The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-08-09
From the Democratic Review, July 1914
THE IL REMUNERATION or TEXAS.

IN ITS INFLUENCE ON THE DURATION OF sLA-
VERY.
One of the arguments in favor of re-
annexing Texas, which was well repre-.
scented by Mr.. Walker in his letter. seems
TO have been overlooked in the more re-
cent discussions of the question. Even
MIR. Calhoun seemssto suppose that the
peculiar Institutions of the South. as it is
10 fashion to call slavery, are to be rem
dered more durable by the annexation
and the Aboilionists, as well as some of
the more rational opponents of those in
s,itutions, object to the annexation on the
same ground. Both are wrong, absolute
ly wrong, and a little attention to facts
will prove the error. SO far from perpet-
uating slavery in the United States, the
annexation Of Texas, or of the save-hol.
ding portion of it a, least, gives the only
we!l-grounded hope, according to all pre-.
sent appearances, for its ultimate exlinc-
ton. This may appear to be paradox;
but it is sober truth, and fully susceptible
OF demonstration. Let US reason coollv
and candidly about this matter, withou.
regard to The opposite fana,icisms which
rage on both sides of it.
Every one who has either read or
thought on the subject is aware that the
value of a slaves labor is never equal to
that OF freeman, and that the expense of
his support is greater. He has less in
ducement to work hard. for he gains
nothing by it; he has no inducemen, to
he thrifty, for it saves him nothing. lie
gets his food and his clothing. whatever
may be the crop or the expenses of ma.
king IL; AND in any event he gets moth
ing elsc.I He is therefore an unthrll, as
all are who live from hand to mouth
ard he only differs from other Gn,hrills
in this, that he has no inducements to re.
form. He is unskillul, too; he learns
nothing; he has no occasion to think.
Whether'he plough deep or shallow, it is
all one to him, Besides, where slaves
are, white men will not work. Labor is
degraded there, and the white freeman is
glad TO excuse his natural laziness by re-
fusng to wear wha, he calls the badge of
servitude.
The consequence Of this is, that Yam
kee farmer with his sons will live and
grow rich upon the corner of farm, from
which Virginia planter with his slaves
nas just been driven bankrupt. The
Yankee works himself, his son works n,
his Ode, his wife and daughters are a,
wek in the dairy or the kitchen. They
sail save, for II is their own. They study
to Increase the products of the farm and
to improve the farm itself, for it is their
wealth or to be their inheritance.
Go down into old Fairfax in Virginia,
Just beyond the Potomac, the neighbor-
hood of General Washington, formerly
.he garden Of the South. Ten years ago
Twas almost wilderness like Ac,mon
sdevoured by his own dogs, the planters
had been eaten up by their slaves. First,
came mortgages On the proud old home.
stead; then mortgages on the slaves to
raise money to feed them; at last the
Sheriff; and the cid fashioned Virginia
gentleman who used to import his pipe of
wine year and drive his blood horses to
The Springs. has become a julip drinkcr
at The stage house, or has struck out into
the world 10 seek his fortune. Blu, the
land was to good TO be lost. The Yam.