Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-10


south poor and it's this tribute which makes the
north rich, and builds up those splendid mansions and cities
OF which we have heard SO much IN this debate.
Agan il is said that slavery rcars the incrca OF white
populations: and for proof OF the poiOu referred
the comparatively rapid growth OF the western states
which is ascrbed the xisicnce of slavery
But it must be manifest to the casual observer that
This circumstance is owing To totally different The
tide oil emigration is owihg IN unbIoken current TO
the west The quantity oil public lands thrown into
kc the cheapness and fertility the soil; with
which subsistence may be there obtained are objects
which have attracted immense crowds roGl every dcc
ton. The drain has been chiefly supplied by the Atlantic
states and it is perfectly inteihle that they should re-
main stationary while the VESTS rapidly doubling it,
bers IT, therefore, the white population of Virginia dur
ing the last ten years has increased only fifteen per
while that OF oil the western states has been nearly
two hundred per cent can IT with truth be attributed
the influence OF slavery! The only air criterion com
Paon between the slave holding aud slave holding
states, similarly situated, on the seaboar and which may
be presumed have contributed alike to the peopng
the west How will Virginia stand this tcs The average
increase OF population in the United States during the last
ten years Is about irtytwo per Orall the thir-
teen states only two Georgia and New York; are above
the average. There is but slight difference between the
southern and the New England states. The ratio of in
crease OF whites in Virginia, is fifteen per cent in Della
It'll less than six per cent? in New Jersey fitcen
IN Massachusetts, sixteen and in the far-faned Councc-
cut, only eight per cent. Can be remaining
Picon that slavery has caused emigration from Virginia,
or In any manner checked her population?
Even il it were desirable under any circums,an.
TO get rid oil slaves this. OF all Others is the
least favorable period 1t is admitted that every thing is
hurryng 10 the West, that il is scarcely possible re
tain poor man here in the eas and yet this very con-
Juncture we are urged to the deportation OF
the whole aborng force OF the country WHY even if
you would pay amply for these slaves and could
come into MARKET with full purse, hire white aorers
it would he utterly iinpos ,ibe TO obtain them No Sir
we must wait until this mighty volume OF population shall
have rolled the base of the Rocky Mountains and Gl
Ell up tue whole intermediate valley When its refuent
surgeS begin to be felt again in the cast and population
becomes redundant, them Il ever but not before this
work may The greater density of population
may, perhaps compel us 10 abandon planting, In order to
raise the staff OF life, and then from calculation OF
interest," may be deemed oxpcdient TO part with
slaves
Let us view the subject in what light we choose there
Is no cause 10 complain OF the internal economy and cond-
ton OF Virginia True, Sir, have had vivid sketches
oil the beauties OF the norttheir farms, their mansions
aud their splendid cities. We have had glowing descp-
tons too, oil the magic change that has been wrought on
the face OF the western world and then we have listened
TO the wolu tale of Vrginas decay and ruined fortunes
But Sir, the contrast awakens in my breast neither es-
pair, nor discomfort admire the thrifty genius of the
morrill, and proud of the rising greatness of the west
But envy neher-nor do love respect my native
state the less because it is materially different from both
Herhclds perapsarc not her forests
nor her form smooth and neat Her SOIL too may
times be clad with pines, and her hills marked deeply
with the track OF the torrent But sill she has great
peculiar advantages in the essential particulars popu-
uon ana production, she s keeping pace with nearly all
OF the old thirteen states Let complain that
she does not outstp them Her power aud are
sufficiently ample TO crafty all my national ambition There
Is enough in her political characern the honors of the
pasn the genius and virtues of her living sln-to sa-
tsfy all my national vanity.
But we are warned that however happy our condition
may be, we can no longer enjoy in safety The slave
Populallon Is gaining rapidly the white. We al
ready IN danger, and hourly becoming In
scontroverting this proposition must beg be excused
Tor Offering tewsmore statistical views. | am by no
means satisfied with those which have been exhibited.
1t is notorious that the free negroes Virginia
with twice the rapty of any other description OF persons
Great misrepresentation has been by blending slaves
with free negroescang them the colourcd population
ascertaning the ratio of their combined increase (Which
Is greater than that OF slaves sngy) and then using
the result evidence that sldres gaining on the
whites discard the free negroes from my estimates.
The only subject of inquiry at present is as to the ratio
SfdUeS. number O W in
9l,i3O or fifteen per cent, while the increase OF
the latter. was 4I57l, only per cent The pre-
sent excess OF whites slaves 22I7IL But there
are some VINO insist that the east derives security from
population west OF the mountains. What then is the
STATE oil things east of the Blue Ridge; The number of
whites, III 40 was 3li,3 and the number of slaves
N7,ii9 In 1890 the number of whites in the same d -
inct was 375 93o, and that OF slaves l6 2J0-cxhbitng
gam OF the latter the lorer during forty wears of
IlSoS But when did this gain take place Between
looo ana ioio the rate OF increase of whites was only
seven-tenhs of per cent while that of slaves was
eleven per From 1910 to is2O the ratio Of
oil whites was three per cent and that of slaves was six
per cent From 1920 10 1880, the ratio of increase of
whites, was near eight per cent; and that of the slaves
not quite nine per cent. 1t is evident that the gain of
39S' was chiefly effected between 1900 and 1910 or
anterior thereto The important fact TO which wish TO
your attention. IS that although the number of slaves
mas gained on that of the whites since 100 vet that the
fauo oil hagan has been rapidly diminishing for the last
twenty years. ana Is now almost eXtngushed. AT one
me was as eleven to oncit is now as nine TO cpht
II IS sald however that have heretofore had AN ont
let Tor considerable portion of slaves in the southern
States; that they about to close their doors and of
course that drain must ACCORDING to nv es,;o
founded on an inspection of tables population and such
DINER ddtd as could procure, there are abont 20 00O
slaves born annually in this state; there are 10 600 deaths
inc census exhibits an increase of nearly 1000 and CON
sequchuy, about 1000 must annually, be carried TO tho
south' an any one doubt that there will always he
demand Tor that number? Those states from fear ,a
vicious and dsalected slaves would he pancd upon them
nave passed laws 10 prohibit their admission They have
passed such laws before and repealed them They viii
repeal them again They will be evadcd even whilst i'm
ioce ihey are planters, and must have REGULAR s,pnl
oil iaborer5 The planting interest in the West Indie;
ana elsewhere opens market, it is said for 100 900 A
cans, annually.
Another aacious method has been adopted Of deducinc
appalling results IL is assumed that the present number
oil slaves in the state (l69 72D will be doubled in
tam number OF years; and within certain period
thereafter, 1t will be doubled aoain--and 90 IN od
uyhHfun; until at distant period we are n have
HhilIOnS ON millions III is well known fact I'm dc
economy OF populations that after it atains certain bulk
e rate OIL increase gradually lessons finally ceases
Inc present population OF the whole earth is probable
no greater than 1t was thousand years ago But this
system oil doubling quite harmless if the whites he al
Iowed TO double also Indeed, presents CHEERING as
poet The excess of tn whites over the ,ovce in i1oo
was ll9A90: 1T is now 22i,7i and when the whites
aud slaves shall both have doubled again the difference in
favour o Tie ioner will be upwards Of $4,000 Is there
not safety IN this difference? The number of slaves in
ooh carolina, aud also IN Louisiana has for long fine
GIeitIy exceeded that of the whites In MANY IF t,c
west ndlA Islands, the proportion has been more Than vc
10 ones yet we have heard OF rebelions or insnrrccon
except III the case of ST. Domingo that was OWING to
peculiar causes IL Is now matter of history ,,i ~ as
occaSi)ned by the discussions and doctrines Of lie r,,
pl Fran H..