The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-24

chauborss Edinburgh Jsuraal On American
slavery.
ia the last number OF ChambeIs's Edinburgh Review
b,,s an elaborate paper upon American slavery,
,vipg the chapters upon thai subject in the three vol
umes OF De Bows industrial Resources. We think /
will be OF interest to readers, in showing thai Wills
the bane Of Uncle Tom is at work in Europe, an anti
doe is sometimes presented for it, The paper in Cham
bss is great advance upon the previous articles Of tina
Journal though in many respects continues still 10 b,
partial and unjust
From Chambers's Journal.
FEW STATISTICS OF AMERICAN SLAVERY.
While American novelisis have been drawing pape
Iactures OF Uncle Toms Cabin" "Aunt Phillls's Cab
iD" and innumerable other competitive cabins OF lh,
character, the planters OF The South have been visited
with OF philanhfopc mania Tor erecting 'Improy
ed dwellings" for their negroes, and nlroducngs scien
tfc culture" iHio their coon-helds. They have been
holding conventions 10 promote industrial progress, coll
Letting statistics. supporting commercial Journals and
contributing PERSONAL experience IN The shape OF essays
and letters. vast OF which had been reeenIy pub
lished ia encyclopedia work on " The industrial he
sources oil the Southern and Wesicra States We
have read these papers with much interest," Tor though
they are animated with intense southern spirit they
are ul OF valuable information, much Of which cannot
elsewhere be met with They hsve the advantage, too,
oil not having been written TOR any other purpose than
selves and are therefore more unreerved and more wo
thy confidence than il they had been originally intended
for permanent publication IN form which would bring
them before European readers. The contributors are
nanters LAWYERS, and physcians each illustrating his
own department OF the subject.
The medical reports occupied with the diseases and
physical Irregularities Of the negroes bu! OF these only
few points may engage our attention
One OF The most formidable ailments among negroes,
fatal than any other, is congestion of The lungs.
Except when the body is warmed by exercise the ne
oro's d
ar When not working they are eager 10 crowd around
u fire, in comparatively warm weather. and seem
70 take positive pleasure breathing heated air and
warm smoke. II they sleep beside fire they turn their
heads 10 il. Consumption is common disease, and
presents peculiar features It's seat is not the lungs,
stomach, liver, or any organ Of the body but in the
mnd and lis cause stated 10 be cruelty the part of
the MASTER and super slon or dissatisfaction the part
OF the negro, On almost every large panlalion one
more negroes are 10 be found who are ambitious TO be
considered in the character OF coDuro's in order to gain
influence, and to make the others fear and obey taem 1t
is said that their influence over their fsowservants
would not be credited by persons unacquanied with the
supersloas mind OF the negro Intelgent negroes be-
lieye in coli duration, t4ough they ashamed to
knowledge H. The effect OF such superstllion--a firm
belief that he is poisoned conuredupon The patients
mind. already in morbid state and his health Affected
from hard usage, everlasting, exposure, want of
wholesome TODD, good clothing, comfortable lodging.
with the distressing idea that he is object of dislike
both to his master and his fellow slaves, and has no
70 beriend him, tends directly TO generate that eyhism
Of mind hch Is the essential OF negro consump
b
for sarh. chalk lime, and such indgestibe substances
natural instinct leading the patient 10 absor bens 10 cor
rect the state OF the stomach.
Contrary to the received opinion, a northern climate,
though no. SO favorable 10 The physical health, The
most favorable to the intellectual development of the
gross, those OF Missouri Kentucky. and The colder paris
Of Virginia and Mary land, having much more mental
energy, being bold and ungovernable than in the
southern lowiands, dense atmosphere causing better
ventilation of their blood northern climate remedies.
10 considerable degree, their naturally ndoeDl dispo-
titon; but they healthy and long lived in a
tropical climates provided they be induced 10 labor
so sensitive they TO cold, and little they affect
Ell by that fell destroyer OF the white race, malaria,
which kills than and famine that they suffer
n the southern States from diseases of winter thar
those OF summer. "They are" says DR.. Noit, OF Mo-
he exempt from the violent congeslive ievers OF
in erior dsCts, and other violent forms of marsh lever
sad exempt they from yellow iever. that am now
attending my first case OF this disease in full blooded
negro. In TACT, II would seem that negro blood
ndote against yellow fever, for the smallest admixure
on with the white will protect against this disease,
though The subject come from healthy northern latitude
10 the midst OF an epidemic"
Physologically negroes resemble children, in whom
the nervous system predomnatcs, and whose tempera-
hent Is Emphatic Good is decidedly prevalent
characteristic OF the negro race but s associated with
rnabiy and considering their treatment, this last Pc
culany can excite no surprise. One OF the greatest
mysteries TO those unecqainted with the negro charac
ter Is the facility with which 200 or 800 abe-b bodied
negroes are held in subsection by white man, who
sleeps in perfect security among them, with doors and
windows open. Another mystery IS The nndoubed TACT
Uay authority them that they dread, but cruelty
and the petty tyranny and mposi ion OF one another All
Tins accounted for BY their physiological constitution
The savehoder OF coarse, makes this argument Tor
slavery. But if in these respects his negroes are Ike
hs children, what should he do with the latter The
acs are undoubted, but they might sugges, very diff
ieient course OF treatment Tor the negroes
The vital statistics OF slavery not sufficiently CO.
Pous and to furnish data for very sweeping
Conclusions But increased attention has been directed
70 me subject IN consequence OF the introduction oil LIE
insurance IN connexlon with the slaves This would be
aPowefful prop to The system and source OF increased
Cruelty 10 IT'S victims. And herein is the great obstacle
iolh success When a company iosures the life OF a
Tree man. has the best OF all guarantees agans, foul
Psy-namely the innate love OF lie OF the insured party,
But The masters SELF interest is the sole law in the treat
men, OF negroes and as soon as a slave became I'M
sound and worth less than the amount insured, what
would be The RESULT The tender mercies OF his
yer would be very small and it is singular fact that
zoe negroes who will nurse their master with unrlng
Devotion and kindness nigh, and day, utterly regard
ICES OF each others wants in sickness.
The future statistics of negro life insurance will be
very important. Insurance companies will know what
oe are about; and they refuse 10 insure negroes, il
VIII De IN vain for the planters to say that the charge Of
euely brought against them il false WHILE on the other
Aho II Inc insurance ystem become general IN South
must be credited with more humanity than is commonly
alou'ed to H. Statistics sometimes tell curious tales.
HE report OF the Prison Discipline Association for
is'o throws some light the morals, well the
bsevy OF negroes in the North After giving the bills
" mortality Tor the black and white population in the
.lW and penitenary OF Philadelphia, the report says
,po, Of 900 OF each color residing in the city 1876
aek de Tor every 100 whites and for every 1000 OF
10 coof 10 the pen,enhaTy, the astonishing number
y, yo blacks TO every 100 whites Returns from the
aue'pnia county prisoR, Tor the last ten years, show
eafh s in sah tshu "a dad nj