Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-12-28
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE u. <

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The Compendium of the United States
Census. work ofwhich we have already
fayorably spoken, embraces, among other
valuable matter, table of the number of
shareholders in the United States. This
is very important table. because it de-
monstrates the fact that the slave own-
ing class, which really governs this coun-
try, Is contemplate in point of numbers.
Southern member of Congress some
time since, asserted there were three mil
lions OF Shareholders. or rather more than
there were then slaves to be held. 9th
ers contended that very small proper
ton OF the white population of the South
held their fellow men as property, and
that the whole number of shareholders.
on very liberal computation, did not
exceed three hundred thousand. This
great question is solved by the census
But the solution is not such as to
strengthen the slave power, and, there
FORE It is OF the utmost importance that
the fact should be spread before the peo-
pie, with all the sanction that its official
character can give it. The whole num-
her of shareholders in the Union is 347.-
225, smaller number than the popula-
ton Of at least three of our Northern cit
les. The book states, in supplementary
note to the table that, where the party
owns slaves N different counties. or in
different States. he will be entered more
than once. This will disturb the calcula-
ton very little. being the case among the
larger properties, and it will account for
the fact that a smaller number Of such
properties are reported in some of the
States than are known to exist particu-
arly in South Carolina Virginia and
Louisiana. The number Of large slave
holders is therefore smaller than the ta-
ble shows, and every one who possesses
any knowledge of Southern Life will
readily conclude that there must be thou
sands of Shareholders who own slaves in
different counties and States, and are con-
sequently numbered two or three times
in this. report. e-s-.
1t would be safe. we think, to premise
that the actual number OF slave owners
does not exceed $4,000. OF this num-
Der. it is shown by The table. G8 $40 own
but one slave each, while l50.6S3 own
less than two each. and 80.6S5 less than
ten each. These three classes of small
shareholders constitute the aggregate Of
225, G86--nearly three fourths of the
Whole number and they hold. on an av-
erage, not over 100000 slaves. or less
than ono third of the total slave popula-
ton. The large shareholders. who own
10 slaves. and upwards, to Loco, number
only o. 251. about one-fourth of the
whole, and they control about 100000
slaves or more than two thirds.
These are the bone and sinew of the
slaveholding ohgarchy-those who give
tone and character to slaveholding move
ments, and have the smaller fry of slave
holders to f How in their wake: and when
we ded let The widows and orphans inclu-
dcd in the number who hold many slaves
in the aggregate but exercise no political
influence, the total number Of our nation
al masters is probably about eighty thou
sand, just about the population of the city
of Chicago where We live. Our govern
ment almost since ITS formation, has been
under this class of men. and all its nigh
ty powers are now welded by them for the
benefit fthe institution which gives them
such commanding position. The mil
lions Of free men in the north, must feel
Inundated when they reflect that they are
politically subject to a miserable squad Of
$4,000 or Whereabouts.
Another table in this work gives the
number of Mulatto slaves. The total is
246,G56, leaving 2957, G57 black slaves.
The average proportion of mulattoeS to
blacks is about 10 per cent. This is a
subject which is abundantly suggestive of
reflection, and we therefore merely men-
ton the facts as officially promulgated.
The total rumhc.' of free blacks in the
slave states is 1875, l68. am; free Mulattoes
1922 35, the proportion OF the Latter to
the whole number being 43 per cent.
Uuder the head of Marriages" in this
volume, we find it stated that the mar
riaCes Of slaves are not counted in the
Census. and that no extended information
exists on that point. Mr.. De Bow would
probably have us believe he does not
know that the celebration Of the rite of
marriage among slaves is prohibited by
law, in some if not all the slave states.-
Chicago Tribune