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

III peace, anu enjoys all the satisfaction ant
happiness which abundance can afford. lie
gives 10 his children such an education a.
suits their condition in life, out of the sur
plus products ofhis labor, and still has a plen-
ty and TO spare. His children, when they
become little more advanced in life, in
stead OF being burthen, enable him by theiI
eXertions to add 10 his stores. His daugh-
tiers, by their domestic industry, afford an a.
bundant supply of decent and comfortable
clothing for him, his sons. and themselves
and they are fitted by their habits findus-
try, to become the useful helpmates of res
pectable hushandmen. His sons, by their
labors in the field, enable him from time 10
time, to purchase additional tracts of land
upon which he lives TO see each of them com
fortably situated enjoying all the advantages
with which he set out in life. He is able to
give each of his daughters suitable portion
at the time OF her marriage; and still retain
ing possession OF his original farm, he is en-
abled, ifany OF his children should be uniortu-
nate, to afford them an asylum in theirdistress
And living TO happy old age, he leaves his
posterity at last, in the enjoyment of peace
and plenty. His whole life is scene Of un-
interrupted tranquility, undSturbed by those
horrld apprehensions of domestic enemies
e..
Such is the life of many a Pennsylvania and
New England farmer; such the Contrast be-
tween those who depend on the labour OF
slaves, and those who RELY on their own eXer-
tons; and such is the great cause of the
prosperity of dhe northern and middle, and
OF the dcsolation Of the southern states.-
Unfortunately, the evil is not confined to the
owners of slaves; even those who own none
nt "a
communicating influence. ThoSeamong them
who happen 10 be industrious, are but too
certain 10 lay out their earnings in the pur-
chase of slaves, and thereby ensure the sub
sequent ruin of their families. And many
who own neither land nor any other species
OF property, disdain TO earn subsistence by
laborIng III company with slaves, and either
drag out miserable existence in penury and
want, or seek an abode in land of more per-
feet equality-whilst there are some so de-
graded as 10 gain an ignominious livelihood
by carrying on an Illicit traffic with slaves
Thus we perceive that the existence of sla-
very III any country, affects every class of
society, and is fatal TO industry among those
who are free
The existence. of slavery in any country
retards and prevents the growth of lis popu-
lation. The white population in several OF
the slave holding states, has become almost
stationary; in some counties it is declining
although they are capable of sustaining free
population, more than twice as great as their
present number of inhabitants. Eastern
Virginia has increased in white population
IN 4O years, from 1890 TO 1880, only 81 ,4l2
whilst some of the free states, of smaller ter.
ritory, have increased four times as much
The whole population of Virginia is now
but J., lS6 ,297, that of n. York is 1884 400.
The territory of Virginia is third great
er than that of New York, and was origin
ally considered more fertile. Western Vir-
ginia would support four or five times its
presentnumber of inhabitants, and yet thou
sands of her citizens are annually removing
to the western country. The Valley be
tween the Blue Ridge and Allegheny would
support a population of from three TO five
hundred thousand people its whole popula.
tlen is now but 1877 ,512, Notwithstanding
winch, such has been the emigration from
IT that il is questionable if the whole number
OF people who have left it and arc now Twin!
IN the western country, together with thei
increase, could be ascertained, if thew woult
not exceed the number of inhabitants now il
that Valley. To judge of the effect of slave
ry in retarding The growth of population, W,
should compare the present population O
Western Virginia 10 that of Western Penn
sylvania, in which the population is twice a
dense as it is here, although the soil is no
naturally more fertile. Or we should com
pare the population of some Of the countic
around Boston, which is equal to- from Jon
TO 200 TO the square mile, TO that of some q
the counties around Richmond, which doe
not exceed 80 TO the square mile. The prin
clpal reason why slavery retartlS the growt
OF population, is, that slaves are sure TO ex
hausl and ruin the soil by their slovenly an,
careless mode of cultivation. Every mai
who has trayelledtothe n orth has been strucl
with the difference betwiXt the manner il
which the soil is cultivated by freemen ant
by slaves.
Slaves detract from the ability of coun
try TO resist a foreign enemy. Every slay,
occupies the place of a freeman, they there
fore detract from the strength of the countr
in full proportion TO their numbers. Bu
as all mankind are actuated by the desire {
possessing liberty, they dctract from III
strength of the community in much great
er ratio than in proportion to their number!
for 1T will always be necessary for a porto
OF the free population to remain at home
keep them in subsection. When the slay
population is equal TO the free, il may be safe
ly assumed that it will require one half of III
effective force Of the freemen TO watch i
which leaves but one fourth of the who
strength of the country to resist an enem,
When the slave population is double
great as the free, it may be considered
destructive Of the whole power OF the con
munity Such is the case in the counties
Nottoway, Amelia, Powhatan, Charles Cit,
Greensyille, King William and Sussex,
all OF which the colored population is MOI