The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-02


prisons and paupers which are obtained from city
and State returns and the results are as follows:
LIST. The number of deaf and dumb, blind, id
OTIS, and insane, of the negroes in the non-slave
holding States, is one out Of every So; in the
slaveholding States, it Is one out of every 672
or seven to one in favor of the slaves in this
as compared with the free blacks.
I'd. The number of whites deaf and dumb
blind, idiots, and insane, in the non-slavehoding
States, is in every SCI, being nearly six to one
rgainst the free blacks in the same States.
Sd. The number of negroes who are deaf and
dumb, blind, idiots and insane, paupers and in
prison in the non-slavehoIding States, one out
of every 6, and in the savehoding States, one
out of every l54; or twenty-five to one agains,
the free blacks, as compared with the slaves.
4th. Taking the two extremes of north and
south, in Maine, the number of negroes returned
as deaf and dumb, blind, insane and idiots, by the
census of 1910, is one out of every IL; and in
sIaveholding Florida, by the same returns, is one
of every llO5; or ninety-two to one, in favor Of
the slaves of Florida, as compared with the free
blacks of Maine.
BY the report of the Secretary Of State Of Mas
sachusetts (of the lst November, ls43) 10 the
legislature, there then in the county aiIs and
houses of correction in that State, 1920 whites,
and 1854 negroes; and adding the previous returns
Of the State prison, 255 whites and 80 blacks;
making in all 4,275 whites, and 1896 free blacks;
haipn onf &c bup opI
of the white, and one out of every twenty one of
the free black population and by the official returns
of the census Of 1910, and their own official returns
to their own legislature, one out of every thirteen
of the free blacks Of Massachusetts, was either deaf
and dumb, blind, idiot, or insane, or in prison.
thus proving degree Of debasement and misery,
on the part of the colored race, in that truly great
State which is appalling. In the last official report
to the legislature Of the warden of the penitentia-
ry OF eastern Pennsylvania, he says: "The whole
number of prisoners received from the opening of
the institution, October 25th, 1927 to January
lS43, is 1927 of these 1,004 were white males,
533 colored males; "a white females, and So col
ored females" or one out Of every SAT of the
white, and one out of every Ga of the negro pop
ulation; and of the white female convcts, one out
of every l6,2ss; and of the colored female con.
victs, one out Of every a49 in one prison, showing
a degree Of guilt and debasement on the part of
the colored females revolving and unparalleled.
When such is the debasement of the colored
females, far exceeding even that of the white
females in the most corrupt cities OF Europe,
extending, too, throughout one-half the limits of
a great State, we may begin to form some idea of
the dreadful condition of the free blacks, and how
much worse than that of the slaves whom we are
asked to liberate and consign to similar condition
of guilt and misery Where, too, are these exam
pies! The first is in the great State of Massachu-
sets, that tor GA years, has never had slave, and
whose free black population, being 5,463 in 1890
and but 5000 at present, Is nearly the same free
negro population, and their descendants, wnom
for more than half century she has strived, but
strived in vain to elevate in rank and comfort and
morals. The other example is the eastern halt of
the great State of Pennsylvania, including Phila-
dolphin and the Quakers of the State, who, with
an industry and humanity that never tired, and
charity that spared not time or money, have exert
ed every effort to improve the morals and better
the condition Of their free black population. But
where are the great results' Let the census and
the reports of prisons answer. Worse, incompar-
ably worse, than the condition of the slaves. and
demonstrating that the free black in the midst of
his friends in the north, is sinking lower every
day in the scale of want and crime and misery.
The regular physicians report and review, pub
shed in 1910, says the 'facts, then, show an in
,reasing disproportionate number of coored pris-
,ners in the eastern penitentiary" In contrasting
he condition, for the same year of all the nom
laveholding States, as compared with all the slave
holding States in which returns are made, l find
he number of free blacks as fifty four to one, as
with the slaves, in proportion to popu-
alton, who are incarcerated in these PRISONS
There are no paupers among the slaves, whilst in
he nou-slaveholding States, great is the number
If colored paupers
From the Belgian statistics, compiled by Mr..
Quetelet, the distinguished secretary of the Royal
Academy Of Brussels, it appears that in Belgium
he number Of deaf and dumb was one out of eve-
y 2,l60 persons; in Great Britain, one out OF
very 1889; in Italy, one out Of every 1889; and
n Europe, one out of every l,474. OF the blind,
me, out of every 1908 in Belgium; one out Of
very 800 in Prussia; one out Of every 1000 in
france; and one out of every 1866 in Saxony;
md no further returns, as to the blind, are given
-[Belgian .annuaire, 1886, PIP. 2I8, 2lb, 2I7.]-I
But the table shows an average in Europe Of one
,ut Of every l,474 Of deaf and dumb, and of about
me out of every 1000 of blind; whereas, our
census shows of the deaf and dumb whites cf the
Union, one out of every 2,l93; and Of the free
lacks, one out OF every 6b6; also, of the blind,
me out Of every 2s2l Of the whites Of the Union,
nd one out of every SIG Of the blacks in the nom
laveholding States. Thus we have not only
hown the condition of the blacks Of the nom
laveholdng States to be far worse than that Of the
laves Of the SOUTH but also far worse than the
tion Of the people Of Europe, deplorable as that
nay be. Il has been heretofore shown that the