Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-07-21

I leHtI uuPe nOl raise Tue average OF IL
glnla higher than 1888 per head so that
years ago Russia was nearly twelve
ines as prosperous as Virginia is now - +
however, is, according TO this theory, !
n a rapid decline. Industry, manufactures, .
and the arts, have all advanced in i
country with gigantic strides. Agricul- /
lure has not been far in the rear. At the same $
Time a very general emancipation Of serfs has ,
taken place, SO thai the fceemen OF Russia /
now number thousands, where they formerly ,
would count only hundreds. The average, /
oil course, rs in a continual decline, and tho 4,
all the world has been accustomed to regard
Russian prosperity as rapidly advancing, all
the world, according 10 Mr.. Fisher, 10 evi.
IDENTIFY deceived.
Take another example. Egypt, under the
government OF the Pasha, is peopled by slaves.
The peasants are all 10 that condition. We
know not the number of property holders
Cages, &c. but we should suppose they
would scarcely amount to 90, 900. Now il is
fair 10 presume that the entire property Of f.
gypt is half as valuable as that OF Virginia
that is to say, that it is worth $500, 0O0, 900.
That would give an average Of $4,000 to
each freeman. Consequently, according to
MIR. Fisher, Egypt e. far from being the ba-
sest Of Kingdoms W is the most lourishing
community on earth.
The prosperity of England, according to
this theory, Immediately after the Norman
conquest, when about one hundred thousand
were freemen, and all the rest slaves, was
greater than it is at this moment when she
controls the money operations Of all the
world.
Italy, Immediately before the inroads Of
those Barbarians who overthrow the decay
ed and lettering empire Of Rome, was, ac-
cording TO the accounts Of all historians, in
the most deplorable Of all conditions. Ac-
cording 10 Mr.. F.'s idea, however, she pre-
scented a picture of prosperity to which the
history OF The whole known world presents
no likeness. The entire C~ampagna, an ex-
ceedingly populous district, was owned by a
few mobiles. All the rest were slaves. The
average was enormous, affording an immense
fortune 10 each freeman.
Let us come nearer home. 1t can be de-
monstrated that this principle of Mr.. Fisher
makes the wealth Of a community consist in
The decay OF industry, the exhaustion Of the
lands, and the decline of the population
For instance, the value OF the lands Of Hen
rico county is estimated at about So 500, 900.
The number of slaves is supposed to be about
1000. AT 5000 a piece, they would yield
$l,400, 900. This added to the price Of the
lands, would give IS, 900, 900 for the value
land and negroes of the county. In round
numbers let US say Sc, 100000. Let us sup
pose these lands TO become so completely ex-
hausted that they may he sold for not half
their value, say 81 SOC, 900. Let US suppose
them all bought up by one hundred indivi-
duals, who own fifty slaves each. Fifty
slaves at 5000 each would give 81 900, 900,
which, added to the ST. 500, 900, would give
for the land and negroes Of Henrico county
$4,000. 000; and each individual would aver
age $25, 900! How prosperous would he
the county of Henrlco, according to Mr..
Fisher, with its WORKOUT lands, and lis re.
duced population!
e According to Mr.. Fishers view, the grea,
r ter the number of slaves, the greater the pros
t perity of the State. This is very difTeren
D from Mr.. James c. Bruce's view of the mat
, ter; but let US take it for granted that it i
{ so. Then if the Legislature of Virgins
possessed the power, and would exercise it
! of reducing one half of her free population
to slavery, she would add 10 her wealth thei
E estimated value as slaves!
T Slaves are property, it is true and in es
S timating the wealth Of individuals, as com
/ pared with each other, they are 10 be takei
into the account. But a different rule mus
r be pursued, in comparing the wealth of siav'
= and free States. " hat makes a slave valna
u blt III ldDVl, ~ . ERuuhh Abi
G tells US indeed. that laJor, and not gold or sill
G yer, is the true standard or value. In com
h pairing the wealth of the States of the Union
Mr.. Fisher has left this part Of the subjec
entirely out of view. lie has made no al
- lowance whatever, for the value of free labor
though il is well known TO be of a great,
superior class to slave. He adopts the prir
e ciple that a man is Of no value until he be
Y comes a slave. What the value Of free labC
a is, or whether it is not Of at least as much
slave, let any man who has ever visited II
r. New England States, and knows whatdtscril
at lion OF labor il is that has accomplished Il
" results he will there see every where arour
him, determine.
W In another article, the Wing says:
ly Even now, the farmers, very generally
H. we might almost say universally-fnd the
es farms overstocked with slaves, who destTt
10 all their profits, and render it an exceeding
Mt difficult matter to make both ends of the ye
n meet. In very many cases, the farmers ha'
ed gone in debt, and have been compelled
ci- part, at a great sacrifice, with both lands an
ee Slaves. In others they have been forced
of DISPOSE of their lands at a loss, and TemoV
ia, with their slaves TO other countries, where Il
D.. Dor is more profitable. In the vast maIorlt
ut of instances, this sUperabundance of weall
est has manifested itself in worn out lands, an
he a curtailment Ofthose very comforts which al
ne the boast of Virginia. There can be I
lat doubt, that by a reduction Of the number
,lf slaves, these expenses would be greatly lie
all sened, and these comforts greatly enhance
an Such was the opinion of Mr.. Bruce, hefo
nd alluded to; and such are the teachings Of re
- son and experience, which tell MS that {
on much labor Is fully as bad as too liule."
in -
es Slarsry in MissOuri.-The Peoples OrcO
al. a journal published in Missouri, says /
RI Shareholders in that State are estimated /
o.. 10 exceed twelve thousand. They own ST
ty en,y thousand slaves, and there are neal
ed halt a million Of inhabitants who own