Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-10-24

alue of production. I very frankly ayow the opin-
on, that our mixed labor of free white men of Eu-
opean origin and of slaves of the African race is as
we'll adapted to the public and private ends of our
agriculture as any other could be-makng our cul-
aviation not less thorough, cheap, and productive
than it would be- if carried on by the whites alone,
and far than the blacks by themselves would
make it and therefore, that it has beneficial in
1uence on the prosperity 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, am not about
terng into that controversy which has connectedlt
self with the contentious ofsectional factions, strug-
ling for political power. 1t is unnecessary thatl should;
for every one is aware believe, of the nature of the
controversy and the motives ofthe parties to it tits
one of the conservative effects of slavery to impress
US deep conviction of the inestimable value OF
the Union and profound reverence Tor the Constr
tuition which created it; and hence we habitually
cherish good feeling as of brethren, towards our
ellowctizens of every State, and any deed or word
tending to impair the perpetuity OF the Union ana
the efficiency of the Constitution and the laws pass
ed in accordance with it. ALLEVIATE the affections
of the people of the different States from each 9TH
err is seen with Impotence and frowned on with IN
dignaton. Indeed if there any thing in slave
nv or the interests connected with it incompatible
with that fundamental law, doubt not that our
people would willingly abide by that sacred instru-
ment, though it should cut off right hand or pluck
out right eve But there will be occasion for
a display of loyalty in that respect, since the
Constitution clearly recognizes our slavery, sustans
the rights of ownership, and enforces the duty OF
service; and / am persuaded that the obligation OF
those provisions and their execution will be ultimate
ly pronounced and carried out by those whom
the Constitution itself confers the authority. My
purpose now, however, is merely to maintain that
slavery here is favorable to the interests OF agrcu-
ture in point of economy and profit, and not I'M
wholesome to the moral and social condition of each
race In support of the first part of the proposition
decisive argument is furnished by the fact that the
and value of the productions of slave labor
in this country exceeds those of similar productions,
nay, of all other agricultural productions, OF an
equal number of men in any other country, as far
they can be ascertained In some localities IN
deed, and in respect to articles of great values
the production would cease, nearly cease, with
slavery; since the blacks by the constitutions inner
tied from their African ancestors, labor, with
out detriment under degrees of heat moisture, and
exposure, which found to be fatal to the whites
whose systems are better adapted to different con-
ditions of the atmosphere. In truth, if the free
in those States in which slavery prevails be al
lowed credit for common sense and the capacity to
understand their own wants and interests, the utility
of the employment of slave labor and its productive
ness established beyond controversy, simply by
the fact that it is done. Men who are thoroughly
verscd in the practical operation of any institution,
certainly will not to their own prejudice, uphold 1t
from generation to generation, and cling the closer
to it as by its natural extension it becomes more
and destructive. If be sadsthat the contin-
uance of slavery does not prove its utility to the
Commonwealth, because it was continued of neces-
Sty and would have been, however lmpoltlc 1t
might be found, must some force in the
suggestion by ITSELF since at all times after its in
PRODUCTION it would have been difficult to get rid OF
it. and that difficulty has been continually incrcas
ing. 1t was much easier for those who now con-
denim so strenuously our federation of slavery, to
capture and ensave the helpless Africans and bring
them here than for without crime henous,
to renounce dominion over them and turn them
loose their discretion and sefdestructon Their
fate would be that of native savages or the
enfranchised blacks of the West indies the misera-
bile victims nf iiiAness, want, drunkenness and 9TH
debaucheres. But the argument goes only to
show that would have done rght-even though
enforced thereto by the necessity spoken o-ln still
holding those people in bondage. 1t is far from
showing that slavery would not have been and ought
to have been maintained, though there had been
such Hypothetical necessity for doing so. Fur
thermore there are numerous facts to prove clear
opinion to the contrary in every class of our popu-
lation. When did any man, for example, leave
North Carolina in order to get clear OF his slaves
of slavery? We have, indeed respectable and
peaceful religious socety-less numerous than for
meriy-Who are forbidden by article in their
creed from holding men in slavery. Even they new
warred contended against this institution here,
sought to seduce or spirit away their nelShbors
slaves; but like the quiet and Christian men they
professed to be- they left and immgrated chiefly to
the States of the Northwest, in which slavery did
not exist With that slight exception, the public
sentiment is generally satisfied with the existence
of slavery and its proprety here, that it may prop
erly be called universal. Some men have .emanci-
pated some all of their slaves by sending them to
other States. But l know not of an instance in
which the former went with them, or left
North Carolina because other owners would not fol-
low their example. On the contrary, when our
shareholders remove they carry their slaves with
them further south, where slavery is if possible,
more firmly fixed than here, because they expect
the labor of the slaves to be productive Be-
sides, there many inhabitants of this State who
do not hold slaves some from choice and some from
inability to purchase them and nevertheless, they
content to abide among and our slaves. And
it is also true, that when those men migrate
much the larger part of them likewise go to the
south of in the thick of slavery, because they
hope to make greater profit from their own exer-
tons. These facts which cannot be denied, will
bear reflection and furnish evidence sufficient to sat
isfy any fair mind that there is unanimous con-
vction of people that slavery, it exists here
is neither improbable, mpolitic nor unwhole-
some. For certainly though shareholders, we may
claim to possess clear understandings, and as
clear consciences generally fall to the lot Of other
1t would, indeed be otherwise, if it true,
supposed set forth by some, that slavery degrades
free labor, and, consequently, that population
too proud too lazy to work, and become, espe-
cialy slave owners dissolute and profgate in NOR
ais as well atrocious tyrants. But that is not
true-not at all true and there never greater
mistake than to suppose it true. It cannot but
cite smile in us, who know the contrary so well,
when we are told that white men do work here,
and that they do not because it is considered dis
graceful. Why, there is not country earth in
which honest labor and diligence in business in all /
classes and conditions is considered more respecta