Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-11-25


The Whitley. And it is obvious tha, We have
ssCrioed ms difference to its true cause, ior
had II oeen produced by emigration TO Yves
tern virginia, the whole population would
nave been greater there Than in Easter:
Virginia. This cause never retards The
growth of the slave population-ihey labor
under no apprehension of being unable "a
obtain subsistence for themselves and THEN
progeny for they know that their owners
will be compelled 10 maintain them even in
lines OF the greatest scarcity, or 10 transfer
them 10 some other person who will do so.
And The owner will be prompted by his own
interest rather to sell them than TO permit
Them 10 perish And experience prov es that
inns reasoning IS correction ii appears from
The census of 1880 that the number of white
Children under ten years Of age in Eastern
Virginia is but TIC, 497, whilst the slaves of
the same age amount TO 14l, TAB, making a
majority in favor Of the slaves of 81 20
Ihe free persons Of color under ten wears of
age, IN the same district amounting 10 49,
464, are not included in this last estimate. -
Another cauve which retards the increase of
population 10 old settled countries is, that in
years of great scarcity, great numbers ofth
poorer class OF people perish from hunger -
II this cause has any operation in Virginia,
IL cannot affect the slave population, who as
we have already shewn, must always be
provided Tor, but must affect exclusively in
divIduais belonging TO the poorer class of peo-
pie, who have no person interested in their
preservation but themselves Thus it ap-
pears that the colored is rapidly advancing
upon the white population, and that il must,
for the reasons we have already assigned,
continue to gain upon it until their numbers
will become truly alarming
We shall state few more facts and cir
cumstances which will place this subject in
a still more clear and alarming point of view.
1T has been ascertained with considerable
certainty that the population of country, if
not inpeded by any of the causes we have
mentioned, will double itselfin twenty eight
or thirty years, rnassisted by emigration TO
IT. The increase Of population in Virginia
has hitherto been much retarded by the i'm
mense emigration to the West and South
and the great number OF slaves TRANSPORTED
10 the South and Southwest by emf
grants and dealers in slaves. The whole Of
the Southern and Western States are still.
and must ever continue open TO all our white
people who choose 10 emigrate to them: and
recent events will probably add greatly to
ahe number Of the whites who will be dspo-
sed 10 seek a safe retreat i'll The West. On
the other hand the period is fast approaching
when the transportation of slaves from Yin
ginia must be brought TO a close Several
ofthe Western States have never admitted
them, and have now determined TO exclude
even the free blacks from among them. i he
Southern market is nearly glutted with
slaves, and i'll most OF the States which have
hitherto received them, they have become
almost as numerous as the whites in some
OF them perhaps more so. In some parts of
South Carolina the number of slaves is a
mazing. In the Colleton district at the last
census, the colored persons were about seven
times as numerous as the whites and in the
Charleston district, exclusive of the city, the
colored persons were perhaps nine times as
numerous as the whites. Most, if not all,
the slave holding States, are becoming a
harmed at the extent of the evil, and are tax
ing measures TO prevent them from being
carried within their limits, and there is great
reason TO believe, that, in the course Of a very
few years, they will be excluded from nearly
avery State into which they have heretofore
been carried, in such immense numbers
w hen this exclusion takes place, which will
probably be within the next twenty Years,
what is to DO the consequence to US? Yves
tern Virginia is to he filled with them in the
first place, and the white population will be
driven In crowds 10 the Western States
The increase of the white population will ev-
cry where come TO a stand, as we have
shewn it has already done in many counties
ofthe State-it will then begin 10 reccdc
The colored population will continue tn adj
vance upon US with a constantly increasing
speed, until it can no longer be kept in com
plete subsection. And what then is 10 be the
consequence? We ask you in the name OF
humanity, ofreason, and Of prudence, 10 put
this question seriously TO yourselves The
whole country will be deluged in blood, and
the whole African race must perish or like
the black cloud which burst upon the tribe
of Ad in the days ofold, they will oYerwhelm
Us in universal ruin.
We shall not so into any enquiry as 10 our
vtght TO deprive or withhold from a portion
of our fellow creatures that liberty which
has been so justly regarded as the choicest
blessing bestowed by Heaven on man. Nor
will we attempt 10 excite your sympathics in
behalf of those unfortunate slaves who hap
pen to be subject to the whims and caprices
of cruel, passionate and Incorporate masters,
who are unworthy to exercise dominion o.
yer brutes. Neither will we upbraid YOU with
the hypocrisy, OF pretending to sympathile
with the noble and heroic Poles, whilst with
more than Russian arrogance you hold the
rod of despotism over the heads of so many
thousand beings who bear the image of your
God. These are points we leave 10 your
own reflections; our object has been 10 nd-
dress ourselves exclusively 10 your self-love,
and TO prove to you that there 10 no safety
but in getting clear Of your slaves with as
little delay az possible-in which we hope we
have succeeded.
- -, L. l., IL