FREE NEGROES, in the United States. At the formation of the Union these numbered about 60,000, nearly half of them in the South; but while there were few slaves in New Eng land, and those dwindling, and less than 50 per cent more than the free colored population north of Maryland, the South had more than 20 times as many slaves as freedmen, and the sys tem was extending. Hence this section began early to dread the free negroes, as an element always making their slaves discontented, and possibly stirring them to revolt; a sentiment deepened into terror after the Santo Domingo massacres. State laws and constitutions were framed or amended to drive them from the States or re-enslave them; one method being to forbid emancipation by will, and provide that free negroes must choose masters or leave the State; and another to punish all penitentiary offenses of negroes with reduction to slavery. The Colonization Society derived its first im petus from this feeling, till it was seen to be a mere reinforcement of slavery. The laws for refusing to allow negro merchant sailors to land, or even imprisoning them if they did, also caused much bad blood with the North.
The "Black Laws" reached their acme just be fore the War, as did the personal-liberty laws in the free States. When the United States Constitution was formed free negroes could be come voters in every one of the original 13 states except South Carolina and Georgia. By 1860 they had lost this privilege in all but five New England States and New York. This re mained so until the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution. At the beginning of the Civil War there were 487,970 free negroes to 3,953,760 slaves. (See Necao). Consult Alexander, W. T., 'History of the Colored Race in America' (New Orleans 1:.:7); Brawley, B. G., 'A Short History of the American Negro' (New York 1913) ; Russell, J. H., 'The Free Negro in Virginia, 1619-1865' (in Johns Hopkins University 'Studies in His torical and Political Science,' Series XXXI, No. 3, Baltimore 1913) ; Williams, G. W., 'History of the Negro Race in America' (New York 1883).