Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-07-05
Washington, June 10, 1850.
Ioy. IIo7AcE Mann

Washington, June 10, 1850.
Hos. IIo7AcE Mann
received note from you some days ago,
making certain inquiries, but which, up to this
time, have poem unable to answer. | desire
10 take no at IN the question now dividing the
country but as YOU have asked my Judgment
upon m tt'cr which appears to be disputed
point cannot, consistently wi,h the law of
cnnrtrsy, refuse Won an answer. That answer
vii b. in conformity with what have fre.
In'ntly said, heretofore in private conversation
with gentlemen on this subject.
The point of inquiry snoms to BE-, whether
slave labor could b' profitably cm9loyed in
Ojc2on, California, Utah and New Mexico. IL
The nature of tine climate and resources of these
countries are snch as to furnish profitable
ma kpt for slave dor, it appears to lie core
led. ON all ijos, that it would be introduced, if
left tree to- seek profitable investment like other
capital The whole poiEt at issue, then, is De.
pendent, rs il i conceived, upon Tie dctermn.
alton oI ID" tir-t point ol inquiry. Hence, to
that point, only, it is necessary for me- to COM
line my answe~.
uocd not remind You Of the law regulating
the Investment of capital. |, will always 90
Wh-r" under alt clrcum-tances, it will yield
ic greatest return 10 the owner. Upon this
principle am very clear, that slave labor, if
unrestricted, cunll b. employed in Oregon,
Wh at least double the profit to the owner of
he slave that it now y eds in any State of the
Union. ! am uuntn'med It's to the usual price
Of slave labor in the S urs, bnt the price paid
10 indians ir Orgnn during the past year, for
Tab n, has ranged from two To three dollars per
lay. Dom site negro servants, whether male
or female, v no understand the business of
mo ,Vbtk wand c,lnunu1 t,li'I fva or
hundred dollars a wear. rccullect well, that
there was mulatto man on board the vessel in
which lOIk passage from Oregon To San Fran.
cisco, who was paid OHs manfred anil eighp
dollars per month, for his services as cook
viii mt stop To paricular,e farther, in regard
to the inducements Oregon would otfr To I'M
restricted slave labor, but will simply add, that
a very large number Of slaves might not be EN-.
poyed IN Oregon at annual wages sufficiently
large To purchase their freedom. think, there.
tore, that the point is settled so far as Oregon
;S concerned ana that slave labor, if it had
en- left free TO seek profitable employment,
would readily lind It's way TO that Territory,
A. to California, am equally clear. Cali.
t"rnla will always be a mining country, and
1900 ~ VII range nigh. AT tprcscnt, slave la
Dor III CdllioTnia u"iJ - ~, nrOtiIable than
in Oiegon. And have always been OF IA.
opinion. that wherever there is a mining coun-
try, if not in climate uLc rngenial TO slave la
bor, that species OF labor would be profitable.
That it would be in the California mines, is
evident. a good, abe bodied slave would have
command in California, during the past year,
from eight To ten hundred dollars per annum.
When 1t is recoected that one hundred dollars
per annum, upon an average, is considered
good compensation for their labor in the
southern States, it is idle, in my judgm ent, u
contend that slaves would not be carried to the
California market if protected by law.
! The greatest impediment which white labor
has to encounter in the mines, is the intensity
Of the heat, and tine prevalence of bilious dis
ease. The one is aim 81 insuiltrible, while the
other is pesllential. Against both OF these the
negro is almost proof Now, while white labor
IS so high, it is evident that no one can hire
white laolrer, except at a rate that would con-
sumo his profit. Not so with negro labor That
species OF labor might b, obtained for hall the
amount which you would have to pay for white
labor. The result would be profit alike to
the hirer aud seller of slave labor, There is no
} doubt, in my judgment, that almost any mum.
( Ter OF slaves might be hired ont in California
waTe the whites wiling 10 allow il, at from