New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-09
slavery and the Free Population of Color.

IL the t0lf0TS % iHe 4TDNHe'
Notwithstanding all your isms, | am a
constant reader Of The Tribune. but there are few
questions connected with the Fugitive Slave La"
and slavery which would like to see answered.
l. Would YOU surrendee fugitive slaves any way
Q How would you fulh the requirements OF the
Constitution which specifies or spulates that tugl
uves from labor shall be surrendered
3 Is 1t fact within your knowledge that the iree
negroes of the North are better of as class t1an
the slaves of the South, and If so how comes II that
the slaves live and propagate so much better than
free negroes Slaves have increased 2oi per cent
since 1870 and free negroes only s.
In this town there are three hundred ana loIV
free negrOes-(this number has decreased since lS4O
more than three hundred of them are paupers and
drnkards not one IN ten live decenty or comfortably
or take care Of themselves or children respectfully
nine out of ten are so debauched and incorporate
that their offspring die IN infancy and they are Het
ing away before the energy OF the whlte race Most
Of them are children OF saVeS-old fashioned Long
Island Dutch slayeS-dnd there is every reason 10
believe that had these children descendants re-
NAMED slaves they would now be well provided for
as thaS parents were, by good masters, and instead
Of Idle, drunken psuperS' ne,tng our village anu
putting US to good deal Of trouble and expense they
would be hearty. robust steady quiet people ENJOY
ing all the comforts and some of the Injuries oil ne
Now then, will you please TO tell MS what these three
hundred and forty negroes have gained by emanclpi-
ton What have they gained by freedon
Respectfully, yours j. P. H.
=. ST do not suppose you will pubiShthe above
but nope you Will
Our correspondent has read The Tribune
constantly to little purpose if he has not
learned that it is not in the habit of Sinking
any side or aspect of the questions 1t at
tempts to discuss. We answer his queries
in their order.
|. We regard the clause in the Constitu-
ton under which the Fugitive Slaves are
reclaimed to bondage as not in accordance
with the general purpose and spirit Of that
document, which is designed to establish
liberty. Nor do we see that that clause is
calculated either to increase the reputa-
ton of our republic in the present or the fu
ture, or to make the people of the Free
States believe that they have nothing to do
with the peculiar institution. But there it
is, part OF the fundamental compact, and
az long rs it remains such, and a majority
of the people approve it, and those interest
ed claim its execution, and officials can be
found to execute it, so long we say, let it be
| executed
, But if it is to be executed, a law of
some sort must prescribe the mode. 1t Is
our profound conviction that the one now
existing is not, in the language of Mr.. Web
ster, proper law We insist that it is no
trfing or Indifferent thing to deprive hui
man being of the freedom which God makes
the birthright of all men, and that to do 1t
by any arbitrary or summary process Is an
outrage upon justice and humanity. Who
ever claims that he IS the proprietor of she
a valid right forever to perform the mean
ness OF taking his labor from him without
compensation, TO dictate his thoughts and al
fections, to take him from all he loves and
desires, and put him among all he hates and
reVoltS at,-whoever we say, claims this,
should be required TO establish that claim
with all legal solemniteS and beyond the
slightest shadow of doubt Our way OF re-
turning run away slaves would be to give
every alleged fugitive trial by jury and to
subject the testimony in the case to the most
stringent rules of evidence.
3. The statistics with regard TO the free
colored population at the North are very
Imperfect. and it is not possible to establish
an exact comparison between their cOndi-
ton and that of the Southern slaves, bat we
see no reason to suppose that they are not
generally happier. vt any rate, for some
reason they decidedly prefer the imperfect
degree OF freedom they enjoy to the bless
ingS allotted to the unpaid toierS on South
ern plantations. That they should not in
crease SO fast as the slaves Is susceptible of
an explanation which our correspondent
might have found for himself with mo-
ments reflection At the South the breed
ing OF slaves Is a regular branch of indus
trv like the breeding of horses, except that
vastly more attention is paid 10 it by persons
of distinguished blood and influential posi-
ton, as well as by those OF less degree 1t
not being permitted TO import slaves from
Africa, there Is no means Of supplying the
growing demand but by raising them, and
the attention of cnterprising and patriotic
men IS turned in that direction.
On the other hand there is no such stlmu-
hS TO increase the number of free colored
persons at the North. Indeed all the nhu-
ences are opposed TO their increase. They
are kent In = mental posltiOn they are NOT
admitted 10 the intellectual professions, the
mechanical trades, or even the privileges Of
citizens on equal terms with whites; in
many states the laws are hostile to them
and every where they are little better than
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