Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-09-27

about three millions interested in slave
property
Mr. Mann resumed Nv data lead m.
TO believe that the number does not nov
exceed two millions: but. at the time O
the adoption of the Constitution. the mum
directly connected with slaveholding mus
have been less than one million. Ie
this one million has already managed Il
acquire the broad States Of Missouri
Arkansas. Louisiana. Florida. and Texas
beyond the limits Of the treaty of 1888
when. at the time the compromises 0
the Constitution" were entered into. no
one Of the parties supposed tina: we should
ever acquire territory beyond those limits
And this has been done for the benefit G
it be Il beneiit) Of that one million of slave
holders. against what is now free popu-
lation Of fifteen millions. And. in addi-
lion to this. it is to tc considered that the
non siavcholding popula ion of the slave
States have as direct and deep an Interest
as any part Of the country. adverse to the
extension of slavery. If all orr new terri
tory be doomed to slavery. where can the
non Shareholders of the slaveholdng States
cmigrate to! Are they not to be consi-
dercd! Has one-half the population OF
the slavcholding States rights. which are
paramount. not only to the rights Of the
other half but TO the rights Of all the free
States besides; for such is the claim, No.
sir say that, if slavery were no moral
or political evil. yet according to all prin-
ciples of Justice and equity. the slave
holders have already obtained their full
share of territory. though all the residue
of this continent were annexed to the
Union. and we were to become. in tine in
sane language Of the day. Ian ocean
bound Rcpubic.'
now proceed to consider the nature
and effects of slavery. as reason why
newborn communities should be exempt
ed from it, First. let me treat of its
economical or financial, and secondly, Of
its moral aspects
Though slaves are said to be property.
they are the rreventers, the MASTERS. the
antagonists. of property So far from
facilitating the increase of individual or
national wealth, slavery rctards both. IL
blasts worldly prosperity. Other things
being equal. a free people will thrive and
prosper. in mere worldly sense. more
than people divided into masters and
slaves. Were we SO constituted as to care
for nothing. to aspire TO nothing. beyond
mere temporal well-being. this well being
would counsel us 10 abolish slavery
wherever it exists, and TO repel its approach
wherever it threatens.
I.nslave man. and YOU destroy his
ambition. his enterprise. his capacity. In
the constitution of human nature. the de-
sire Of bciteriny ones condition Is the
main spring Of effort. The first touch OF
slavery snaps this spring. The slave
does no. participate in the value of the
wealth he creates. III he earns. another
scizcS free man iabors. not only to inn
prove his own condition, but TO better the
condition Of his children. The mighty
impulse of parental affection rcpays for
diligence. and makes cxcrtion sweet.
The slaves heart never beats with this
high emotion. However industrious and
frugal nc may be he has nothing 10 bcqueath
to his chiIdrcn-or nothing save The sad
bonds he himself has worn. Fear may
make him work. hut hope never. When
he moves his tardv limbs. it is because of
the suffering that goads him from behind.
and not from the bright prospects that
beckon him forward i'll the race.
What would u slave-owner at the South
think. should he come TO Massachusetts,
and there see farmer seize upon his
hired man. call in a surgeon. and cut off all
the tiexor muscles Of his arms and legs.
| do not ask what he would think of his hui
manly, but what would he think of his
sanity, Yet the planter does more than
this when he makes a man slave. lie
cuts deeper than the muscles: he destroys
the spirit that moves the muscles.
In all ages ofthe world. among all nations.
wherever the earnings OF the laborer have
been stolen away from him. his energies
have gone with his earnings. Under the
the villcnage system of England. the
vileins were a low. idle. spiritless race:
dead to responsibility; grovelling in their
desires: resstan, of labor; without enter
prise; without foresight. This principle is
now exempllIied III the landlord and tenant
system Of Ireland If tenant is to be
no better off tor the improvements he
makes Oh an estate, he will not make the
Look at the seIgniores
of New fork-.he antirent districts as
they are now caTIed;-every man acquain-
ted with the subject knows that both peo
pie and husbandry are half century be-
hind the condition of contiguous fee
simple proprietorshiPs- All history Illus
trates the principle that when property is
insecure. it will not be earned. If a
despot can seize and coniscate the pro-
perry of his subject at pleasure, the sub
ect will not acquire property. and there
Dv give to himself the conspicuousness
that invites the plumber. And if this be
so when property is merely insecure, what
must be the effect when man has no pro-
pertv whatever in his earnings! Who
Toes not know that slave. who can ra-
ionally hope TO purchase his freedom, will
10 all the work he ever did before. and
earn his freedom money besides, Sla-
rerv therefore. though claiming TO be a
Kind of pr perry. is the bane of property:
and the more slaves there are found in the
inventory of a nations wealth. the less in
'alue will the aggregate OF that inyen-
orv be
This is one of the reasons why slave
abor is so much less efficient than free j