Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-09-01
From The N Y. Tribune !

Slave labor VS.. Free Labor.
We lately drew oontrust DeCween New
progress of the former III material prosperity.
and attriouted tlls difference to their different
social and political institutions. Wenow pro-
pose to show why it is that slavery must ne
cessarily fall behind freedom in the race of i'm
provement The reasons are as plenty as
blackberries, Who has not observed the
difference between a section of country
where the title to the land was in fee
simple and the land cultivated by its own
ers, and another section with leasehold ten
ure? Why so? Because, in the one case,
self-interest demanded Improvement at the
hands OF the tillers of the soil in the other
it did not. The simplest principles OF political
or domestic economy instruct us that when the
laboreT has a direct interest in the proceeds of
his labor, he will produce and save as much
and consume as little as he can. When he has
no interest in the proceeds of his labor he will
consume as much and produce and save as lit
tie as he can. These principles, ever acting
with the certain and constant force of grav-
lty explain the reason of the comparative
progress Of free and slave States. And such
ever must be the contrast between voluntary
and involuntary systems of labor. Men will
always work so much better for the cash than
for the lash. Political economy must be PROV
ed false, and the whole order of nature re-
versed, or the land watered with the sweat
and tears of forced and unpaid labor, must
ever be cursed and scared with comparative
barrenness and blight
Again, where the labor Of a country is per.
formed by slaves, 1t is considered dsgraeeful
to labor, and the most false, ridiculous, and
pernlcious opinions and practices prevail
Work becomes the badge ofservitude, and al
ns efttI -, III,
ness is the universally coveted privilege, and
how can the consequences but be disastrous
not only to material but to mental and moral
progress and prosperity Under freedom, to
gan our bread by the sweat of the brow is not
regarded as curse but blessing, and the de-
claraton that we shall so obtain our bread is
considered as divine enunciation of the only
and blessed way to individual and national
happiness and virtue. Under slavery we gener-
ally see large number of persons absolutely
directed and controlled by a single mind, and
that not generally a mind of high order
Under freedom, every man is thrown upon
his own resources to think, and act, and pro-
VIDE for himself. Hence that universal stir
and activity, that action of mind upon mind
which brghrens all the faculties and brings
out thought like fire from the collision offlint
and steel. Nor is II moral influence of
slavery less deplorable. Mr.. Wesley has well
said, "An idle brain is the DEVILS workshop"
and every body who has had much experience
with the world must be convinced, that there
is as much trurh as simplicity in those rhymes
of the nursery:
In works of labor and of skill
would be busy to-
for satan hnds some mischief still
For idle hands 10 don
And who can doubt that the possession of ar
bitrary power, from the cradle to manhood is
unfriendly to the cultivation OF the kind char
tiles, the gentle cyilties and the sweet amen.
ltles which grace the highest and noblest style
oil character Reason and observation alike
proclaim the greater advantages of freedom
and good degree ofsocial and political equal
ity aids in forming these ennobling charac.
terisucs so seldom found to flourish in the
soil OF slavery. The practice of despotism
must inevitably be calculated to form tyranni-
cal habits of harshness, severity and oyerbear-
ing injustice.
But perhaps the greatest social evil result
ing nom the system Of slavery is the common
and necessary subjection Of slave women,
many Of them young, sprghtly, comely, and
nearly white, to the absolute control Of BOYS
aud young men, with all the ardor OF youth
fal passions. Who can doubt the natural
consequences; Or who would wonder at the
determination Of u well informed and very in.
telllgent slayeholdihg mother, who told us
she was resolved tosehd her sons to the North
Tor Their education, because their domestic
habits would be so much better guarded there
than they possibly would be at home. Now,