The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-07
An English Analysis Of tho Last Census OF
the United States.
From the London News

In t190 the territory of the United States ex-
tended from the frontier Of Canada to that Of Flo
rda, and from the Atlantic TO the Mississippi; the
population Of the republic fell short of four millions
1T was only 3,yz9,s27. In 1850 the territory Of
the United States extended from the Atlantic to
the Pacih,, and from the Canadian frontier to the
Gulf of Mexico and San Francisco the population
had increased TO upwards Of twenty-three millions -
to % i9S. In 1870 the mineral treasures Of the
United States were almost unknown. 10 1850, not
to speak Of the California gold about which all the
world is running crazy it has been ascertained that
Pennsylvan alone contains stores Of coal, iron,
and lime, in the same happy juxtarpostion to ich
other, and with the came facility Of access to the
sea, which has gone far to make Great Britain the
wealthy seat Of manufactures il is, spread over a
territory of immensely greater extent. The young
Hercules Of the ives ern world grows in stature,
and knits his sinews with preternatural rapidity
The results Of the census of the United States
for ls5O-a summary of which has recently been
published-are profoundly interesting, not only
displaying the rapid advance Of the republic in
numbers, and their distribution over its immense
territory, but indicating the moral character o..
the population, and the silent changes in the alot
ment Of political power which arc in progress.
The free population of the United States increased
during the decade lSi0-jO, from l7,339910 to
% 261 d9S, that Is, by $3.50 49, the slave popua-
ton increased in the same period from ,ts7, lib to
3,liy,5s9, that IL, 6y2, i76 The ratio OF mere use
amor the Tree population has been about 81 per
cent; that among the slave population only ~ per
cent. IL must, however, be kept in mind that
immigration has contributed largely to swell the
numbers Of the whites, and that there has been
importation Of slaves. The numbers OF the colored
PORTION Of the free population have not increased
With the same rapdity az those of their dusky
brethren held In slavery. In $50, tho free c0lore
population Of the United States was ,2a3 in
1850, 1t was il",ll3, an increase OF only $3.50, or
7si per cent. The emigration of free people of
color to Liberia, aud the eyasions 10 Canada are
insufficient c account for so m ich more tardy rae
Of increase.
The ratio Of increase among the slaves is not
ind of pfn nh
comfort among these unfortunate creatures. The
truth would thsI efore, appear to be, that in far
as mere feeding, clothing, and lodging are con-
ceined they aIe toleraby well Off and that stripes
and other bodily toftures less frequently In
Gicted in excess than IL generally supposed. This
stands with reason No slaves be inn ported
into the United STATE $ from abroad and there u
steady growing demand for them in the slave states
OF mole recent origin. The slave l. too valuable
commodity to be wantonly tortured or killed, I'M
less In exceptional cases; he Is pctted and taken
care Of as good horse is with US. IL is the moral
cOniaminai IN that s the crying evil of slavery in
the United states Laws have been passed in slave
states prohibiting the slaves to be educated; in
respect Of the sexual intercourse, all decency and
decor um arc set az defiance where slaves are con-
ceri cd. Not only is the negro, but the colorcd
man or woman, with the least possible adinixture
ofAfrican blood, treated as a moro animal This
is state Of affairs revolving TO all who ave ma,
had The misfortune to be familiar1ed with il from
infancy.
The salancc Of political power between the s,av,
and the free states in Congress is still too closely
adjusted to afford any prospect ola speedy termiua.
ton 10 negro slavery by any measures that would
not endanger the permanencc Of the Union. In the
Senate every State has equality Of presena ton
with every other; and the slaye states 10 in
number, the free States Is. In the House Of Repre-
sentatves the altered relations Of population have
increased the representatives of the free states
three, and diminished those of the slave States By
the same number since 1910.
But there are other con slider atoms to be taken
into account besides the mere aggregate numbers
Of the repre- sentatives of slave States and free
States In the sd Congress eight Of tho old Allan
tic tree States will have fewer members by ~ than
they had in The 9th, and SIX of the old Atlantic
slave States by 25. On the other hand, six Of the
new Western free States will have more members
by 20 in the 32d than they h al In the 2Ith Com
gress, and six Of the new Western slave states b.
II. The old steady going Atlantic States are
becoming less powerful m the House of Rcpresen-
tatiyes the more reckless pioneers Of settlement in
the Far West are becoming more powerful there
and the ratio in which the representatives Of the
Western fee states are increasing exceeds that at
which those of the Western slave States are in
cr,asirg more than the ratio ut w1ich the rep
itsCntativts of the Atlantic slave States is de-
crtusiI x, exceeds that ut 1ich those of the Allan
tic flee states decreasing POiiti al asccndaney
vs. passing from the Eastern 10 the Western states:
ihe slavery question which convulses the whole
Union will be- contested among them at n greater
disadvantage for the slave states and the struggle
VIII DC less controlled by sentiments Of eonyen-