Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-07
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Mr. j. \ BRIGHrwE11, of Danville, is our specis
agent in that section of the State.
Mr.. Venable. of North Carolina. in the course
of his late argument against the annexation of
Cuba to the United States, referred to the fact
that the demand for slave labour in that island is
now supplied by importatons from Africa. In
case Cuba should be TT ansferred to the African
slave trade would of course be arrested
inasmueh as it is in conflict not only with our
laws but with the moral sentiment of the country.
The supply from Africa being cut off, the slave
States of the South would be called on to fill
the deficiency thus created, and Mr.. Venable
urges this argument against the acquisition
ofCuba by the United States He expresses his
unwingness that the South should be Trained
of its slave population to supply vacancy pro-
duced by the suppression of the slave trade in
Cuba.
Now, this is surely strange view OF this sub
iect to be taken by Southern man. What is
the great problem which has so long perplexed
and which still continues to employ the thoughts
of Southern Statesmenl 1t is to provide rem
edy for the rapidly approaching evils of redun-
dant slave population An outlet for slavery has
long been grand desideratum with the South,
and the dread of seeing every such outlet closed
aud the institution of slavery confined and
hemmed within its presentlimits is ever upper
most in the minds of her people. The census
statistics show that the number OF slaves 10 the
United States was 697, $40, in 1870, and in $50
it was 3,170,5so, showing an increase of 2,491,-
692 since 1890 From 1880 to 1910 the annual
Increase of slaves was AZ, $751; and from 1910 to
1850 was IS. oo3, and from 1s5oto 1860 it will
probably be as much as $4,000. The number Of
slaves in the United States in 1920 was 1888, %
which is about half the amount of the present
slave population. 1t thus appears that the slave
population of this country has been doubled
within the last thirty years. The increase of
slaves within the last ten years was 692,234, and
it is probable the increase will be 100000 during
the next ten years In 1860 the slaves will be
about 1000, 900. At the end of the next thirty
years they will be about six millions and a half,
aud at the CONNIE ncement Of the next century
they will not fall far short of thirteen millions.
The Southern people cannot close their eyes
H. I'd 81 CT
to the Wilmot Pruviso, "A few years ago, shows
that they fully alive 70 their importance. -
In view of the rapid increase our slave popula-
ton, we cannot avoid the conclusion that the
time must in all probability come when, to
say nothing of other bad consequences, this class
of persons will become too numerous to be prof.
tably employed in agriculture; when they will be-
burhen instead of source of wealth to
their owners, and when the hitter will be driven
to emancipation in self defence. has been sug-
gested that remedy for the anticipated evils of
an excessive slave population may be found by
diversifying the employment of this species of
labour and directing it into other channels than
those to which it is now confined. But this idea
has never, we believe found much favor with
Southern statesmen. Their object has ever been
to provide an outlet by which the Southern
States of this Union mis- ht be relieved altogether
of their surplus slave population.
We are therefore surprised at the declaration
OF Mr. Venable that as Southern man he oppo-
ses the acquisition of Cuba the ground that it
would drain the Southern States of their slave
population. It is precisely for this that we
favor the measure. We hold that the South stands
in need of such drain, and point to the slave
statistics cited above furnishing indisputable
evidence of the truth of our proposition. Mr..
Venable's argument, if it proves anything, proves
too much. 1t applies not only TO Cuba but to all
other territory adapted to the growth of slavery;
it is ia word argument against the diffusion
ofthat Institution and nigh have been urged with
equal propriety by Southern men against the an-
nexation of Louisiana and Texas. Mr.. Venable
was stout champion of slavery in California.
Had he no fears that the slaves of the Southern
States would be drawn of from the production of
cotton tobacco and rice, to gather the golden har-
vests which stand in constant maturity and court
the reapers hand on the shores of the Pa
ci6c7
The fact that the natural increase of slaves
in Cuba does not meet the demand for slave labor
there is said to be owing, first to the severity of