The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-11
Comparative Preais % Free and slave Ia

prev antet; aLd hence the penalties afnx ed 70 ts
further prosecution OF the iofeisn usfhe.
Comparative Profits % Free and slave La
bar.
This subject is considered In a very fair aDs
iudicious tone by an Intelligent correspondent
Of the Calticat0T, who writes in reply 10 inqni
RES addressed 70 that periodical, in May last, BY
"a Southhrner," for the reasons why the north
is more prosperous than the south.
The writer attributes the difference mainly,
If not entirely, to the difference In the avail
bllity Of slave and free labor. and Institutes o
comparison between the agricultural product
iyeness of New York, before and since TIL
emancipation Of the slaves In this State. Daring
the Years from lSO5 Till the emancipation law
went into operation, the negroes did nearly all
The work that was done. "Ths white man,
says the writer, elf possessed Of any property
spent his time not on MS farm, but on the rOaO
aud In the tavern, at the horse race or there
pleasure or amusement called him. For the
son Of q man Of property to labor except very
slightly, was derogalOry 10 his character; anc
an opinion was very generally entertained thai
there was no necessity. much less ProPrieIy. Cor
a young man 10 labor.
"It was not the fashion then TO give. except
10 fayorits son, finished education, but az
the majority would not stay at home, where
they old nothing, they sought after some EN-
oloyment to spend their time, which employ
ment would naturally be found where Others,
like themselves, congTegated: and that was a.
public places, and in public or private amuse-
msnts. In this, they only followed the exam
pie of their fathers, who, In most instances, az
ter a slight morning survey Of the farm, woald
be found either at the country store, or al the
tavern. HaBtiRg and fishing were Harmless
occupations, compared 10 those taught in these
unfortunate gatherings and how many fine es-
. ,ates have | seen spent, and their owners, and
the natural heirs OF them, beggared by the ia
diligence In these Idle and vicious habits, pra o
used BY nearly q wAols community In NY
minds eye, can nov run over a whole esta-
logue Of persons, who, al that time, were some
Of our most promising young men, who have
fallen victims to those habits Of The times, ana
the estates which they ought to have inherited
passed into the possession Of others.
These were the times when the blacks o. IN
labored. The white man cons dered himself
above labor. The earnings of the slave, there-
fore, while they Contributed 20 his support
likewise did their share Of his ruin. True, in
comparison 10 population, We had not as many
slaves they have at the south; but We had
enough 10 I'LL our land as il wss then titled, ano
thus take from a useful and necessary per
sonal occupation. The labor dOns by the slaVes
who were Only consumers, besides sapportius
the slave aud his family. Here were Useless
mouths 10 feed, useless backs 10 cOthe-ano
successful indeed was that farmer, who, under
this management, could al the emo Of the wear
make both ends meet. When l recall 10 mind
the imperfect method Of cultivation praciised a
that time-lhe want of comfort for the use OF
man-of care for his stOck-lhe appearance OF
his farm, fences and out-baildings-theq quaint
~ Of lands lying waste--the imperfect forma-
ton Of roads sud bridges-the want Of shoot
houses for the education Of children-ofchurch-
IS to collect the population on the sabbath-eno
the general lack of prosperity PerVading almost
all classes, l but recall what have too often
witnessed, and the recollection Is too vivid 70
be soon ehaced from my memory.
"The morals Of the community corresponSeo
TO these outx ard appearances. II wa then the
custom for the men, both old aud Young, of a
neghbOrhood, by IL o'clock Ia the morning, 70
collect at the nearest public houses--of which
in many townships there were scores-remaia
drinking and talking over the news until high
noon--leave for their dinners, and by 5 P. NJ.
to re-collect 10 indulge more freely In drinking
or gambling; and to while away the time, Dos.
sibly at a cock-hght. or horse-race, Or have a
tight among themselves. About - o'clock Al
night they retire to their respective homes, to
re-enaet the same or similar scenes the nexI
day. These were events Of almost daily occur
renee. Idleness was the parent Of immortality,
and that in turn brought about tbs ruin Of tens
Of thousands Of families.
"When we had arrived at about the acme of
this state Of society, emancipation Of the color
ed race was called for. AT first much objection
was made 10 IL by most Of the owners Of slaves.
The cry vas--'we shall be ruined. Who IL 10
work our estaiesf The community will suffer
for the want OF labOrIng men, and we all will be
Impoverished together But the good sense ana
patriotism OF the ireemen Of our State, prevail
ed over all the objections urged; and depend
upon it they were not slightly pressed hy abl.
advocates; and our bill Of eIna neipation. after
tong and severe struggle, at geugJn became tue
law OF the State. / am not aware that much
difficulty, for airy length Of time, was created
by this change in the manner Of working our
estates Blacks that we're liberated, were hireo
In many instances, and la a short time a white
population came forward, and all the labors Of
the farm went on with more than the accustom-
ed energy. The sons Of the farmer, instead of
spending their time In idieness and dissipation
from necessity, as Il were, became Producer
instead Of consumers. All the Industry Of IN.
community was called into requisition. Ii be-
came popular for all TO labor In their respective
vacations, according TO their respective sbili-
ties, and after the lapse OF about twenty-five
years, an entire change has been wrought in
the whole state Of society.
GAS to laborers, the vacuum thus Temporarily
created was more than made up by white man.
and the effect produced By the change, has be-
productive Of the most wonderful and proDitious
results. The whole face Of nature is changes.
and all around gives evidences that great WORK
has been slowly, silently and happily accom-
plishsd. The uncomfortable old houses Of N.
farmers have given way to new aud more COM
modious ones. The ous-buildings are enlarged.
improved, and made Ornamental to the exf,h'
lishment. Fences. In most instances, are mad
that will secure the growing crops; waste I.nd
improved and brought into successful cultiva-
ton; the stock changed into objects Of beauty
a. well a. profit; the roads, bridges, school.
houses and churches, such as DO credit to an To-
dustrious, Intelligent, thriving, moral and r.ii-
gious people. These are the fruits of free Labor.
cAiling upon every man to act well his part In
society; and the bounties Of Proyidencs thai
have followed, are the strong evidences Of what
well directed industry viii accomplish.
'"That the benefits flowing from this state Of
society have been fsliy realised, as far as oecu.
mary prodt ID concerned, I viii here give, hy
way OF Illustration. conclusive proof. In the
town In which resided the soil Of which IL cas-
uy worked, but not naturally very fsrtiis, well
remember The time whsn few nan had money
@ loan, and bar lIttls Of q couId b. procur.d.-
Wen fnfunnnnuarv - IA - -.8-.L- - II