The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-06-26
From the Detroit Tribune.
WHAT SLAVERY HAS COST THE UNION,

Tho Cleveland Leader has been making ON
| estimate of tho "heaven- born institution Of
| Slavery. The result will show how much
| foundation there is for the claim made by the
slave power that the slave States have conlri-
buted largely 10 the support of tho North and
that Slavery has conferred nnumerabe bene-
fits and blessings upon tho country. 1t will
also show whether il has ever cost tho North
anything The Leader first considers tho last
statement. Louisiana was purchased from
the French, April l5, 1903, for Sl5, ,O00,O ,O00.--
The $l5 600, 900 was paid in stock and money.
The amount paid for interest on that stock, to
the time it became due, was S8,559,353 49,.
making tho total payment to France for Louisi
ana S23 3,526,353 43. BY means of this pur-
chase the South acquired throo new Slave
States, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas
Spain, in 1921, ceded the whole of Florida
as indemnity for spoations committed on tho
property of American citizens, though il also
received Ss5 600, 900, WHICH, with 81 ass, ,76S CO
paid in the shape of interest on stock issued,
made together the sum of S6,4S9 ,70S Co.
Thus was paid France and Spain for new ter
ritory, $3O,Ol9l22 90.
Byt epurchase of Florida the South receiv-
cd another Slave State. But this is not all
Florida cost. Cotton planters demanded that
the Seminole Indians should be forthwith ejec-
ted from the swanhps and everglades, so that
they might extend their plantations, "stocked
with fat negroes A long, expensive and
bloody war ensued, which cost the Union S22,-
244, 600, making the whole cost of the territory
S3S, 734 900, or more than one dollar and
quarter por acre for the whole tract acquired
good and bad. The territory embraced in the
State Of Mississippi was claimed by the State
of Georgia. II was sold by her to tho United
States Government for a total of @5,532,00o,
and erected into Slave State
Next comes Texas, which was annexed in
lS45, and converted into Slave State, with
proviso that it might be cut up to mako three
led to the Mexican war, which cost the,country
1000 lives by sickness and battle. The cost
of tho war, according to the Secretary of the
Treasury, was S2l7,l75,O00. But this does
not include millions that were expended to
pay claims, damages, pensions, bounty lands.
&c. But oven this is not all. Texas was paid
$10,000,500 for her quit claim title to por-
tion of New Mexico-a claim that was fraudu
lent and preposterous. And at the last session
of Congress $2,5OO,000 more was voted to pay
her creditors. These SUMS with accruing in
terest, amount to $4,000, 900, paid to Texas
Next comes tho Messilla Valley purchased at
SlO,000,000, for the ostensible purpose Of OBJ
tanning a Southern moonshine railroad route.
And last, though not least, the Administration
offered to pay Spain $3.50, 900, 900 for Cuba, in
order to extend the area of Slavery, and Cath
olicism in its most degraded form. Let US now
recapitulatc, or foot up, what extending the
area of Slavery has cost the General Govern
mont;
Purchasing louisiana in 1903 e23,530, 900
Florida from Spain, in 1912 6,490000
Florida war with Indians, in 193i-38 1924 900
Mississippi from Georgia. in 1902 5,532 900
War to obtain Texas, in I846-'47 cl7 $4,000
Paid TO Texas for sham Claims in le50-55 I6000000
Messlla Valley to Santa Anna, in 1883 l00O000O
Total e3l097 900
From this expenditure the Slave power has
erected Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri Missis
sippi, Florida and Texas into Slave Statos of
the worst sort. This Same Black power made
a desperate effort to seize California, and for
years has been trying to bully, steal or buy Gu
ba from Spain to make another Slave State
Latterly their rapacty has been let loose upon
the Free territory belonging, by compact to
the North, and Kansas is now withering in
their clutches. The immerso sacrifice of life
and treasure made to obtain this territory, has
fallen chiefly on tho Free States. Three
fourths of the money has been drained from
Eorthern pockets moro than nine-tenths tho
lives lost belongs to non-slevoholders, and moro
than half 10 the Free States. The Black pow
or continues to cry give, give. Like death, it
can mover be satisfied. Is it not time to put
a final stop to the ravages Of this cancer, be-
fore it destroys tho remaining vitality Of Free
dom and utterly ruins the Republic1