Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-10-29

FE1E73 LABOR US. Sg.1VE3 GAgzGsIs.
F. T. Blair, Esq, OF Maryland, who in former
days was the oracle Of democracy and the bo-
som friend Of General Jackson, has written a
letter, addressed "To my Neighbors' in which
he shows un the evils from the institution Of
slavery upon the white l4borers-the poorer
classes scattered through the South. The epis
tie WIS called forth by Il recent gathering in this
neighborhood of his estate, at which he was de-
nounced us an arch traitor" because he sup
ports Fremont, and "a fash of lightning was IN
voked to bring down the justice of heaven on
his head" Mr.. Blair is one OF the ablest wei
tiers in the country, OF much political experience
and knowing well the influence OF existing in
stitutons on the people. From his lengthy let
ter We give this extract
Nv neighbors know that my declarations
against sweeping abolition are sincere They
know that own slaves some inherited and
some that have begged their way into MY house
from the slave pens and while they know that
nv course in submitting TO the circumference is
characterized by humanity, they have proof OF
my conduct, that So far from using it TO degrade
my own flesh aud blood in the persons OF those
who toll with their hands for living and bring
them to the condition to which the democracy,
speaking through the Richmand Press, would
assign them, that my best efforts have been to
ii
strongest sympathes are for the laboring white
man. Under this feeling, and believing it the
best mode OF gradually Superceding slavery in
the cultivation of the soil, have employed
free labor for the most part III my farming, and
with the happlest consequences.
OF the neighborS whom | employed 10 assist
me IN opening and in the cultivation and i'm
provement of my farm, ten, who held no land
new possess little farms and comfortable home
SteadS of their own in fee simple. II instead of
free labor, had purchased and employed ne
groes in my cultivation might have added,
from the profits, all these homesteads to nv own
doaain, and exhibited widespread scene of
wasting African agriculture. Now the whole
is DOTTED with neat and thririnc
farms and cottages and the lands which sold for
ten. fifteen and twenty dollars an acre when |
began to open my farm thirteen years ago now
sells for from sixty 10 one hundred dollars and
so etimes more. DO not mention this TO as
sert my claim on my neighborS. They have
done more for NE than tor them. / state facts
to recommend 4 system.
The system OF small tenements and free labor |
can alone confer beauty and strength on an i'm !
povecished region. Even the rich soil of Ken
tacky the beautiful luxaranee OF which it is al |
most impossible TO destroy, cannot prevent the /
weakness that awaits state which |
turns away free labor and sends it to build up /
rival free states III the west. Example Will IL |
ustrats have three relatives in Kentucky, |
honest, benevolent moss aimahle men, when /
cit the state were farmers on q most limited /
scale Within twenty years one has bought up /
ZEN of the farms around him, another twelve,
another fifteen, in the heart of Woodtord ana /
and Fayeite Handsome edifces, once the
homes OF families numbering multitude, scat.
tered over the country, are now occupied as
yranaries. small one here and there inhabited
By an oserseer. The population is gone, the
schooa houses are deserted, the churches have
40 congregation, aad yet the country Is besuii-
mi clothed with grass. covered With herds Of