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 ; but, to the bitter disappointment of all anti-slavery men, the Convention adopted in the new Constitution a provision asserting that "the right of property is before and higher than any constitutional sanction, and the right of the owners of a slave to such a slave and its increase is the same, and as inviolable as the right of the owner of any property whatever." Thus slavery showed how much stronger it really was than either its friends or foes believed it to be. The efforts of the friends of freedom seemed only to incite their adversaries to more united and determined action. The struggles in Kentucky are illustrations of the conflict through all the Border States.

Slave States and free States alike passed laws oppressing the colored people. "Black Laws" they were justly called. Early in this century Virginia had prohibited meetings or schools for teaching free negroes, and forbidden the preaching of slaves or free negroes. In 1838 she forbade free colored persons leaving the State for the purposes of education, on forfeiture of all right of return. In 1847 white persons were liable to punishment for instructing slaves. Postmasters had to give notice of the presence of anti-slavery publications; justices of the peace were required to burn any such, and punish those to whom they were sent. Citizenship was denied to free colored men. In 1851, if emancipated slaves remained in the State more than twelve months, they were liable to forfeit their freedom. The legislature could not emancipate any slave or the descendant of any slave, but it might impose conditions on the power of slaveholders to emancipate their slaves, and also pass laws to relieve the State of its free negro population by removal or otherwise, and a tax was imposed upon free male negroes between twenty-one and forty-five to defray the expenses of the Colonisation Board established for their removal. Maryland forbade colored persons the right to testify against whites, although slaves might against negroes. The legislature was forbidden to enact any law abolishing the relations between master and slave. Delaware forbade the emancipation of free negroes to any State save Maryland. Free negroes might not attend camp-meetings or political gatherings. Missouri forbade the immigration of free colored persons. Schools for the instruction of negroes in reading and writing, religious meetings of negroes, were prohibited unless a justice of the peace or constable were present. Indeed, Missouri actually declared such schools and religious meetings unlawful assemblages. Indiana—a Free State—forbade the entry of negroes and mulattoes, and fined all persons who aided or encouraged them 500 dollars for each offence. Marriages between white persons and those possessing one-eighth or more of negro blood were forbidden. Acts were passed for sending colored persons into Africa, annulling contracts with them, and prohibiting the evidence of persons having one-eighth or more of