North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-14

~ the constitution, viz $780, that there
was then in The whole Union 697 1897 slaves; by
the census of 1910, this number had increased to
400 355 showing that the law of increase for the
HACK population in fifty years more than three
times and half; in the same proportion in 1890
before the close of The present century. which is now
half gone, the slave popuia.lon WITHIN 'he Umoa
s Nov sir would ask. those dear lovers of the
Union who are rejoicing over the passage OF the
compromise bill, if they believe this Union can
I exist with 100000 of human beings penned up
in slavery in the very centre of the republic? And
even supposing this vast population should continue
TO be quiet and orderly, it is well wor thy an en-
ouiyy what in all human probability will be the pc.
cuniary condition of the owners of these slaves
We know that the slave cultivation is exhausting
| and impovershing one to the SOIL This must al
WAYS necessarily be more or less the cases. the slave
is an admirable poheer to clear and ditch new lands
hut even now with few exceptions, unless upon the
best cotton RICE and sugar plantations, his labor is
not reauneraiive. What then must it be, when the
number is enormously increased, and that increase
restricted to and Impoverished soils =! Inc
time is rapidly approaching and the present genera
ton will not pass away before the fact will be apPa-
rent that slave property will have no transferable
or commercial valne; the owners of it viii see be,
fore them hopeless and inextrlcable poverty !; ana
their only safety will be in abandoning it to its fate
| Thus will be realized of the antcipatIons OF
the abolitionsts in avang in slavery within its pres
ent boundaries. The slave will be practically Tree;
his owner, for fear of starvation, will abandon
him; but, sir the end will not be yet. The North,
| by combination of agrariansm and infdelity, may
ruin the South, but in doing she will rear into ter
rble Importance in the very heart he republic, mil
| lions of degraded and ignorant human beings, wild
with unexpected and unvalued freedom, and prepared
for any thing that revenge or ambition may propose.
In this appalling state of the country North Caro-
lima will be the severest sufferer. BY the census OF
$780, she had within her borders 245,8l7 slaves. BY
the law of increase already mentioned, this number
will amount in 1890 to more than 100000. This
estimate is doubtless below what 1t will be, for the
and hn-
fore the great emigration took place from North Caro-
lima to the South West, slave population increased
al the rate of nearly three-fold in thirty years.
| have said that North Carolina would be more
seriously injured by this sodLfng-in policy OF the
Federal Government than any of the Southern States,
and this will he apparent if we would attentively
consider situation North Carolina has but little
territory peculiarly adopted to the profitable occua-
ton of slave labor. Much of her soil is already
down BY constant cultivation and needs the resusci-
ation of and econom ;al and skillul husbandry,
| which never take place when burdened by su-
perabundant population of slaves.
! In 40 years from this time, unless the law of pop
uation is changed in case, North Carolina will
contain than 100000 slaves, nearly all of them
agricultural aborers drawing scanty support from
worn out and impoverished soil. The first effect OF
this great increase of slaves, will be temporary rise
in the value of land and depression in the value Of
labor. The will be forced to emf
CRATE the owner of slaves will be compelled to pur-
chase land to employ and feed his surplus labour I'M
I'll the State becomes one vast plantation, barely pro-
ducing enough sustain, in the cheapest and scan
test manner, her teeming black population.
If it possible for nations to learn any thing
from history example, have passing before our
eyes, exact prototype of future condition in
the present situation of Ireland. The selfish legs-
lation of England by fostering her own industry.
and depressing that of Ireland has filled Ireland with
superintendent population of ignorant and depraved
agricultural labourers reduced to the lowest ptance
upon which human life can be sustained. And when
ever this pance fails, riot, starvation, and misery
infest the land The misery and wretchednrss OF
Ireland hang like mill stone upon the crest of Eng
land, who NAV yet find that though power may tram
pie down truth and justice, it cannot nfuse life into
a palsed and wthered limb. Amidst all her tyranny
ihowever, England permits the starving Irish to fly
10 happy and abundant America. The American Gov
ernmen the contrary, draws Gordon around she
slave and his owner, and tells him within those
bounds he must remain, live, starve and die.
Had the justice and fairness of the resolutions off.
cred by the Legislature of North Carolina been met
by corresponding feeling in Congress, the Missouri
line would have been extended 10 the Pacific Ocean,
and large field opened for the emigration of our
black population. Thousands of negr1 laborers who
are now earning but scanty remuneration to their
owners, would have been transferred to California,
ard North Carolina might have seen prospect, at
some period not very remote, of relieving herself par
tally of this population without disturbing the rights
of property, and at the time being enriched by
the transfer For sir, take it for granted, that
opinion is than that the climate and
mining business of California is not adapted to slave
country and business, and perhaps it is the only
species of labor which will develop the great riches
of California. The history of the coal mining in
England proves, moreover, that the white aborer so
employed is reduced to abject state of misery
and suffering, than is known in any portion of the
Southern Country,
Should the policy indicated in the late adjustment
be adhered to by the Government, the first stone of
the wall which is separate the States of this Union
will have been laid, and dsunion will not be into
kindred and rival republics, but into white and black
empire.
So'fully am convinced, Mr.. Speaker, that such is
to be the issue Of this policy, that almost in
duced be superstitious and to believe from the
ray of great and learned by whom this adjustment
was brought about, that special interpretation of
Providence is to interfere and my country from
the melancholy fate which awaits her. When how
ever refer to census tables and that in all
human probability in the short space of 40 yearsbut
moment in the life of nation-North Carolina will
contain nearly million of negroes chained d low
by the memorable decree of the Federal Government
to her poor and exhausted soil am reminded by the
fate of Ireland that tyranny is peculiar to no CLINE,
and to form of Government.
| Gloomy as this picture is its horrors may yet be
deepened, and the catastrophe FASTENED, should the
States South of which have protested most loudly
against the policy of the General Government openly
resist it, and convince the world that their camo was
! not merely
! "a tale told BY an idiot,
! Full of sound and fury
| Sgnifyng nothing
From all these reasons, believing this Legisa ture
would be grossly deficient in duty to the people OF
the State, grossly deficient in duty to the Union if she
remained calm and supine in the present condition
of the country. offer the resolutions your table.
Let us pass them, and may arrest the madness
foII1, IF tn