The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-13


ed this result, can doubt for moment, t,a
TENS have worked side by side for ages. ur
der such equal circumstances both politica
and physical, and with such ample time am
opportunity for each to work GU: its prope
effects-that all must admit the experiment
the system Of fee labor promotes ID,
growth and prosperity Of States, in mucl
higher degree than the system Of slave la
Dor. In the first settlement Of country
when labor is scarce and dear, slavery may
give temporary impulse TO improvement
but even this is not the case, except IN
warm climates, and where free men are
scarce and either sickly or lazy: and whsr
we have said this, We have said all that ex.
perience in the United States warrants us 10
say, in favor of the policy Of employing
slave labor.
II is the common remark Of all who have
travelled through the United States, that the
free States and the slave States, exhibits
striking contrast in their appearance. In
the old free States are seen all the tokens
OF prosPerity-a dense and increasing popu-
lstion; thriving villages, towns and cities !;
neat and productive agriculture, growing
manufactures and active commerce.
In the older parts Of the slave States
with a few local exceptions-are seen, on
the contrary, too evident signs Of siagnation
or OF positive decay sparse population-
slovenly cultivation spread over vast fields,
that are wearing out, among others already
worn out and desolate-villages and towns,
'few and far between" rarely growing.
often decaying, sometimes mere remnants of
what they were, sometimes deserted ruins,
haunted only by owls-generally no manu-
lectures, nor even trades, except the indis-
pensable iew-commerce and navigation
abandoned, as far as possible, TO the people
OF the free States-and generally, instead
Of the stir and hustle Of industry, a dull
and dreamy stiffness, broken. if broken
at all, only by the wordy brawl Of politics.
But we depend no; on general statements
Of this sort, however unquestionable their
truth may be. We shall present you with
statistical facts. drawn from public docu-
ments Of the highest authority. We shall
compare slave States with free States, in
general and in particular, ard in so many
points OF view, that You cannot mistake in
forming your Judgment Of their comparative
prosperity.
Density and increase Of population are,
especially in the United States, both an ele
nent and criterion Of prosperity. The
men Of State are its first element Of pow
er--not only military power, and political
power-but what is Of more Importance,
productive power. The labor of men pro-
duces wealth, and with it the means Of all
human comfort and improvement. The
more men there are on a square mile, the
more power there is on that square mile, 10
create every thing that conduces to the wei
fare Of man. We know that the natural
resources Of every country are limited; and
that whenever there are men enough in a
country to improve all its resources Of
wealth to the best advantage, increase Of
population becomes an evil. But no State
in this Union has vet approached that point
no slave State has advanced half way 10 1t,
England still prospers with more than $50
inhabitants 10 the square mile; Virginia
languishes with only 20, though she IS by
nature almost as richly endowed as Eng
land. Massachusetts, lhrves with 100 iii.
habitants to the square mile; Virginia, con-
siderng her natural advantages, ought to
thrive as well with much larger number
and so she would, if she had the same quail
ity of men on her SOIL