Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-13

otaheSS, tuC ShCdpCSt lnludC VI ouppIys
your argument will ainby the suppo-
sition,) the expense Of flee labor will
resolve itself into preci.ely the ame ele
ments, since the wages paid 4 free la
borers of every kind, must be 3 ch as to
enable them, one with another, o bring
up family, and continue theirface.
Now it is observed by Adai Smith,
"The wear and tear of free sfvanl, is
equally a. the expense of his master,
and it generally costs him INCH less
than that of slave. The fu1 destn-
ed for replacing and repairing, | may
say SO, the wear and tear of ablave, is
commonly managed by negligent mas
ter, or careless overseer. Thu deslin-
ed for performing the same Office with
regard to the freeman, is maiaged by
'he freeman himself The disorders
which generally prevail in ths economy
OF the rich, naturally Introduce them
selves into the management oil the for
mer; the strict fruyaiiy and parsI-
monious attention oil ne poor, as nalur-
ally establish themselves in that of The
| latter" The Rnssin political econo-
mist, Storch, who bal carefully examin-
ed the system OF slavlry in that extensive
Empire, makes the ame remark almost
IN the same words. Hume expresses
similar opinion in decided terms and
have before me statmeni from one oflhe
slave districts in tie United States, in
which it is estimted that, taking the
purchase-mohey orlhe expenses OF rear
ing slave, with tie cost Of bis main
tenance, at their actual rates, and allow
ing iltteen years ofhealth and strength,
during which to liquitale the first cost,
lis labor will be al last Is per cent.
dearer than that of rec laborer in the
neiehboring districts.
1t is observed by a PLANTER, in letter
published by the Hon Joshua Steele, a
member ofthe council in Barbados, I'M
der the signature OF Plilo Xylon, The
truth is, that although we plant much
more ground than should be sufficient
to produce provisions to feed our labor
ing slaves, yet the negroes, feeling that
they have no direct property in these
crops, and that we must buy more to
supply them if these crops fall short, the
cultivation is negligently performed by
them, land the produce is afterwards stolen
by the negro watchnhen or their confede-
rates, so that we seldom reap third
part ct what should be the natural aud
probable pro duce. But if we could de-
pend on their diligence and economy,
in cullivating rented tenements, and
| carefully storing their crops, they might
undoubtedly be maintained better than
they are, and at much smaller expense
than 1t costs us at present; not only by
our wasting three times as much land as
might be necessary for that purpose, but
also by our cultivaling it with reluc-
tant gang TO our loss" From inquiries
made with reference o this subject, ii
appears that the average weekly expcn-
5es in the Liverpool Workhouse, for
provisions, including ale, wine, spirits.
tea, butter, &c. given to the sick, is Is.
Cad. per head, exclusive of rent; while
I he average weekly expenditure OF seven
| antilles, taken from among the laborers
If respectable commercial house, is
only Is. sgd. per head, exclusive Of
r,it.
From the preceding particulars, it ap-
pears highly probable, that the cost Of
rearing and maintaining slave, would
render his labor, under ordinary circum-
stances, at least as expensive as that OF
the free laborer. Let Us next examine
which is the most productive.
And here shall again avail myself of
he observations of Storch, the Russian
economist: GAS the slave is always la
boring for another, and not for himself;
as he is restricted TO the bare netessares
of life, and sees no prospect Of lettering
his condition, he loses every character
istic of the effective laborer he becomes
a machine, and of'en machine very
stubborn and difficult to manage. A
man who is not paid in proportion to the
labor he performs, will perform as lit
lie as he can. This is an acknowledged
truth, confirmed by the experience Of
every day. Let free Iaborer work by
the day, and he will be indoleD'; pay him
by the piece, and he will often exert him
self to the ruin of his health. Ifthis OBJ
servation is just with respect to the free
laborer, i, is infinitely more so in rela-
ton to the slave.
GAS long as the ancient Romans cul-
tivaed their fields with their own bands
Italy was famed for its fertility and abun-
dant produce; but agriculture declined
as soon as it was left to the slaves: then,
instead of cullivating their lands, they
turned them into pastures, and the in
h ahitoptp of thic J.l;,,hf,I ,o,,,,,, a.,