The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-11-20
from the New Orleans Delta.1 49, q
Exemption Of Hegfoss ffsh

THE South has been so much occu-
pied with the extraneous agitation of
slavery, that her statesmen have al
most entirely neglected those measures
which were calculated to fortify, ex-
tend and perpetuate it as one of her
vital institutions. Too much has been
done in Congress, and too little, in the
State Legislatures, with reference to
slavery. 1t is time now that Southern
Legislators should give wise consdera-
tion to stabilitating an institution
which is indispensable both to her SO.
cial and political existence-in which
either she must live or have no life.
The exemption of negroes from sale
for debt under execution, with certain
qualifications and conditions, is poll
cy as wise in every point of view as it
is humane and consistent with the nat
ural relation of master and servant
This measure, which proposes to Gre
ate species Of homestead in slave
property, has been before sugges ted,
from time to time, in various States,
but in no instance has there been any
specific legislation upon it. We learn,
however, that the proposition will be
introduced at the next session of the
Mississippi Legislature, and will be
ably supported. a.. . -... ..
This exemption of negroes from sale
for debt would give a security and
permanency to slave property, which
would make it the most desirable of.
all others as family estate. If adop-
ted throughout the South, it would
withdraw from the banking basis of
the North nearly fifteen hundred mil.
lions of dollars, keep the interest on
that amount at home, and counteract,
to that extent. the concentration of
capital at New York and Liverpool,
which has been based SO largely upon
the security afforded by Southern
slaves without compensation in return.
1t would also make the ownership of a
few slaves more desirable than at pres
ent, and thus check the tendency to
the accumulation of very large num-
ber of slaves in the hands Of very
small number of slaveowners, the eff
feet of which is to weaken the institu-
ton of slavery by reducing the num-
ber and political influence of those who
are directly interested in it as propri-
etors. 1t would make it to every
mans advantage to own a slave, and
strengthen actually and politically the
institution, as every owner would vote.
and, if Unnecessary, fight for his property.
Not only would such measure diff
fuse and thus strengthen slavery nu.
merically, but would powerfully con.
duce to its territorial diffusion and ex.
tention. The emigrating class is not
the wealthy. The rich and well-to-do
seldom emigrate, to new countries at
least. Therefore, the more slavery is
diffused amongst men of comparative.
ly small capital, who can afford to own
but few slaves, the greater will be
the number of slaveholding emigrants
into new territory. ..
With the exemption idea once fixed
as an inseparable part of tho institu-
ton of negro servitude, no fanatlcal
madness or Congressional usurpation
could 3endanger the existence of the
South or prevent her from growth and
appropriating her lawful Inheritance
on earth. In nearly every household
negro servitude would become a per-
manent fixture, an essential idea of
continuing with it in all its changes,
following it in all its wanderings, and
planted and cherished wherever it
made its home as an indispensable in.
stitution, to be defended by the pGter
fanattios with his life if necessary, and
bequeathed as a perpetuity to his chill
dren.
The strongest and wisest policy on
the part of the South is that which en-
larges and diffuses the interest of the
whites in negro slavery, and at the
same time conduccs to increase and
preserve the affection Of the negro for
his master. The mutual bond of in
terest and affection, of protection and
dependence, is truly one of perduable
toughness. This relation, wisely cher
isbed, is better than 'scompromises," !"
".fnalitles." and that endless list of ex-
pedients. which have so long been adj.
ministered to the South by political
practitioners Of that class, who think
"spermacetti an excellent thing for an
inward bruise."