Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-07-13
INTERESTING FACTS.
From the Baltimore American.

The New ork Journal OF Commerce exposes
the absurdity and Inconsistency of Abol.onism'
in the following contrast between it's project of
inducing slaves 20 run away to Canada, and the
plan of Colonization, which makes them free men
in Africa:
"The superiority Of their (,he Abol,ionistsO
plan OF colonization seems to lie in the fact that
their colonists run away, while those to Africa 60
not mereiy.by their own desire, but with the free |
consent and blessing Of their masters. Ii one
planter is willing TO give his slaves their freedom
upon condition that they can be assisted to go to
tho only spot in the world where they can be
made really Tree, the Abolitionsts reec, the pro-
posal as the continuance of Satan to perpetuate
slavery, and leave the negroes as they found them
IN slavery. 1t another planter holds his negroes
fast, but they are willing TO try the hazards OF the
chase TO Canada, abolition jumps into the benevo-
lent plan at once, sets up all night watching, ar
ranges underground railways, and its above
ground carriages, and when tho negro is safely
landed in the cold domnons of Victoria, counts
that benevolence has achieved victory. In Lii
IBERIA negro is "a freeman, and as good as any
body. No monopoly of caste rank stands be-
tween him and the highest Office in the State.--
The climate is mild and suited to his habits; the
aoil is productive, churches and schools invite
him to Improvement, and the whole array Of cir
cumstances urges him to rejoice and press on to Il
still better condition. In Canada he is a negro,
marked for degradation. The slavery of prcju-
dice, about which much complaint is made,
still presses upon him. lie aspire to no i'm
portant office; he can never be equal with any but
those of his own color. Under these ciIcumstan-
ces, in Liberia families will increase and the
race multiply; but in Canada the numbers
only be kept good by rapid immigration, as is
the case In our own free states. Did lanaticism
ever produce greater perversenesss than ths!'
With regard to the condition of the negroes in
the Northern or non-slaveholding States, some
striking facts have been recently set forth by an
able writer in the ''Southern Literary Messen-
ger" 1t appears from the census returns of 1910
and other statistical reports that the number of
sane persons among the free colored people of the
non-slaveholding states is out of all proportion,
extraordinary and startling. In the white popula.
tion oil Virginia the number Of insane and idiots
ISL in 707; in New Hampshire it rises as high
as in 5sl, and in Rhode Island to in 520.-A-
mong the Stare population of Virginia the insane
and idiots number only in 1899 in South Car
elna, l in 2,i77; and in Louisiana only l in
1910. But what different state of things in
this respect is exhibited among the free colored
people! In Massachusetts there is one insane OF
idiotcal in every 43 of that class of population
and In Maine, l In every ii. This is astonish-
ing-yet more at first view than it will appear
re Election.
From table published in the Messenger, ba
sed on statistical facts, it appears that there are
I4,lS0,7O9 white inhabitants in the States and
Territories Of the Union, and l4,507 white insane
and idiots-atiording of the latter class in 97e
of the first.
There 1885, 73 slaves and free colored il
the slave States and Territories, containing ,13.
insane and idios--that is i'm 1905
There are I70,720 colored in the free States ana
Territories, containing | ,lS9 insane and idiots
that is, l in every l43.
The extraordinary contrast here exhibited be-
tween the colored classes of the slave and free
States, exists with little variation ;hrou
their whole extent.
u the facts were known respecting the condi-
ton of the free negroes in Canada it is probable
that the proportion of insane among them would
be found TO be similar TO that of the free colored
population in our mons aveholding States Per
haps The unsuitableness Of the Northern climate
10 the African constitution may be one cause oil
the extraordinary prevalence of insanity which
we have just seen demonstrated. Thus i; is
shown that the proportion among the free blacks
oil Maine is greater than the ratio in any other
State--beiug one in every IL. In New Jersey the
proportion ct insane among the free blacks is one
IN 291; in Pennsylvania, in 256. In New
Jersey there are GA slaves who are numbered
without distinction in this particular among the
free cooured population Of the State
But allowing TO climate lis due influence there
can he no doubt but other causes, not connected
with climate, have great deal TO do with these
remarkable results. The worst kind of slavery,
III one Will consider it, is that which under the
name of freedom has none Of the realities Of free
dom-whlch tantaliZes by delusve show, and
awakens hope only to make disappointment more
bitter; or which extends only that degree of lber-
W WHICH takes away wholesome restraint with
out giving inducements TO self-control. The sa-
very OF caste is always than domestic or in
dividual servitude. For the caste can never rise
as class they have not the sympatheS of the SUI
perlor classes; as class they are more definitely
the objects Of dislike on the part Of those most
nearly in contact with yet above them; and in re-
spect 10 the free negroes Of the non-savcholding
States this is known to be the case whenever
there is competition for employment, as has been
shown by riots various occasions in Phadel-
phia, Cincinnati and New York. Thus the whole
superintendent weight Of the social structure
presses upon the degraded caste =; their sphere is
confined and ii cannot be enlarged; their lot is
hard and 1t cannot be ameorate6-for difference
OF colour and of race present eff ctual bar a.
gainst their rising to better condition in the midst
oil the social institutions which surround them
Where domestic serviiude prevails the coudi-
ton OF the servant is far better He is one of
family and partakes in household sympathies If
he has master he knows that he needs one
lie is sure Of subsistence, and his mind is free
from all fears Of want; he will be cared for when
SICK, and If he must work when i'm health il is
what he would have to do at any rate, or fare the
worse for idleness. His position in a well order
ed family, though humble, is yet a position which
brings him under the influence of better assoca-
lions than any belonging to the freedom of va
grancy; for his good conduct as a servant will SC.
cure him the confidence Of his master and Il hiCh
degree OF estimation among his fellows; aud he
Will be elevated i'll fact as well rs in feel
ing by the idea that he and his are connected