Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-31
DEBATE ON ABOLITION,
Speech Of Mr.. BROWN, Concluded.

Speech o. .ur. BhOWJN, C0nctedcd.
Let us view the subject in what light we
choose, there is no course to complain Of the
internal economy and condition Of Virginia.
True, sir, ave have had vivid sketches of the
beauties Of the north-their farms, their man
sions, and their splendid cities. We have
bad glowing descriptions too, Of the magic
change that has been wrought on the face oil
the western world: and then we have listen
ed to the woeful tale of Virginia's decayed
and ruined fortunes. But sir, the contrast a.
wakens in my breast, neither despair, nor
discomfort. | admire the thrifty genius oil
yhe north, and am proud of The rising great
ness Of the west. But ! envy nei,her-nor
do | love or respect my native state the less,
because it is materially different from both.
Her fields perhaps are not SO green-nor heI
forests so s~tatelv-nor her form so moot,
and neat. Her soil, too, may sometimes be
clad with pines, and her hills marked deep
~, with the tract of the torrent. But still
she has great and peculiar advantages. In
the essential particulars of population and
production, she is keeping pace with nearly
all of the old thirteen states. Let us cease
to complain that she does not ~outstrio them
Her power and resources are sufficiently am
pie to crafty all my national ambition. There
- enough in her political character-in the
honors of the past in the genious and vir-
tyes of her living sons-to satisfy ali my ma
uonal vanity.
But we are warned that however happy
cur condition may be, we can no longer en-
Joy it in safety. The slave population is
gaining rapidly on the white. We are al
ready in danger, and are hourly becoming
more so. In controverting this proposition
must beg TO be excused for offering a few
more statistical view. l am by no means sa
listed with those which have been exhibited.
It's notorious that the free negroes in Virgo
MA, Increase with twice the rapidity of any
other description Of persons. Great misap
prehension has been caused by blending
slaves with free negroes-calling them the
ecolored NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the ratio
OF thsif combined increase, (which is greater
than that of slaves singiy) and then using the
result as an evidence that siaues are gaining
on the whites. | discard the free negroes
from my estimates. The only subject Of in
curry AT present is. as to the ratio Of increase
Of stares- The number Of whites in Virginia,
IN 1890, was o .009, and the number Of
slaves, 425,l53. The increase of the former
from 1920 to 1880, was 81 ,430 or fifteen per
cent, while the increase of the latter, was
44,571, or only I0per cent. The present ex
~ VI ~ WI IL kyIt
there are some who insist that the east de
rives no security from a population west of
the mountains. What, then, is the state of
things east OF the Blue Ridge! The number
OF whites, in 1890, was 3l4.523. and the
number of slaves at ,449. In 1880, the
number Of whites, in the same district, was
975,9S5, and that of slaves 4l6,259-exhibi
ting a gain Of the latter on the former-dur
ing forty years-of 1888. But when did
THIS gain take place? Between 1900 and
1910. the rate OF increase Of whites, was on
1y seven tenths Of one per cent. while that OF
slaves was eleven per cent From 1910 to
1920, the ratio Of increase of whites, was 8
per cent, and that Of slaves, was 6 per cent
From 1920 to 1880, the raiito of Increase oil
whites, was near 3 per cent, and that OF the
slaves not quite 9 per cent. 1t is evident
that the gain Of II 1898, was chiefly effected
between 1900 and 1910. or anterior thereto
The important fact to which | wish to direct
your attention, is, that although the number
OF slaves has gained on that of the whites
since 1870, yet that the ratio of that gain ha.
been rapidly diminishing for the last twenty
years, and is now almost ~extinguished. A
one time, it was as eleven TO one--it is nov
as nine TO eight. 1t is said, however, that ",
nave heretofore had an outlet for a conside
rable portion of our slaves in the southern
satates-that they are now about to close thei
doors, and of course that drain must cease
According to my estimate, founded on an in
Speetlon of tables of population and such 9th
er data as | could procure, there are 4bou
2o,oOO slaves born annually in this state :
ulere are 10000 death--ihe census EXHIBIT
a' Increase Of nearly 5000, and consequent
about 5000 must, annually, be carried
The south. Can any one doubt that Their
VIII always be a demand !or that number
Those states, from a fear that vicious an
dlsailected slaves would be palmed upo
Them, have passed laws before and repeale
Them They viii repeal them again. The
ale planters and must have a regular supp
81 laborers. The planting interest in Ii
west indies and elsewhere, opens a marke
\ u is said for 100 900 Africans, annually.
y Another lallacious method has been ado
ted OF deducing appalling results It is a
Sulned, thai the present number Of slaves