The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07

scorn of the slave himself; for slavery always Il,
grades labor. The white people who work wit
their hands are ranked with the other laborers-
the slaves. They are excluded from the sOcet
OF the rich Their associates if anywhere, ar
with the colored population They feel that the
are degraded and despised; and their minds an
conduct generally conform to their condition.
The soil occupied by slavery is much less Pre-
ductiVe than similar soil occupied by freemer
Men who are to receive none of the wages of thei
labor do not care TO multiply its fruits Slo,h
negligence, improvdence are the consequence
The land, being neglected, becomes poor and bar
ren; as it becomes exhausted il is thrown out n
waste for slave labor never renovates its strength
mus applies particularly to agricultural States
Take Virginia, the favorite example for the South
which has been so triumphantly referred TO by
the gentleman from North Carolina, Ma GLING
MAN Whence he drew his facts that she wa,
more prosperous more populous, and more rich
than the free States know not | am sure il wa.
not from personal observation. lie would not
certainly draw on his imas nation in natters OF
fact. ! suppose he must have been misled by the
most miserable fsopbists and most false of chron-
iclers, Ellwood Fisher
admit that, by nature, Virginia has capabil-
Ities-equal, IL not superior, to any State in the
Union. She has delightful climate a soil nat
urally fertile. She is intersected, a. was well
said by the gentleman from Virginia Mr. BAY
LY by the noblest rivers. Her hills and noun
tains are filled with rich minerals and covered
with valuable timber. She has the finest water
power, believe, in the nation, in the very heart
OF her State; and her hsrbors are the best in the
world AT the time Of the adoption of the Con-
stitution, she was the most powerful Sta;e-her
population was double that of New York Ii was
the boast Of her statesmen that she was primq
ggTIaV kas A.
of New York is more than double-I think the
next census will show nearly treble hers. Her
land, cultivated by unwilling hands, is unproduc-
tive. Travel through the adjoining States Of
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and you will see that the
land produces more than double as much as the
same kinG or ana m Virginia Ia t6e ff5t'.JA.ss
new towns are everywhere springing up and
thriving; the land is becoming more productive;
smiling habitations are within hail of each other
the whole country is dotted with school-house
and churches almost within sight of each other
and, except under peculiar circumstances, their
manufactures and mechanic arts furnish lucrative
employment to all their people; and their popula-
ton steadily and rapidly increasing. Turn again
to Virginia. There is circely new town, ex-
ccpt at one or two points, within her whole Dor.
ders. Her ancient villages wear the appearance
of mournful decay. Her minerals and timbers
are unwrought. Her noble water-power is but
partially occupied. Her fine harbors are without
ships, except from other ports and her seaport
towns are without commerce, and falling to decay.
Ask yourself the cause, sir aud | will abide the
answer IL is essential to the existence of Repub-
lies that education should be generally dfrused
among the people. Slavery prevents this Rich
men employ private tutors, or send their children
abroad. But the children of the people generally
cannot be educated without the fundamentally
of district schools. In slave States where the
plantations are large, the white population, is too
sparse ever to maintain them. Beside, there is
another fatal obstacle to them in the aversion of
the rich to associate with the poor. The poor
white laborer's children could never be permii ted
to mingle in the same schools, and sit upon the
same benches, with the rich mems sons. That
would be offensive.
Slavery enfeeblcs nation in war, as we'll as in
peace. Ii is impossible that nation of masters and
slaves can be as powerful and formidable, either
in offensive or defensive war nation Of frecmep
large portion OF her population must remain at
bnMe-.sa m suite OF Ihtent warfare with tne,r
oppressors. know, sir I'VE have had most alarm
ing description Of the prowess of the South.
We have heard their cannon roar seen their bay
onets bristle; heard the war-cry of the charging
chivalry, and seen their bowie-kuives CLEAN with
in this Hall, in the vivid picture of the terrible
gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.. CLING
MAN.
We have often been modestly reminded of the
"blood and treasure and the gallantry Of the
Southn This do not dispute am proud to
admit that she has furnished many gallant sons,
whose names will adorn the brightest pages Of our
history, both for the war Of the Revolution, the
war of 1912, and the war which we lately as
sumed as the ally of Texas and Of Slavery
give her full credit FOR her patriotism in furnish
ing most of the men, Who have borne the official
burdens of the Government, both in the civil and
the military list know, too, that she has fur
nished the kind of men for our armies, who are
apt to be distinguished when great deeds are to
be done; for it is only the officers and command
ers of armies who live in story. The stout hearts
and strong arms of the common soldiers that
fight the battles and win the victories, are uu-
known TO fame Their birth place IL not sought
for their graves are undistinguished. And the
South has always furnished officers for our ar
mics Presidents for the Republic; most Of our
foreign ambassadors; heads of departments; chiefs
Of bureaus and, sometimes, In her proud humil-
ity, has consented that the younger sons of her
dilapidated houses should monopolize the places
of clerks and messengers to the Government. But
whence are drawn the common soldery, the men
who peril their lives and win victories for your
eIory7 Almost entirely from the free States, ex-
cept In cases of sudden emergency when volun-
,eers are called nearest the scene of danger. The
present Secretary Of War, Southern gentleman
of great ability and strenuous for Southern rights
says, in his report;
According 10 me praoce rLch has long prsraiIed The
Great majority Of ensi,aets made the Northern A.
fie cities and the Gdcenf interior ocns, rience The re
fruits are sent 10 the general depot for Instruction and
finally disibutod 10 He Southern and Western posts, ac
rording 10 The rdHts Of he Sero"e"
Yes. sir, our Northern freemen have always
filed the ranks OF the regular army. The South
has lent us the gentlemen TO wear the epaulettes
and the sword to take command of our troops,
and lead them TO Southern and Southwestern eli
mates, TO fight the frontier battles, md whiten
your fields with their bones
am opposed TO the diffusion Of slavery, because
tonfning it within it's present limits will bring
the States themselves to its gradual abolition. Let
this disease spread, and although 1t will render
the whole body leprous and loathsome yet II will
,uux survive Cuunnr o., ana IKE tne cancer
that Is tending to the heart II must be eradicated
or il will eat out the vitals. The sooner the pa
tient is convinced Of THE the sooner he will pro-
cure the healing operation.
The learned and able gentleman from Virginia
MIR Meade In pamphlet which he laid upon
our table, takes the same view Of II. lie says:
" Virginia has stare population Of near half mil
lion, mhose uaiue is ehvfy d.psndem on Southern de-
rl1nd."
Let us pause moment over this humiliating
confession In plain English what does IT mean
That Virginia Is now only fit TO be the br'eder, not
the employer Of slaves That she Is reduced to
the condition that her proud chivslry are com
PEELED to turn slsve-traders for n livelihood! In
stead Of attempting to renovate the soil, and by
their own honest labor compelling the earth to
yield her abundance; instead Of seeking for the
best breed Of cattle and horses to feed on her
hills and valleys and fertize the land, the sons
OF that great State must devote their time 10 &C.
Letting and grooming the most lusty sires and the
most fruitful wenches, TO supply the slave barra-
coons of the South! And the learned gentleman
l,ments that the profits Of this gen
teel traffic will be greatly lessened by the crcum-
scription of Slavery. This is his picture, not
mine
The same gentleman says, 10 the same speech
q " ne in'endto wbmn 10 fh~ policy o cosh","s ihs
sapes ,ruiu fLety DJssra limits me should commence