The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-10

IT, Il
power we can answer it is the condition of the con
tract which made onr ports your ports, our laws you
laws our flag your flag, our people your people.
There Is yet another view of this subject which com
mends itself to the consideration of statesmen and espe
cialy of that class who say that this institution shall
come to an end and seem to be very anxious TO
us, and a blight upon all efforts and other nstitu
tons; but OF which who ought if any one be Tho
sufferers, do not complain. We look upon it, it exists
among under ordinary circumstances the presen
day, as the happest combination of labor and capita
which was ever used in society So far from lookns
upon the institution as IS as great evil, think al
parties live happier under it than in your northern socie
ties or indeed any other but that tcanno
remain IN that Just medium which would make il sourc,
OF continued comfort and happiness to master and slave
Not that we apprehend any forcibe interference from
quarter; but population cannot remain stationary.
have shown what must be the inevitable effect of arb
rarily continuing slavery. Let us now what viii be
the inevitable elect OF expanding its area without I'M
creaspg IFS numbers 1t will beand call the attent6f
OF both northern and southern to the fact-thal
slavery must become extinct II is very clear that slave
labor which will be sufficient for 100000 square miles
will not be sufficient for 200000, and in proportion
and that free labor must and will flow in TO supply the
demand, and every day more and more, with every ey-
panson, diminish the relative proportion OF slaves and
reemen by increasing the latter; and by thus offering
every day cheapenng labor, the value of all labor mus
be diminished and with it the value of the slave In this
you offer the master compensation by cheaper labor by
the other process you rob him of both lands and slaves
by crowding his lands with useless labor beyond then
means of support and which he neither sell give
away until he is forced by the accumulation of blacks to
abandon both: BY The opposite policy, you allow new
States TO relieve the old ones, by drawing off slaves
leaving behind by degrees openings for free labor, whilst
hey DO not carry forward enough to supply the demand
his enhances prices of labor and free laborers
The planter keeps the slaves which he is accustomed
Free labor first fills all the ramifcations OF business
except planting and then the farmer from the free States
brings in his hired men, 10 which he is accustomed.
Both systems go together and to the satfacton of
a m IN the END tn the free lab Itself Eel the
cheaply than by slaves. He will then keep about him
only his favorite and his household servants to which he
is accustomed, and gradually these will become extinct.
doubt, our descendants will be happier
derby community than now Though the Ameri-
cans possess wonderful power of adaptation cir
cumsances But such seems to be the inevitable law OF
destiny if there is arbitrary interference. Whatever
may be the feelings or happiness of the people, slavery
WILL at least, go out IN peace and quiet, without
vuson confusion and by transitions so easy that all
parties adapt themselves to the gradual change of
cial relations Free negroes enough to be nuisance,
will be Left but diminished by widespread distribution,
and degradation They will diminish without the care OF
MASTER and disappear from the face of the earth by de-
grees. Statistics would prove this But to return to
my position, 10 dminution of slavery have here ia
Bile, Mr. Chairman, which proves what say and in my
opinion, the next census will exhibit it in still more
striking manner 9a
1t exhibits the fact, that in every Stat, south of
Maryandwhere the States new, the proportion of
slaves to whites, regularly at every census until it
reaches a maximum. and then recedes The slaves do
the rough work They open the country and then 60
forward new forests And white labor pours in lido
not include in this the District of Columbia which is in
uenced by peculiar circumstances, not general laws of
population. g
Delaware and Maryland receded from the beginning.
So did the District till $780, when, from some unknown
cause, it advanced.
Virginia, North Carolina. Georgia. Kentucky, louisa
ma. and Missouri have already passed their maximum Pc
rio1, and begun to recede.
South Carolina and Tennessee and Mississippi, in all
probability, reached their maximum at the last
Alabama and Florida will probably reach the maximum
in $780, Arkansas in 1860, and Texas in ten years
Observe, MIR. Chairman | speak not of the maximum
of the number OF slaves but of their proportion the
whites
In the whole slave territory the proportion steadily but
slowly increased from 800 till 1910, when ii commenced
descending
Thus the proportion, in the whole slave territory, of
slaves to whites was in