The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1850-08-17
HORACE MANN.
Hon. S. r. TAurston Delegate for Oregon
Washington, June 10, 1850,

! | received note from YOU some davs
ago, making certain inquiries, hut which,
~ to this time, have been unable to an.
swer. | desire to take no part in the ques'
ton nos div ling the country: bat IS yod
have asked my Judgment, upon a matte
which appears disputed point, ! cannot,
consistently with the law o, courtesy. refuse
YOU an answer 1h~ answer viii be IN
conformity with what have frequently said
heretofore, in private conversation with gen
ilrmcn on til, subject.
The point Of inquiry seen,s TO be- whether
slave labor could be proGtably employed in
Oregon. California, Utah and New Mexico.
II the nature Of the climate aud resources
of the COMMITTEES afe such as to furnish n
profitable market for slave labor. il appears
10 lac conced O. on all sides, that it would
be introduced. If le', free 10 seek profitable
investment Ike other capital. The whole
point ut issue then. is dependent rs j, IS
conceived. upon tho determination of the
first poin, Of inqui y. Hence 10 that point
only. IL is necessary for me to confne ms
answer.
I need M, remind YOU of the law regu.
latlng the investment OF capital. II will
always 20 where. under nll Circumstances,
il viii Weld the greatest return 10 the own.
cr Upon this p inciplc nm very clear,
that slave labor if unres, ic'ed could be
employed in Oregon. with At least double
the profit to the owner OF the slave that il
now Yields in any State Of the Cni"n. !
am uniformed ~ 10 the psnal price Of slave
labor in the States hut the price paid ~
Indians IN Oregon du ing the past year. for
laho-. has rang d from two to three dollars
per day. Domestic negro seryants, whcth.
er male or female, who understand the bu.
siricss Of house. work. would command,
readily five or six hundred dollars vear.
| recollect well. that there was mnlatto
mar on board the ves 81 in which took pas.
sage from Oregon to san Francisco. who
was paid one hundred and Gig Il do,ltrs
per month far his services "a cock. will
No, stop to psr,iculuriso further. in regard
to the inducements Oregon would oaer TO
unres, icted slave labor hat will simply
add that very large number Of slaves
ns-h, now be employed in Oregon ut an.
nuA wages sufficiently large 10 purchase
,h,AUreednm think, therefore. that the
pom, is settled SO Gar rs Oregon is con.
cerned and that slave lahcr, II II had been
LEI, free 10 seek profitable employment,
would readily dud It's way TO thu, Teri.
tory.
4. to California. am equally clea-.
California, will always be n mining country,
sud wages will range high. At present
slave labor in California would be more
profitable than IN Oregon And | have
always been NJ the opinion. that wherever
there is mining county; ii no, !, y eli
mate uncongenIal 'o slave labor, that spe-
cics Of lsber would be profitable. Tha, It
would be in the California mites Is evident
A good, able bodied slave. would have
commanded in California, during the pas,
year, from eight to ten hundred dollars per
annnm. When it Is recollec,ed that 100
dollars per annnm. upon an average !. con.
si1ered good compensation for tier labor
in the Southern Ststes. IT is idle, IN my
Judgment. to eontend that slaves would no,
be carried to the California market, II pro-
,ected by law
The creates, impediment which white In.
Dor has TO encounter in the minea. is the ~.
,ensity OF the heat and the prevalence OF
bilious disease. The one is almost in
suirerahle. while the other is pcs,entisl
Agains. both Of these the negro is slmos,
proof. Now while white labor Is 50 high,
il IL esiden, that no one can hire white
laborer. except at n rate that would oon-
sumo his profit. Not 20 with negro labor
That species of labor might be obtained
for half the amount which you would have
u paw for white labor. The reaalt will NJ
profit alike 10 the h,rer spd seller 81 slsve
labor. There is no douhs in my judgment
,hs, almost any number Of slaves might b
hired out il California were the whites
willing To allow Il, =. from eight 70 ten han
dred dollars year. This Is pay 70 mSch
above what thsis sssvices command In re
States, - to satisiy any one, hat eosld
Ibis spsciss b PROJECTED In California. Il
would rush 70 IL Pacific IL slnoss any
quantity. :,
Let a. tam our attention 70 UsAh and
New Mexico. have no doubt, from what