The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-03
SLAVERY IN DELAWARE.

The Dover (Del-) Reporter is alarmed at the
progress of aFree- SoilismD and abolition
ism in that State. 1t seems that Wing as
well as Temperance paper at Wilmington
are the advocates of emancipation, and that
the principles of Freedom are spreading 1t
will be remembered that in 1s49 an act for
emancipation passed one branch of the Legs
lsture, and was only defeated by one vote in
the other. The Reporter recommends, as
remedy for the threatened evil of emancipation,
the formation of new State, by the annexa-
ton of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Upon
this proposition the Wilmington Republican
comments as follows:
ave are astonished that the editor of the
Reporter wishes to prevent result which the
free labor and industry and thrift tina. are now
prevailing in our State will inevitably bring
about if they are not checked by Legislative
enactments They have nearly driven Slavery
out of this county, they are driving il out of
Kent and viii eventually drive it out of Sus-
sex. Some men may deplore such result, but
they cannot help it. They must submit to
fate which Providence is working out. The
free niggerism' will be no worse than it is
now, and perhaps not half SO bad as the de-
mand for labor will be greater; and in case of
the enactment of prohibitory law, there will
not be the same influence to corrupt and de-
moralize them. Neither need the editor give
himself any trouble about the slaves in Viz
ginis and Maryland. The northwestern pOr-
ton of the former State, and the northern por.
ton Of the latter, viii soon be given up to free
labor, and the creation of a peninsula State
cannot prevent the fulflment OF the decree
L f. n knk Eox. NO
may first elapse, but the hardy sons CT New
England and the middle States will eventually
fill up the country and occupy the land, when
the peculiar institution will be thrown aside
as improbable and useless. This will be the
result in all grain-growing districts. Indeed,
Slavery in Our State only exists in the most
mild form, and it is really not worth quarrel
ing about. There are few hard taskmasters
and few find that their blacks make more than
they consume. We know of no one who is &C.
cumulatipg any great fortune solely by slave
labor, while there arc hundreds doing so By the
employment of freemen.o
1t is the misfortune Of Delaware that her
public men-those whom she sends to the ma
tional councils-are mere ambitious of sighali-
zing their devotion to the institution of Slavery
by catching runaways than their attachment
to Freedom by promoting emancipation. 1t is
discreditable to Delaware that the owners CT
two thousand slaves are permitted to control
ninety thousand freemen, fetter their con-
sciences degrade their nationality, and impede
the general prosperity by continuing system
as barbarous as it is impolitic. Why do not
Anti-Slavery Wings and Democrats throw
aside tho shackles of party, aad cooperate for
the only object which at present engages the
attention of men2 The old issues between
Wings and Democrats have passed away-they
cease to form topics of discussion in public or
in private and the parties formed upon them
ore mere empty shells, like the "castof
slough !" of the locust. None but dead men,
politically, continue to haunt such miserable
tenements, the former abodes Of life and activ-
ity, but which now lie deserted; while all who
have the vitality to survive another campaign
are arraying themselves under the glorious
banner of Freedom, or the black piratical flag
of Slavery Propagsndism, encased in new
armor, adapted to the warfare which they will
be called on to wage. There can be nc doubt
that hearty union among all the friends of
freedom in Delaware would insure a complete
victory, almost without struggle. G..