Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-30
THE NEBRASKA QUESTION = SOUTHERN AM
NORTHERN sLAvERY-lHE CONSTITUTION.

THE NEBRASKA QUESTION - SOUTHERN AND
NORTHERN sLAvERY-1HE CONSTITUTION.
The National Era at Washington the CEN
trail organ of all tho Anti-Savery factions Of the
country, says that. the New York Herald,
consistent upon no other subject of policy or
principle, has over been faithful to the interests
of Slavery Upon this allegation we have a
word or two to say.
The Abolition organ at Washington rests
the whole merits of the Slavery question upon
the fundamental Abolition dogma that the
hereditary system Of Southern labor is an
evil-a moral, social, and political evil-and
that it should therefore be oxtinguished as soon
as possible.
But admitting Southern Slavery to be an
evil, we doubt whether it leads to more deplo-
rable consequences than our hireling system Of
free labor, which in truth may be called the
White slavery system Of the North, in contra
distinction to the black system Of the South.
Let us judge Of these two systems by their
fruit. g By their fruits shall We know them"
\ n
We find that the number Of paupers in the
six New England States OF Maine, New Hamp-
shire Massachusetts,, Rhode leland, Vermont,
and Connecticut, who in 1850 were subject to
charitable support was 33,43l, while, for the
same year, the same class of persons in the Elk
Southern States of Maryland, Virginia, North
and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama,
numbered only 1880. OF these, the native
paupers Of the New England States numbered
in round numbers 10000. while those of the six
Southern States amounted to but - 600
Reeapitulotion Six New England States,
population 2705896, native paupers 10 600 J;
six Southern States population 5,2l9,776, ma
tive paupcrs 10000.
That is to say, the six New England States,
Boosting the highest elements of Northern per-
fecton, in free schools, free labor, free speech,
and FREQ mon, have an average Of more than
three to one of nativc-born paupers as com-
pared with Mr.. Kennedy's official returns of
that class in the six Southern Stotes of Mary
land, Virginia, North and South Carolina,
Georgia, and Alabama. We select the native
paupers, because the foreign are an extraneous
element, affording no basis for just compare
son. And the same advantage will appear to
the South in the comparative returns Of the
idiotic, the deaf and dumb, tho blind, and the
insane-New York Herald.
We have no doubt that all this is received as
gospel by the Pro-SIavery readers of the Her
aid, but it is an entire Misrepresentation from
beginning to end, and the very Census returns
to which the writer appeals completely expose
his unfairness.
According to these returns, the whole num-
Der Of native paupers that received public Sup
port in all the States within the year ending
June lsts 1850, was--
In the FREQ States 50,023
In the Slave States l6,4i1
Total 66434
Taking the ontire free population of each
section, tho proportion was:
In the Free States, in 262
In tho Slave States, in 335.
These tables show that in the course Of one
year, the relative number of paupcrs rtcsiping
public support in the Free States is little
larger than in the Slave States. But this
proves nothing against free labor institutions,
as the following considerations will prove:
/. The number Of paupers relieved at pub
Lilo charge is not true criterion Of tho amount
OF pauperism No ono who is acquainted
with both seotions Of the Union doubts that
the free States have provided moro efficiently
for the relief Of panpors than the slave States.
In the former, for example, in 1850, tho aver
age provision for each pauper for the year
was SAT, in the latter only $37. The sarne
sentiment which leads to better provision for
tho individual paupcr, will lead TO public pro-
vision for greater number.
O. The largo class Of persons, viz: Leborsrs,
peculiarly liable 70 privation, out Of which the
great msjority Of paupers spring, arc slaves in
the South, and are kept in state Of perpetual
dependence. The difference between them
and white psupcrs, is, that they are dependent
upon tho charity Of their masters, who exact
more than payment for what they give, while
tho white paupcrs are dependent upon the