The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-18

1
its present stock of negroes. We Join not
the English and American abolition cry
about "slave- breeding" in East Virginia, as
II II were chosen occupation, and there
fore reproachful one. 1t is no sech thing,
but case Of dire necessity, and many q
heartache does it cost the good people there.
But behold in the East the doleful conse
quences Of letting slavery grow up to an op.
pressive and heaItsickening burden upon |,
community Cast it Oh, West Virginians,
whilst yet you have the power; for if you
let it descend unbroken to your children, il
will have grown to mountain of misery
upon their heads.
We have the following reasons 10 appre,
bend, that unless prevented by law, the slave
population will in few years increase IA
Pidly in West Virginia.
L. The price Of cotton must fall, and
with it the value OF slaves.
From Is to 20 years ago, the average
price of cotton was IL cents pound; in
the last five years between and 8 cents
Had the last crop been a full one, the aver
age would have been under Z cents. Every
successive full crop now depresses the price
lower and lower; showing that the supply is
on the whole outrunning the demand. 1t
must outrun the demand, while the South
em slave-market is open TO Northern slave
holders.
From 1920 to 1880, the slaves in the cot
on-growing States (South Of Tennessee and
North Carolina) increased Is per cent, and
in the next 10 years they increased 81 per
cent. In 1910 the number including those
IN Texas was about / 100000. The mum.
Der increases as fast as ever; for to The natu-
raj increase OF the Southern stock, is added
The increase Of the Maryland, Virginia, and
North Carolina negroes, and half the in
crease Of those in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Thus the negro population Of the cotton
States, is going on to double itself in pc
Rod Of 10 or Is years.
Now the production Of cotton must in
crease at the same rate as the slave popu-
lation; for cotton and sugar are the only
crops in which the slaves can be proftably
employed; and the production OF sugar can
not increase faster than that Of cotton
There will be no stoppage for want of good
land. Texas has enough to produce ten
times the quantity Of the present annual
crop.
But the consumption Of cotton cannot in
crease at the same rate. The population OF
the countries that consume our cotton, does
not double itself in less than 90 years; how
then can they double their consumption in
is years, or even twice that period! There
fore the price Of cotton mus; fall, and the
Southern demand for Virginia negroes must
cease.
2. Good policy will require the Southern
States, ere long, to close their markets
against Northern negroes. The natural in,
crease Of their present stock OF slaves, will
increase the production Of cotton as fast as
the market will bear. Their short crops
have always brought them more money than
their full crops showing that it is their in
tereSt to restrict the quantity within certain
limits. A small excess in the quantity,
causes a ruinous fall in the price Sup.
pose the average profit TO the planters 10 be
now two cents to the pound; then fall Of
one cent takes away half the profit and hall
the value OF their slave labor and fall oil
two cents would ruin the business. Good
reason, therefore, had Mr.. Bruce to appre.
bend that the Southern slave market might
ere long, be closed; and to urge Virginian:
to hasten the removal Of their negroes to
the South.
But whether it be closed or not, one thing
is evident-that the value Of slaves in the
market must decline more and more. Whist
then!
3. When the Southern slave market il
closed, or when, by the reduced profits o
slave labor in the South, it becomes glut
ted-then the stream of Virginia negroes
heretofore pouring down upon the South
will be thrown back upon the State, anc
like river damned up, must spread itsel
over the whole territory of the common
wealth. The head spring in East Vngini'
cannot contain itself; it must find vent, i
will shed its black streams through every
gap Of the Blue Ridge and pour over th,
Allegheny, till it is checked by abolitionisn
on the borders. But even abolitionism can
not finally stop it. Abolitonism itself vii
tolerate slavery, when shareholders grow
sick and tired Of it.
In plain terms, fellow-citizens, Easter
Shareholders will come with their multitude
Of slaves to settle upon the fresh lands o
VVost Virginia. Easteru, slavOs will be con
by thousands for market in West Virginia
Every valley will echo with the cry "Ne
groesl Negroes for sale! Dog cheap! Do
cheap" And because they are dog cheap
many Of our people will buy them. W.
have shown how slavery has prepared TIL
people for this--how little slavery make
way for more, and how the law of slave-in
crease operates to fill up every part Of tn
country to the same level with slaves.
And then, fellow-ctizens, when you hav,
suffered your country to DO filled with ne
gro slaves instead Of white freemen; wher
its population shall be as motley as Joseph
coat Of many coloIs---as ring-streaked AM
speckled as father Jacobs flock was in Pa
dan Aram-whst will the white basis Of re
presentation avail you, if you obtain it?-
| Whether you obtain it or not, East Virgins
will have triumphed; or rather slaUery vii
have triumphed, and all Virginia will hav
become a land Of darkness and Of tn
shadow Of death. ai
i
Then by iorbearance which has n