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.
179011,176 164 10,004 21,344
180012,191 648 8,346 21,185
1810 9,189 4,929 6,471 20,589
182011,285 1,096 7,835 20,216
183011,585 1,202 7,667 20,474
184010,640 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.
179010,085 404 10,124 20,613
1800 9,558 571 9,043 19,172
181012,435 412 7,398 20,245
1820 9,419 567 6,514 16,500
183010,129 851 6,789 17,769
1840 9,280 817 5,915 16,012

ANNE ARUNDEL.

Slaves.F. Col.White.Total.
179010,130 804 11,664 22,598
1800 9,760 1,833 11,030 22,623
181011,693 2,536 12,439 26,668
182010,328 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.