | 21,275 | 25,268
1840 | 2,505 | 1,556 | 24,801 | 28,862
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

FREDERICK.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 3,641 | 213 | 26,937 | 30,791
1800 | 4,572 | 473 | 26,478 | 31,523
1810 | 5,671 | 783 | 27,983 | 34,437
1820 | 6,555 | 1,777 | 32,097 | 40,459
1830 | 6,370 | 2,716 | 36,703 | 45,789
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

BALTIMORE.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 5,877 | 604 | 18,953 | 25,434
1800 | 6,830 | 1,536 | 24,150 | 32,516
1810 | 6,697 | 1,537 | 21,021 | 29,255
1820 | 6,720 | 2,163 | 24,580 | 33,463
1830 | 6,533 | 3,098 | 30,625 | 40,256
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

BALTIMORE CITY.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 1,255 | 323 | 11,925 | 13,503
1800 | 2,843 | 2,771 | 20,900 | 26,514
1810 | 4,672 | 5,671 | 36,212 | 46,455
1820 | 4,357 |10,326 | 48,055 | 62,738
1830 | 4,120 |14,790 | 61,710 | 80,620
1840 | 3,212 |17,980 | 81,321 |102,513
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

HARFORD.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 3,417 | 775 | 10,784 | 14,976
1800 | 4,264 | 1,344 | 12,018 | 17,626
1810 | 4,431 | 2,221 | 14,606 | 21,258
1820 | 3,320 | 1,387 | 11,217 | 15,924
1830 | 2,984 | 2,048 | 11,287 | 16,319
1840 | 2,537 | 2,449 | 11,915 | 16,901
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

MONTGOMERY.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 6,030 | 294 | 11,679 | 18,003
1800 | 6,288 | 262 | 8,508 | 15,058
1810 | 7,572 | 677 | 9,731 | 17,980
1820 | 6,396 | 922 | 9,082 | 16,400
1830 | 6,447 | 1,266 | 12,103 | 19,816
1840 | 5,127 | 1,240 | 8,292 | 14,659
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

PRINCE GEORGE’S.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 |11,176 | 164 | 10,004 | 21,344
1800 |12,191 | 648 | 8,346 | 21,185
1810 | 9,189 | 4,929 | 6,471 | 20,589
1820 |11,285 | 1,096 | 7,835 | 20,216
1830 |11,585 | 1,202 | 7,667 | 20,474
1840 |10,640 | 1,080 | 7,763 | 19,483
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

SAINT MARY’S.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 6,985 | 343 | 8,216 | 15,544
1800 | 6,399 | 622 | 6,678 | 13,699
1810 | 6,000 | 636 | 6,158 | 12,794
1820 | 6,048 | 894 | 6,032 | 12,974
1830 | 6,183 | 1,179 | 6,097 | 13,459
1840 | 5,757 | 1,413 | 6,074 | 13,244
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

CALVERT.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 | 4,305 | 136 | 4,161 | 8,502
1800 | 4,401 | 307 | 3,889 | 8,297
1810 | 3,937 | 388 | 3,860 | 8,005
1820 | 3,668 | 694 | 3,716 | 8,078
1830 | 3,899 | 1,213 | 3,788 | 8,900
1840 | 4,401 | 1,292 | 3,402 | 9,095
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

CHARLES.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 |10,085 | 404 | 10,124 | 20,613
1800 | 9,558 | 571 | 9,043 | 19,172
1810 |12,435 | 412 | 7,398 | 20,245
1820 | 9,419 | 567 | 6,514 | 16,500
1830 |10,129 | 851 | 6,789 | 17,769
1840 | 9,280 | 817 | 5,915 | 16,012
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

ANNE ARUNDEL.

------+-------+-------+--------+--------
|Slaves.|F. Col.| White. | Total.
1790 |10,130 | 804 | 11,664 | 22,598
1800 | 9,760 | 1,833 | 11,030 | 22,623
1810 |11,693 | 2,536 | 12,439 | 26,668
1820 |10,328 | 3,382 | 13,455 | 27,165
1830 | 9,997 | 4,076 | 14,222 | 28,295
1840 | 9,816 | 5,120 | 14,599 | 29,535
------+-------+-------+--------+--------

NOTE.--Carroll county is not included in this statement, having been created since 1830, and the population of Baltimore and Frederick counties, from which Carroll was taken, is not carried out in 1840, part of their population being then included in the census of Carroll county.

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious errors in punctuation have been fixed.

Page 8: “l’etat c’est” changed to “l’état c’est”

Page 12: “must he fixed” changed to “must be fixed”

Page 31: The spelling of Allegany County was fixed.

Page 45: “it views and purposes” changed to “its views and purposes”