The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-11

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they are forbidden to participate, and no attach
r ment to government at whose hands they re
ceive nothing but in Justice
t If this should not be sufficient, and the curious
} and incredulous inquirer should suggest that thu
contrast which has been adverted to- and is so man
lfest, might be traced to difference of climate O.
other causes distinct from slavery ITSELF permit mt
to refer him to the two States of Kentucky anC
Ohio. No difference of soil--no diversity of eli
mate-no diversity in the original settlement o
those two States, can account for the remarkable
disproportion in their national advancement. Sep
arated by river alone, they seem to have beer
purposely and providentialy designed to exhibit il
their future histories, the difference which neces
sarly results from country free FROM and coun
try afflicted with, the curse of slavery. The same
may be said of the two States OF Missouri and IL
linois.
Slavery, it is admitted is an evl-it is an in
stitution which presses heavily against the best in
terest of the State. Ii 6amiShes free labor. tex
terminates the mechanic-the artizan-the manu-
facturer. 1t deprives them of occupation. 1t de.
prives them of bread 1t converts the energy OIL
a community into indictments power into imbe-
cillty-lts efficiency into weakness. Shall soce-
y suffer, that the Shareholder may continue to ga
Their his viglntial crop of human flesh What is
his mere pecuniary claim compared with the great
interest of the common veal ? Must the country
anguish and die that the STAKEHOLDER may flourish!
Shall allinterests be subservient to one All rights
subordinate to those of the stakeholder has not
the mechanic-have not the middle classes their
rights rights incompatible with the existence Of
slavery?'
Henry Clay, in his address before the Colonial
ton Society of Kentucky has given view OF
slavery, as remarkable for its completeness as its
brevity.
AS mere laborer, says he, the slave feels
that he tolls for his master, and not for himself
that the laws do not recognize his capacity to ac-
quire and hold property, which depends altogeth,
er upon the pleasure of his proprietor, and that all
the fruits of his exerton are reaped by others *
And again: That labor is best, in which the la
borer knows that he will derive the profits of his
industry, that his employment depends upon his
diligence, and his reward upon his assiduity. He
then has every motive to excite him to exerton
and to animate him to perseverance he knows
that if he is treated badly he can exchange his
employer for one who will better estimate his SER
vices; and that whatever he earns is his, to be dis
tributed by himself as he pleases, amongst his
wife and children, and friends, or enjoyed by him
SELF
Much more might be quoted to the same pur-
port did our limits permit.
Secondly. The bearings Of Slavery upon North
ern Industry
1t has been estimated by political economists
and practical men, that the average consumption
of that class Of operatives denominated Journey
men and aborers in the free States will amount,
including the disbursements for their families to
at least three hundred dollars per annum.
The annual expense for food and clothing Of
the slaves in the South, we have been assured by
extensive shareholders, did not exceed an average
of IL dolIars-we have seen estimates made for
field hands that did not exceed II dollars we will,
however, take higher sum than either of them,
suppose we say Is dollars What would be the
effect upon our industry if the 100000 slaves
were restored to their natural rights, employed as
free laborers, and adequately compensated? Is
there any good reason to believe that with their
increasing capacity to enjoy the comforts and con-
venences of life, the annual consumption of their
families would fall very far short of that allotted
to Northern laborers? But suppose that not more
than one-half of them should rise to the condition
of efficient producers and consequently consumers,
and allowing an average of a persons to a family
we have still left as shown by the use of few ig-
ures, an increased consumption, and consequently
home market for our products, amounting to up
wards of one million per annum. 1t is scarcely
possible to conceive the immense impulse that
such an event as their emancipation would give TO
every branch of industry, excepting, perhaps, the
manufacturer of whips and handouts, and other
implements Of coercion and restraint, disgraceful
in any country and under any government, except
ing republican America. The South is the natu-
raj market of the North, and would require under
such circumstances, power double that of its
present labor-saving machinery and productive in
dustry to supply.
Again: The slaveholding States with an extent
of territory nearly double to that of the non-slave
holding, exhibit a population of but half their
numbers. With soil originally more productive,
and equally susceptible ofimprovement-a climate
for the most part equally salubrious-extensiveI
water power, and other facilities for manufacture
ing purposes-numerous seaports and inducements
for the profitable investment of capital. What an
extensive field of enterprise would thus be opened
to the industry and ingenuity of our citizens. La
Dor could not but be esteemed honorable-its de-
mand greatly increased and adequately remunera-
ted The Southern States, instead of falling short
in the aggregate amount of their productive indus
try that of Massachusetts alone,-nstead of pre-
senting the APPALLING contrast acknowledged and
deprecated as the legitimate offspring of slavery,
by all their best men, would lend their efficient aid
in filling up the measure of our country's glory,
and present the spectacle of whole people, nu-
nerous, happy and prosperous beyond example in