The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-09

, ~ nedd IN New ok.
We have heretofore, with view to th
same inquiry respecting the average pr
ducts OF labor, carefully examined the Gel
sps rabies, and MIR. fuckers valuation
especially in reference to agricultural pr
ducts, and we say with confidence, tn
Mr.. Tucker made too high an estimate {
the value of agricultural products in vi
ginia. He made no allowance for an emo
NOUS blunder in the returns Of hemp an
fax raised in Virginia, by which her agr
cultural products were over.rated to the valu
of about million and half Of dollars i
a single item; and he set too high yalu
on several important articles of produce, es
Pecially in West Virginia.
But il would lie tedious--as it certainly
is unneoe; saly al present--to discuss thi
matter particularly. Mr.. Fisher has givel
no proof, authority or explanation Of hi
statements. We deny their correctness
Let him attempt to prove them, and w
shall. il Providence permit, have something
more 10 say on the subject.
But we must notice how glibly he make:
the following assertion Z" II is clear thai
alter deducting the annual CONSUMPTION
OF both States, les If he knew. and had
made known, what the; consumption
amounted to,l Virginia will have larger
proportional surplus remaining to augment
the stock of her permanent prosperity. y
As this bareless assertion, we might be
content Ia call it so, and pass on. But il
affords US occasion to make some remarks
on the different habits Of consumption in
the North and the South.
it is well known that the people of the
slave-holding States are halitually more
pfolnse and wasteful in the consumption OF
products than the people OF the free States.
Slavery generates everywhere the habits OF
lndolence,i negligence and carelessness,
which cause frequent loss and constant
waste. lie that consumes that which he
has not labored for, is naturally profuse
ard wasteful. He that depends on his own
labor for supplies will take care Of what
he makes, and consume it economically,
because he must replace by the sweat Of
his brow that which is lost or wasted.
Hence, in free States, though some do not
labor with their hands, yet the necessity of
economy and carelulness which presses on
the laboring classes, diffuses through all
classes Of society more or less Of the same
habits. On the contrary, in a society
where the slave-holding class consume at
pleasure the fruits which the servile class
labor for. and the servile class have little or
no interest il the fruits Of their labor, both,
iIom the operation Of contrary causes, fall
into habits of wasieful consumption; the
master because he does not feel what il
costs to produce, the slave because he does
Tot save his labor by care and economy
Even the poor white folks in a slave-hold.
ing community fall into improvident and
wasleful habits by imitation, by ignorance,
and by abjectness. % - ..--
VI course all general observations OF
this sort are TO be understood with excep.
tons. There are careful and economical
individuals in slave-holding society, as
there are sPendthril.s and wasters in free
State. We speak OF what is general, not
Of what is universal, in differently censti.
tuted societies---of tendencies. not Of uni
form effects.
Hence we cannot Judge correctly Of the
progress Of wealth in State, from the ave-
rage products Of labor, without comparing
these with the prevalent habits OF consump-
ton. What is true Of individuals, is true,
also, Of communities in this respect. II
farmer A. makes 5000 bushels OF grain
yearly, and farmer b. 1000, it does not fol-
low that farmer A. is growing rich faster
than farmer B., nor that he lives more COM
lortably. Even if they make these different
crops at the same expense Of labor, still
farmer A., by wastefUl consumption and
losses by Negligence, may sell less and en-
Joy less oil his crop than farmer b. sells
and enjoys out Of his by care and econo.
my. The same principles apply to the
production, as we'll as 20 the consumption
Of crops. lndolent farmer A., with his
horde Of slaves, may raise 5000 bushels,
but his family and bis slaves may in the
meantime have consumed and wasted 3 900;
while farmer B., who raises 1000, may
have done it at an expense Of only 1,50O
bushels. ... ..
Another Circumstance Of importance,
though we'll known in the slave States, is
seldom noticed in arguing upon the econo-
my Of slave labor; and that is, the prac-
lice, SO general among slaves, Of picking
and stealing, first from their masters, OH the
principle that they work for more than
their masters allow them, and that they
may rightfully help themselves; and sec
OndIy, from the white people generally, on
the principle that the black people are
wronged and oppressed by the white PEG.
pie as class, and may, therefore, Justly in.
demnily themselves out Of the property Of
those who Go not allow them the right to
have property-not even in their own flesh
and bones. Such is slave morality. OI
course we disapprove Of it; but we cannot
beat it out Of the understandings of the
slaves. Hence, in slave-hoiding commu.
nifty there is an almost universal system oil
secret plumber carried on by the slaves moi
is there any way Of preventing it. 1t is in
every department Of the house, from the
kitchen to the parlor, from the cellar to the
garnet 1t infests the dairy, the psnuy, the
hen-roost, the corn.crib, the potato-patch-
like the rat it creeps into boles--like the
wolf /. attacks the iock-like the blight il
destroys the ripening corn.
To the credit Of the poor slaves--espe-
cially the house servants, be il spoken,
many Of those who are kindly treated, and
.-.,l. d. of 11.~.