The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11

Great Salt Lake, aud that you We're acquainted,
from personal observation, with large part OF
the territory of California. viii YOU be so good
as to give me your opinion and the reasons for
entertaining it, OF the probability or improbable
ty of the introduction of slave labor into any
part of the territory recently acquired by the
United States from Mexico provided such intro
ducton be not prohibited by law?
wish to obtain your opinion in regard to
other kinds of labor, as well us agricultural; be-
cause, as it seems to me, most understandable, if
not most disingenaous attempt has been made,
to lead the public to believe that no form of
slave labor will ever be introduced there, because,
possibly or probably, it may not be introduced
for agricultural purposes.
reply at your earliest convenience will much
obligc, Yours, very truly,
Hon. s. X. Thurston, Delegate from Oregon
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1850.
| received a note from you some DAYS ago,
making certain inquiries, but which, up to this
time, have been unable to answer desire to
take no part in the question now dividing the
country but as you have asked my Judgment
upon matter which appears disputed point,
cannot consistently with the law of courtesy
refuse you an answer That answer will be in
conformity with what have frequently said
! heretofore in private conversation with gentle
men on this subject.
The point Of inquiry seems to be- whether
| slave labor could be proftably employed in Or
egOn, California, Utah and New Mexico If the
nature of the climate and resources of these
countries are such as to furnish profitable
market for slave labor, it appears to be conceded
on all sides, that it would be introduced, if left
free to seek profitable investment, like other
capital. The whole point at issue, then, is de-
pendent, as it is conceived, upon the deter
mnation of the first point of inquiry. Hence
to that point, only it is necessary for Inc to con-
| fine my answer.
need not remind You of the law regulating
the investment Of 2Gptal 1t will always g.
where, under all circumstances, it will Weld the
greatest return to the owner Upon this prn-
ciple am very clear, that slave labor if unrc-
stricted, could be employed in Oregon, with at
least double the profit to the owner Of the slave
that it now yields in any State of the Union. |
am uniformed to the usual price of slave
labor in the States, but the price paid to Indians
in Oregon during the past year, for labor has
ranged from two to three dollars per day. Do
nestle negro servants, whether male or female,
who understand the business Of house-work,
would command. readily, five or six hundred
dollars year. ! recollect we'll, that there was
4 mulattto man On board the vessel in which
took passage from Oregon to San Francisco,
who was, paid one hundred and eighty dollars
per month for his services as cook. | will not
stop to particuarize further, in regard to the in
ducements Oregon would offer to unrestricted
slave labor, but will simply add, that very
large number Of slaves might now be employed
in Oregon at annual wages sufficiently large to
purchase their freedom. | think, therefore,
that the point is settled so far rs Oregon is con-
cerned and that slave labor, if it had been left
free to seek profitable employment would read
! lily find its way to that Territory.
As to California, am equally clear. Cali
fornia will always be mining country, and
wages will range high At present slave labor
in California would be more profitable than in
Oregon. And have always been of the opin-
ion, that wherever there is u mining country if
not in a climate uncongenial to slave labor that
species of labor would be profitable. That it
would be in the California mines is evident. A
good, able bodied slave, would have command
ed in California, during the past year, from eight
to ten hundred dollars per annum. When it is
recollected that one hundred dollars per annum,
upon an average, is considered good compen-
saton for their labor in the Southern States, it is
idle, in my Judgment, to 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 the prevalence of bilious dis
ease. The one is almost insufferable, while the
other is pestilential. Against both of these the
negro is almost proof Now, while white labor
is so high, it is evident that no one can hire n
white laborer, except at rate that would con-
sumo his profit. Not so with negro labor
That species of labor might be obtained for half
the amount which you would have to pay for
white labor. The result will be profit alike
TO the hirer and seller of slave labor. There is
no doubt in my Judgment that almost any
number of slaves might be hired out in Califor
mia, were the whites willing to allow it, at from
eight to ten hundred dollars year. This is
pay so much above what their services command
in the States, as to satisfy any one that could
this species of service be protected in California,
it would rush to the Pacific in almost any guam
tity.
Let us turn our attention to Utah and New
Mexico | have no doubt, from what knowl-
edge have of those countries, that they will
turn out TO be filed with the richest mines. |
clip the following from recent paper, contain
ing the news from Texas and Chihuhua.
"AIr, James was informed by Major Neigh
bours and Mr.. Lee Vining, that they had been
shown by Major Stein, some gold washed out
by his troops, on the ella river, in short cxcur-
sion 10 that stream.
at is reported that at the copper mines above
Ell Paso, there are about 100 tons of pure copper
lying upon the ground. This had been got out
by Mexieans, and abandoned when attacked by
Indians.
There are at Ell Paso, in the hands of differ
ent persons, several large amounts of silver ore,
taken from the mines in that neighborhood.
With guarantees of titles to lands, and protec-
ton from Indians only short time would
elapse before all these mines would be well
worked, and we would have large quantities
of metal seeking a market through this place"
. And if you consult Freemont's map, printed
by order Of the Senate in lS48, you can find,
near the source of one of the branches Of the
Gila river, copper and gold mines" laid down.
And if am not greatly mistaken, it will turn out
that the NoTmoRs are in possession Of the rich