The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-25
aLAYERY AND sLAyE LABoR.

Eeracs from he annual Adress differed bore he Agri-
cultural Society 81 North orolina BY Chit Justice RUIN.
The nature Of the labor employed in agriculture Is
the next subject for consideration il 70 most I'M
poran element 10 the cost amount and value OF podnc-
lion very frankly ayow the opinion tDat our mixed Ia
bor OF free white OF European origin and slaves OF
the African is well adapted to the public and pr-
yae ends Of agriculture any other could be- making
our cultivation less thorough cheap, and productive
than il would be If carried by white labor alone and
fr more so than the blacks by themselves could make Il
and therefore, that il has beneficial influence on the pros
pery Of the country and the physical and moral state Of
both races rendering both better and happier than either
would be here without the other OF course not about
entering into that controversy which las connected itself
win Tie contentious OF sectional factions struggling for POI
al 1t unnecessary thatl should oreyery one is
aware believe Of the nature Of the controversy and the
motives Of the parties 10 IT, II Is one OF the conservative
effects OF slavery impress deep conviction OF the
inestmabe value of the Unon and profound reverence
for The constitution which created IL and hence habit
uay cherish good feeling as Of brethren towards our
OF every State and any deed word tend
mo ia pair the perpeuy of the Union, and the efficiency
Of The constitution and the laws passed in accordance with
il or 10 ALLEVIATE the affections of the people OF the different
States from each other is with mpatience and owned
al with indignation Indeed, If there were anything IN
slavery or the interests connected with it. Incompatible
with that fundamental law, doubt not that our people
would willingly abide 10y that sacred instrument though
II should cut OF right hand pluck out right eye But
there will be occasion for display OF our Loyalty IN
that respect since the constitution clearly recognises our
slavery the rights OF ownership and enoIces the
duty ef service and am persuaded that the obligation
OF those provisions and their execution VIII be ultimately
pronounced carried out by those on whom the constr
tuition itself conters the authority Ny purpose now how
ever merely maintain that slavery mere is favorable
the interests OF agriculture in point OF economy and
profit and unwholesome 10 the moral and social con-
don of each race,
In support OF the first part of the proposition decisive
argument is furnished by the fact that the amount and
value Of the productions OF slave labor in this country
ceeds those Of similar produeonsnay of all other agr
cultural productions an equal number Of in any
other country far they be ascertaned. In
localities indeed and in respect tosome articles OF great
value the production would cease nearly cease, with
slavery since the blacks by the constitutions inherited
from their African ancestors, labor without detrment
under degrees of heat moisture and exposure which
found be fatal the whites whose systems better
adapted 10 different conditions of the atmosphere In
TRUTH if the free men in those States in which slavery pre-
walls be allowed credit for sense and the capacity
understand their wants and interests the utility OF
the employment Of slave labor and its producveness
abshed beyond controversy simply by the fact that
il is done Men who thoroughly versed in the
practical OPERATION Of any institution certainly will
not to their own prejudice, uphold it from genera
ton to generation, and cling the closer TO 1T as by
in natural extension, it becomes more and more de-
struclve. If it be said that the continuance OF su-
very does prove its utility 70 the Commonwealth, be-
continued OF necessity and would have been
however mpolitic it might be found, must some
force in the suggestion by ITSELF since at all times after its
introduction it would have been difficult to get rid OF IT.
and that difficulty has been continually increasing IL
was much easier for those who condemn
ony liberation of slavery capture and enslave the
helpless Africans and bring them here than for US with
out crime yet henous TO renounoe our dominion
them and turn them loose to their discretion and
selfdesrnction Their would he that of our
tive sayages the enranchsed blacks of the West Indies
the miserable victims of ideness want drunkenness and
other debapcheries Bat the argument goes only to show
that we would have done right even though enforced
thereto by the necessity spoken of in still holding those
people in bondage II is fur from showing that slavery
would not have been and ought not to have been main
tanned, though there had been such hypothetical neces
sy for doing Furthermore, there numerous facts
to prove clear opinion 10 the contrary in every class OF
population. When did any man. for example, leave
North Carolina clear of his slaves slavery
Wehave indeed respectable and peaceful religious socie
tyless numerous than formerly who forbidden by
article in their creed roa holding slavery Even they
never wared or contended against this Institution here
nor sought to seduce spirit away their neighhors
slaves but like the quiet and Christian they profess
ed TO be- they left and mnigrated chiefly to the States
of the Northwest in which slavery did exist With
that slight exception the public sentiment is generally
satisfied with the existence of slavery and its propety
here that may properly be called universal Some
them to other States. But know not Of instance in
which the former went with them, left North
Carolina because other would not follow their
ample On the coarary, when Shareholders remove,
they carry their slaves with them further South where
slavery is il possible, firmly fixed than here because
they expect the labor Of the slaves be productive
Besides there are many inhabitants of this State who do
not hold sayessome from choice and from nabili
~ to purchase them and nevertheless they coutented
TO abide among and slaves And it is also true
that even when those men migrate much the larger part
OF them likewise go TO the south of us In the thick OF s
very because they hope to make greater profit from their
exertion These facts which be denied, will
bear rejection and furnish evidence sufficient to satisfy
lair mind that there is unanimous conviction of
people that slavery il exists here Is neither Improbable
nor impolitc, unwhoesome; for certainly though
Shareholders may claim to possess clear understand
ngs and as clear conscenceS generally fall TO the lot Of
other
II would indeed, be otherwise il it were trIe as sup
posed or set forth by that slavery degrades free la
Dor ana, consequently that our population too proud
or 100 azy 10 work and become especially slaveowners,
uissoiute ana progae IN morals well atrocous ty
rants But that IS not true--not at all and there
never was greater mistake than suppose II 1t
cannot but excite smile us who know the contrary so
well, when we are told that white do work
here ana that they do not because it Is considered dis
gacepl why, there is not country Garth in which
honest labor and diligence in business in all classes and
conditions IS considered respectable is
sPected We, like every other people have the Idle and
the vicious amongst But they chiefly those who
those employed agriculture and to be found with
out means Longing about cities and villages Many
independent farmers, who slaves, but not enough to
make their superintendent fun employment work. they
and their sons, with their slaves and it IS that
one here treated them thought of them disgraced
and industry provides for himself and his household either
70 the field at the FORGE any other mechanical pur-
suit Is as highly respected here as in every other weor-
dered community and many OF them of and
ful influence in society.
1t mistake too equally notable that shareholders
are above exempt from the and the business oil
lie and il is gross calumny TO represent them MS the
ruthless and relentless rant of whom persons de-
light to draw overcharged and exaggerated carieaures
Although The labor OF large STAKEHOLDER is manual
yet II is not the less expressing and oneops the feel
ing between masters and their slaves in The great bulk