The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-11-04

or professional industry, by which You can
steadily realise thirty or even twenty per cent
more than is paid in the adjacent free States i''
the same labor and under the same circumssnn-
ces. When you have done this, we ash you
candidly to ponder Oh tie legitimate eifeets on
slavery as described by this ''dissinguished sd-
yocate." You who know what labor is-you
"a no are dependant on one weeks toll, for the
next week s subsistence--you who are journey
men, traders, clerks, apprentices, or iaooren''
can at glance tell what part Of this argument
of A. r. C. is true, and what is utterly and en-
,;rely erroneous. We confess our establishment
that gentleman so intelligent and well INFORM
ed as A. b. c., should hazard such unfounded
assertions as are contained in the hrst ana
second propositions. 1t is impossible that he
should intend 10 deceive the readers OF his
communication, and yet he has most certainly
deceived himself
Having worked in both the free and slave
States rs apprentice, iourneyman and employer,
we know something practically about the re'a-
tive social position of intelligent men OF all
classes, and also the rate Of wages and profits
existing in both. We have made all the inqui-
ries we could, and ascertained all the facts with
in our reach and we now proceed to give por'
ton Of the results of our practical knowledge
and of our extended inquiries, promising that il
we state anything not strictly true, or that Il
contrary to the experience Of any portion Ofths
: readers Of the Examiner, we shall be most hap
c nv to make the correction. We are all liable Il
err, but fortunately we can correct each other
errors. If this be done in proper spirit, Trutl
will not suffer
Ii will be seen that the entire value Of the ar
cument OF. A. b. c. rests upon the assertion "tha
slavery has the effect to enhance the value of sv
cry description Of white labor In the slave State
from thirty to one hundred per cent, and that tn
s same remark holds good Of every other branch {
business" Not a single statistical fact is give
ID in support of this position, yet it is asserted
L. the most unqualified manner, "as a well estst
% lishei fact, and one which admits Of no quei
N ton" We assert the negative Of this proPos
ne ton, and shall now adduce the proof. But fir
o. we must premise remark or two to PreveI
p misunderstanding.
10 In comparing the rate Of wages between di
Sc ferent States, or between different localities
80 the same States, we must take into consider
% ton the circumstances with which the laborer
Ut surrounded. For example, wages are higher
cities than in small towns, because rents al
N provisions are higher. We must therefore cor
Is pare cities with cities, towns with towns, al
al remote sections of the country with other Sc
'e' tons equally remote. The healthiness Of a 81
Oh uation also affects wages; for obvious reason
III therefore, we must not compare healthy wi
OF unhealthy situations,
y, Again il will assist US in argument to e
nc anime first those branches Of mechanical i
&C. dustry, which are employed in producing ar
ie cles and constructions of permanent intere
sat and value, and in which the capital invest
m may be said TO be fixed-such as building m
We chancs, &c. Afterwards the wages of tho
is employed in fabricating and manufacture
those articles that can easily be transport
CT from place to place.
yu- II is not necessary here, to say anything
at to the mode in which wages are affected by d
81 the laws Of demand and supply. Thc ques,i,
ier with "a. is this:-what are the FACTS in q
case1 We will just compare the nate of wag
'a- in the two great commercial emporiums of he
ay lucky and Ohio-Louisville and Cincinnati: