Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-15

nave TO determine the question by comparing
The results Of each system, in communities
where they have operated under equal cir
cumsIances of time and Of physical advantage
and disadvantage.
Now in comparing the results, as between
New York or Pennsylvania on the one side,
and Virginia or North Carolinl on the other,
IL is obvious that no just conclusion can be
attained, unless we compare the two COM
Tnnnliies either class by class, as capitalists
with capitalists, laborers with laborers, or
The whole of the one with the whole of the
other, and make a general average of their
wealth. In the slave states, the slaves are
distinctly enumerated in taking the census ;
out The free laborers of the other states are
not; so that we cannot make the comparison
class by class. We have, therefore, 10 make
a general average Of the whole population,
and this serves best TO determine the general
eHect OF the two sorts Of labor upon the
wealth oil The community, though it does not
snow how the aggregate wealth is distribu-
'ed among the several classes.
The principle here laid down is so obvious
y true and just, that we are confident of its
appearing so to every reader of ommon can
dor and intelligence.
But we will give a brief Illustration, to
make 1t plain to the meanest capacity.
Suppose two farmers, one in a free
State and one in u slaveholding State;
each cultivaling goo acres of land, and
and employing ten hands. The north
ern farmer employs free labor, which
costs him the board and wages of the la
b%orers, and nothing moro. The southern
farmer employs his own slaves, whose
labor costs him, first, the interest of the
capital which he has invested in slaves,
and, secondly, the maintenance of such
a number Of slaves, old and young, male
and female, sound aud unsound, as will
afford him a constant supply of ten work
ing hands. Now to prevent any ono
from ~misIaking the point at issue, we will
suppose that those farmers can each make
a clear profit of $1,000 Il year by the cul-
t%ivation Of his land. Then, to all intents
and purposes, they arc equally rich and
prosperous. mo (says Mr.. Fisher by
no means And why not! we ask
Because (says Mr.. Fishcr) the slaves
are property, and you must add their val
ne 10 the southern farmers estate, and
allow him tho whole amount but the
iroe.laborcrs are citizens, and you mus
divide the northern farmers wealth with
them, and allow him only the average
share Of all that they have among them
SO the southern farmer will be about ten
limcsas rich as the northern. We reply
finally, that all this is absurd because
We have supposed the northern farmer tc
make as much profit by his free labor, a,
the other makes by his slaves. All We
have TO do is 10 ascertain whether or no
the northern people, on the whole, make
as much by their free labor, az The south
ern do by their slave labor and the wa,
TO ascertain it, is TO divide the amount O
wealth which each people, capitalists ant
laborors, have made by the number en-
gagged in making it@lhat is, by the Who'll
population. The result will show
whether a community, all free, makes
larger or smaller product, than an cqua
number of persons, partly free and parII,
slaves, will makc-allowance being mad
for difference of natural Advantages il
the two countries. Surely We need SAY
no more On this point.
But there is another connected with il
In estimating the relative wealth of Nv,
States, ought the value of the slaves t,
be added 10 that Of other property?
Our answer is, that il depends upon cir
cumstanccs. II u State breeds slaves 70
expectation 10 other countries, and makes
a profit by this business, as mule breed
erS make Il profit out Of their capital in
vested in mares and jackasscs-thcI
speaking economically, not morally, III
capital thus invested in the business O
breeding slaves, for cXporialion, is pro
ductiye capital, and fairly constitutes
portion Of the wealth oC the slave breed
crs. But, apart from this business c
rearing slaves for foreign markets, tn
solution Of the question depends cnlirel,
upon the fact, whether sIave.labor is o
is not more profitable than Grec-labor. |
in the long-run, and upon tho whole, a.
equal number Of frce-laborors in tn
country would make as much profit 70
the capitalists 10 say nothing of wha
they might make for lhemsclves) then
is evident that the existence of SLAYER
in the country adds nothing 10 its wealth
and slaves should not be r~eckoncd, a
constituting any portion of the genera
wealth of a State, whatever they may b
TO individuals who sell them. If they b
sold by n citizen TO another for HON
use, the price is no evidence of their be
ing an addition to the general wealth G
the Shareholders. They may comman
a price when sold, for two reasons, indie
pendent of their superior value 10 III
owner above that Of hired laborcrs.
One rea or is, that the existence c
slavery makes it impraclicable to obtai
hired free laborers Of good quality and i
sufficient numbers TO supersede The us
of slaves. This circumstance, and es
'aOlished custom, keep up a domestic dc
mand Tor slaves, and give them an Incl
dental value, when intrinsically the,