The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-25
THE PHILANTHROPY OF ABoLIrIoNIsM.

We have been favored with an extract from pri.
vate letter written by DR.. R. T. Brown, of Indiana
to his brother, the Hon. VIM. J. Brown, member
Of the last Congress. 1t will soon be serious
question with the laboring classes Of the Northern
and Middle States to inquire into the purpose and
design Of the abolition faction, and the result they
have in view in the event of their success. When
it will be shown that the success of abolitionism
would create inevitably pinching competition be-
tween black labor and white labor and contaminate
the industrious and aboring classes Of the North by
a revolving admixture Of the black element, those
philanhropic politicians in this State who opposed
the annexation of Texas viii be as ready to de.
nounce the abolition movement they were to well
come the 'lone STAR after exercising all their trick
cry TO prevent its addition to our galaxy.
.You are in fair way to have the Capitol food
ed with abolition petitions, in one form another
Well, am opposed to slavery in principle and prac-
tce. But am as much opposed to the white slave
ry it exists in the Northern States, as am TO
gro slavery in the South Is there not philanthropy
enough in the South to form society for the aboli-
ton Of Northern slavery The system of hired labor,
as it exists in the Eastern and Middle, and even in
some parts of the Western States, operates to re.
duce those who are the subjects of it TO condition
which the slaves Of the South should not envy. Our
abolition knights recommend the system Of hired la
bor to the planters of the South, matter of econ
ony avowing that il is cheaper than the labor OF
the slave. Admit this, and the conclusion follows
rresistby that the hired laborer receives less
pensation for given amount of labor than the slave
who gets his food, clothing, and protection A late
writer on political economy has presented US with
the cheering prospect OF speedily escaping the curse
of slavery by the inevitable laws Of population; de-
monstrating that when the population Of a country
arrives at certain density, slavery is banished by
the free competition of 'hired labor A common
sense version of all this is, that no man will own a
slave, and become responsible for his maintenance
because he can procure the same amount of labor
done by hiring at less expense than the support
ola slave And Just in the proportion that free labor
becomes cheaper than slave-ab0r, in the same ratio
is the condition of the free man worse than that OF
the slave. But it is urged that he is still free man,
citizen Of the freest government on the earth, and
politically equal to the proudest capitalist in the
land. Well, that is meagre liberty that consists
merely in the privilege to vote. Tied down to the
earth by toil-incessan unremittng toil---what OPP
portunty has he to acquaint himself with the great
questions on which he is called TO exercise free
mans franchise But he may rise above this con-
diton Of dependence. True, and he may fall below
it. He may be reduced TO pauperism, and even
starvation. IL is grave question, whether the al
ternate illusions Of hope, and the dark bodings Of
despair, minister much to increase the aggregate Of
human happiness"
The people ofthe South are frequently accused Of
displaying too much rashness and sensbility to the
operations and proceedings Of aboltouists. Reverse
the conditions, and see whether they are rightly
judged. IL the people Of the South were to form
societies, hire travelling missionaries, purchase
presses, make large pccuniary contributions, and
enter into schemes to burn cities, destroy our
productive manufactures, and sink in the ocean our
ships, such incendiary proceedings would not be
would lead to retaiatory violence. Yet the case,
we suppose, falls far short Of that which northern
fanatcism has attempted in the South Ii is not the
mere destruction of property demanded by abol-