The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-20
CALIFORNIA AND SLAVERY.

CdiyOrnia-lt is now confidently believed
that this new State will alter or conStrue away
that portion Of her Constitution which prohb-
It's slayery-CoiumJuS (Ga) Times.
We said, three years ago, in public journal,
that California would be sure to remove every
restriction that could be placed upon her by
the General Government, and that she would
be the largest stakeholder of all the States
The thing appeared to us so palpable that we
could not see how any man could doubt it.
What makes Louisiana and Texas such large
sayehOlderst Why, the remuneration received
for slave labor. What makes any country n
sIaveholding country? The prospect of gam.
And where can slave labor be so proftably en-
ployed as in the gold mines of California?
As things are now no man can obtain more
gold than can be accumulated by his own per-
sonal industry. If he form an association, the
proceeds are equally divided, 50 that he gets
no more than one mans share. II he hire
hands in the Atlantic States, they will leave
him as soon as they get to the mines; for they
will not work for ten dollars a week. or a
month, when they can make ten dollars a day.
II he bind them up in penalties, he cannot ex-
act them; for If they do not wish to work for
him. they can soon gather gold enough to pay
them off
The only way to have regular corps of
workmen, and to keep them togcther-the only
way to develop the resources Of piece of gold
property belonging to an individual. is to EN-
ploy slaves They, and they alone, can be kept
together; and this the owners of estates in
California will be sure to do The way was
paved 10y the last Legislature. when they au-
thorlzed the system Of Chinese peonage. The
next step will be African slavery and as we
here IN Virginia are overrun with slaves, zoe
nope 10 see d'dp of about half Virginia does
not need more than about 100000 slaves ac-
cordIng to Mr. James C. Bruce, who it is to be
supposed understands a subject in which he is
80 deeply interested
We have heard it said that California will
never he slave State, because the majority of
ITS population is from the North Bah Our
Northern friends cannot bear to zee other
peoph employ slave labor; but if they found it
70 Their advantage. they would employ it with
as little remorse A. they manifested when they
engaged IN the slave trade upon such a gigan-
tlc scale They are only opposed to slavery,
because slave labor does not pay in their part
OF the world. That is all
Richmond (Va) Dispatch, May 70.
Let us hope that the predictions of these
humane and tar-sighted editors may prove
ialse The mere politicians in California seem
capable OF anything mischievous or mean but
the people, we trust will not follow their lead
chinese peonage has not yet been sanctioned
10y law nor has favorable answer vet been
gwen to the prayer Of the enlightened and
distinguished gentlemen who begged permis
sion TO establish II model plantation, 30 as Il
show the CaIliornions how well they could live
by the labor OF others IL the honest voters O
California who are satisfied with the nroceed
OF their "own personal industry" keep thei
eyes open aud do their duty, the State will
never be cursed by slave labor
But, what narrow escape it has had |
was the WlmOt Proviso that saved il. First
the agitation of that subject forced the organ
cation of State Government while as yet tn
large majority Of the settlers were from tn
free States, whence they had carried with then
the prevailing sentiment against Slavery exten
son-a sentiment which led to the incorpora
ton of the Proviso in the organic law and tn
same agitation constrained Congress to ADM
the new State into the Union.
By the way the argument Of the Dispatch
IN favor Of the introduction of slave labor int,
California will be anything but convincing t
the gold dlggers and the masses generally fol
1t is an argument in favor of capital and lane
monopoly against labor and small property
holders
AS things now are it says, no man
can obtain more gold than can be accumulated
by his own personal industry Very we'll
that is dcmocratic-in accordance with eoual
ity Of rights. An honest man ought to be salts
fed with a state Of things 40 healthful Not
80 the editor of the Dispatch. In his Judgment
well-ordered society consists of few rich
men, aud many poor ones the former possess
ing all the capital and land, the latter doing
all the labor the rich growing richer, the poor
poorer 4" The only way no says, "to have {
regular corps Of workmen, and TO keep then
together--the only way to develop the re
sources of piece of gold property belonging to
an individual is to employ slaves They, and
they alone can he kept together ard :.h.;;s TIC
owners of estates in California will be sure to
do And suppose this succeed how long be-