Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-04-23
From the Courier s Enquirer.
FREE AND SLAVE GROWN. SUGAR.

FREE AND SLAVE GRowN:SuGAR.
The British Government is aYowedly
striving TO establish a distinction between
Sugars produced by free labor and by
slaUe labor, for the purpose Of extending
such favors to the former as will iujure
aud; If possible, crush The latter. So far
as the United States are concerned, we
have the declaration Of Sir Robert Peel,
that existing treaties between the two
countries will for the present forbid the
extension of the distinction sought 10 be
made TO this country. At the same time,
however, il is avowed that this hindfance
is but temporary, and that the principle on
which the Government fouuds its action,
must eventually lead othe same discrim-
ination against the Sugar produced. by
Slave labor in the United States. -
{, This seems 10 us by far the most palpa.
bic Interference in the domestic affairs of
this country, which the policy ofsGreat
Britain has yet developed. 1t is an at
tempt to force by commercial Restrictions,
the people Of the United States 10 abandon
one kind of labor and to employ another.
u is an act of commercial hostility against
all slaIs-holding and sugar producing ma
lions, founded not upon any injury sus.
lained at their hands, and seeking no re-
dress for any wrong that may have been
done bu, prompted solely BY the desire TO
enforce them to a radical change in their
domestic institutions.
The assigned reason for This unprece-
denied dictation to other nalions, upon
matters solely Of their own. concernmen,,
is that Slavery is unjust, that j, produces
a vast amount of misery. and should there
fore be discouptenanred and opposed BY
any and every means, Great Britain thus
shd ali fniagfsaiy 81 ts d other
nations, to legislale for the benefit Of the
slaves 10 the United States, and against
the interests Of their owners. 80,
Now il is a matter of uoloriety, that the
condition Of tue laboring classes in Great
Britain il is far more deplorablein III every
respect than that Of the slaves Of tho nj
led States. The operations both in the
agricultural and manufacturing districts Of
thai country, suffer The ex,remest miseries
of poverty and wrelchedness. They are
forced, by the most ,yranical Of all mas
:ers, sel6shness and avarice. to work from
twelve TO sixteen hours day ;'lheir wa
ges, in The bes, Districts, are barely suffi-
cieul to support life, in the mos' utter des.
titutiol' OF all that makes life comfortable
or desirable. Men with large families, are
forced 10 labor, far more severely than do
the slaves in any portion Of the United
States, and yet receive for their toll less
than is given TO every laborer on South
ern plantation, r,aniely--ample food, cloth
ing, rest, careful attendance in sickness
and adequate support in old age, There
is far more suffering, and far more injus-
lice, among the laboring population of
Great Britain than among the slaves Of
the United States. Aud there is far more
reason lor our interference in their behalf,
Than for that of Great Britain in favor Of
the slaves Of this country.
This new-fangled legislation Of Great
Britain opens wide field for retaliation.
Every nation which may suffer by il,
would be perfectly justified in applying
the same principle TO the exported pro.
ductions of Great Britain If she should
refuse 10 receive our sugar. because its
culture inAicts misery and wrong upon the
slaves who raise il, we should most GER
tainly he warranted in excluding her cot
ton goods, OH the ground that their manu-
laclure involves the utmost wretcbedness
and injustice on the par, Of the laborers in
British factories. Yet any such legisla-
ton on our part would unques'ionably be
repeIled as a: most uhWarranted inlerler.
ence in the domestic affairs of tha, country.
We are al loss to find, in any recog-
nized principles OF public law, more ground
for the action of Grea, Britain.