Asheville (NC) News, "Slave Stampedes in Maryland," September 16, 1858

 Slave Stampedes in Maryland.

   The Baltimore American says, that in looking over its Maryland exchanges, it has been struck by the number of advertisements, of runaway slaves. On the border counties, especially, this species of property is becoming a very unsafe investment. The owners of slaves, says the American, are beginning to arouse themselves to the necessity of instituting some effectual means of protection from such great and frequently recurring losses, which annually amount throughout the State to sums that would scarcely by [be] credited.--Meetings of slave owners have been held in Kent, Queen Anne's, Worcester and other counties, with the view of calling an Eastern Shore Convention, to take into consideration the existing state of things, and devise if possible, a remedy. A meeting of the slaveholders and others of Dorchester county, for the same object, is also called for the 14th inst. at Snow Hill. These meetings have so far been numerously attended, not only by those personally holding slave property, but by other citizens, and have manifested earnest and determined feeling. The Convention will be held, though the time and place have not yet been determined, and the delegates to it have yet to be elected. The proposition has met with such a general approval, and is so obviously requisite, that there is no doubt it will be made a point of union and organization, which cannot fail, to some extent at least, to check the evil complained of.

   The American adds that large amounts are appropriated by Abolition societies for the very purpose of engaging parties to run off slaves which operate as so many rewards.--A regular system is in operation for the purpose. Certain parties, as appears from the Abolition society reports, received one hundred and fifty dollars for every adult male slave and one hundred dollars for every adult female slave they decoy from their masters. These persons in turn employ agents to effect their objects, and are thus enabled to make a lucrative business of plundering the citizens of our State and their property. One of the slave stealers, residing in Delaware, showed by his books to the society which employed him, that he had run off to the free States 2,059 slaves. Funds in abundance are furnished by Northern and English fanaticism for this purpose. 

   The American insists that something more than the efforts of individuals are necessary to counteract such organized agencies, and that combination and concert of action must be resorted to. The free negro element is said to be becoming a very undesirable element in Maryland as elsewhere, and the American recommends that it be placed under different regulations. It is deemed probable that the chief means of protection relied on will be the formation of a vigilant border police and suitable regulations for the free negro population.