Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-31


From 1890 to ls0o-4o Ia per cent.
! 1900 to ls1o-3l IA per cent.
" 1910 to 1920 5 Ia per cent.
1920 to ls29-l2 s per cent
In the Third District /.
From 1890 to IsOO-2s LIZ per cent
'' 1900 to 1000 "a per cent
1910 TO ls20-lO "a per cent
1920 TO 1929 TT 10 per cent
From 1890 to 1906 IA per cent
$500 to lSl0-4 per cent.
1910 to 1891 Ia per cent.
1920 to lS29-loss Of IL 100 Of one
per cent
You end then that while In the Underwater district
the slave population 10 rather Decreasing tits ucrsss
ing In the middle district by much smaller ratio
than in the Valley and the western districts. You
perceive too, until within the last nine years The
increase in the Valley and western is,rict has been
very rapid. strong reason why, within that time,
the Increase has not been ID great in those dis
ct. may be found in the depressed prices Of agrcul
products of the farming districts have scarcely been Of
value sufficient to Justify their 10 distant
markets In consequence Of this, farmers Of tho Vail
ley. and doubt Of other Western Districts have be-
come grazers and the labor Of slaves has iess In
denand The prices Of tobacco has been better sus.
ained than the price Of other agricultural produes
better bears the expense of transportation to msrLsu
aud s has kept up the demand for tho labor of slaves
In the planting districts Of the middle country THE
too Is fostering tho culture oil tobacco in Of tho
alley counties, where ii Is grown Of fine quality aud
| to much advsntage;--and will no doubt extend its
tho demand for slaves in the Southern States of the
Union dminshes, and their laws restraining the Inn
portation of them, become rigidss the tobacco
lands of the middle district decrease, and the tobacco
culture in the Western districts is extended and as
the products OF the farming districts shall become more
ysluabe,-the demand for the labor Of slaves will d.
m'nish In the Hfidd DISTRICTS aud increase in the Wes-
tern-the price OF them will become lower, the Wow
tern will be able TO purchase iheln and the
western country will be TO the In large
numbers. In Rockbrdge, where the culture of to-
bacco has been lately Introduced, the slave popu Iaon
has increased about 33 -3 per cent in the last years.
and in Boetour where the plant has been longer and
more extensively cultivated, the slave population has
increased more than hundred per cent, ia the same
time. These two counties together have white pop
ula.ion of 2092!-and slave popnl alton Of a 592 II
cannot be doubted, that in twenty years. they will be-
essentially slave holding counties and their white
population, added to that Of the East lin the year 1885,
will cast the balance of power decidedly in its favor
But many other counties of the West, and among them
the rich and popuous counties Of Frederick aud JEFF
erson under the influence of the have refer
red to- must, in the course OF twenty years. have
strong interest in the slave population, as to iusure
their operation in its protection. Nearly one third
OF the population Of these two COUNTIES Isl this time
slaves Their aggregate white popuiat ion il upwards
OF "a 900; their aggregate slaves upwards Of 200.
These are some OF the which have satisfied my
mind that the power Of the government, under the
influence Of the basis of white population, will abide
with the slave holders.
But, suppose should be mistaken,-suppose the
tic OF white and slave population to continue it Is.
and that the basis OF white population would transfer
the power of the government to the West would YOU
protection to the interests in the slave property.
by rejecting this basis, and imposing the com-
! pound basis. think not.
|
which has been long, and, they hnk, so ipjuri.
ousy withheld from them, by this Of gen.
confidence in them, by thus acknowledging them
really as brethren equal with in right, you could
not inspire feeling Of affection and sentiment of ius-
tice. on which some reliance might be plaes5-f YOU
could not trust 10 their general though deep interest,"
10 maintaining the right, property aud the peace and
good order Of s'cety-f you could accept the Jus.
ice Of your government, your forbs to-
invade their property Tor more than fifty years, evi.
dence, that they too will govern justly and viii, respect
your property,-if you must act upon the distrust,
which the known frailty of human nature prompts up
on the apprehension that large masses of men, acting
together, cannot resist the Temptation Of large masses
of property exposed to their power-ihen there ara
other considerations which deserve your most serious
| attention.
Let il be once openly avowed and adopted a, a prn-
ciple Of your Constitution, that the price which tbs
Western people must pay for the protection of your
slaves the surrender of their power in the govern
and you render that property hateful to them In
the extreme, and hold out TO the the strongest of all
possible temptations to make constant upon IT, to
render Of vaus to you, and TO induce you TO part
with it, large district OF your country, marked
by geographical line containing large minority Of
the freemen Of the country, and expected con.
tain the MISUNDERSTANDING a large representation in
both branches OF your LIE Iiature where its voice IAN
be constantly heard and its complaints will be perpst.
ually pour, forhths district isto be placed und or
the ban Of the Empire. and its people to be told that
your slaves exclude them from the pale of authority
will not say, you will maiden them into Of vio-
lence or disloyalty, by such measure-I believe Il
not-ihe people Of the West though Jealous and per-
,eysrng 10 pursuit Of their rights, n general an
industrious and aontened people, o5edient to the
law, prudent and loyal any people under the
sun But will you not make them zealots that sub
ject, which your right Of property depends, and
which 10 80 intimately connected with your domestic
peace! Will you not drive them to seek allies among
your own people, associates in the measures, whish
are necessary to tho obstacle that stands In
their road TO pOwerl
Unless L am deceived, very grossly deceived Nj,
Chairman, they won ii find many and ardeot auxs-
ries, In the bosom Of your society. How macy
there, who owning of this property end DOOM
cd 10 the lsborous Offices ofls, feel sort ofdsrrsda-
ton in being compelled to perform them in eoraos
with the slave. and sentiment Of envy towards their
owner1 How many who protesting conscientious
scruples, are continually propagatiog doc
trines which tend 10 insuboidisatonl Remember too
sir, that The right of suffrage will be extended. How
many of this class of auxatie will be broug TO the
polls by this extension, remains yet 10 be known. But
put II to the sober judgment Of the eastern statesman
to say wbsther bs can feel security against the
bined action OF the whole western country, and all The
discontinued OF the east when you shall have establish
| cd the compound basis, and materially extended tho
right Of sufrage Sir nothing in my estimation be
more unwise threaten more serious mischief, than
| the united operation OF These two causes You cannot
with safety extend a., right OF suffrage materially, and
| force upon US the compound basis.
But II the evil have hnted at should NOT follow, what
then, Will the people Of the west s down tamely un-
der the pryaon Of portion Of the power which
thew now enjoy? Will the majority OF the freemen Of
the country who sare the political power, acquiesco
in the rule Of the minority, under the persuasion that
while the minority would have virtue and wisdom
nough 10 protect the property and all the rights
of the majority that majority could not be trusted