Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-11-07
= Correspondents of the Richmond South
"A CORRECTlON-THE SLAVE TRADE--SLAYF
L AND HIREL1NG LABOR CONTRASTED.

TO the Editor Of the South -
Tn my late letter to you, made to say, "slave
property has become intol.rably DEAR" l wrote
'sslave products" As a southron, rejoice in the
high price of negroes, because it is the unerrng in
dication of Southern prosperity. 1t is true, am
willing to the price of negroes and Of slave pro-
ducts somewhat reduced by the renewal of the slave
trade, because with cheap negroes we could afford
to make cotton, sugar. rice tobacco corn and wheat
for less prices, and yet realize equal profits. The
introduction Of cheap slaves from Africa would
Bile us put into profitable cultivation all the lands
in the Southern States, half Of which lie idle;
TO develop our immense mineral resources, and to
build railroads ard other internal improvements, at
half the cost we now do
But the chief advantage that would ensue to us
from a renewal of the trade would be, that we might
then successfully contend with the North in the set
Element of new territories. As things now stand.
the immense immigration of white labor at the
North, ard the absence Of all immigration to the
South, will enable the North, if she pleases, to mo-
nopoise the whole unsettled territory of the Union
This she will certainly endeavor to d. and to this
the South oiW submit Southern minds and
Southern arms were chiefly instrumental in acqn-
ring the whole territory belonging to the Union,
majority at the North all the while protesting against
submit to see the North rapaciously appropriating
all of our acquisitions. 1t is not mere question of
honor or OF profit however, bu: one Of safety and
security. Surrounded by a don of free States,
settled by the scurf OF Europe and of Northern
cities, bought up and sent by immigration aid socie-
ties for the very purpose OF making war upon our
institutions, domestic peace and security would
be seriously jeoparded. In the vile material that
has been sent by the Abolitionsts of New York and
New England to Kansas, we have foretaste of the
sort Of neighbors with which Black Repubcansm
is sure to surround us, unless the slave trade be
neweG They have three reasons for sending those
wretchcs: First, to purge their cities Of that ohal,
who endanger all property, commit crime, fill the
prisons ard enhance the poor rates secondly, they
send them to annoy us; thirdly and chiefly, they
send them to increase the price of their lands and
town lots, &c. They will always select the poorest
most worthless and mprovident, because snch new
err become land owners, but remain common day.
lahorers whose labor is cheaper than negro labor,
because the employer allows them less hire,
geS than the master gives to his slave Hence,
lands rise much faster and become dearcr, when
such free labor is introduced than when slaves are
carried in. The price of land is the surplus which
the cwner obtains after paying the laborer. That
surplus is largest when free labor is employed, be-
the negroes are better paid and, hence lands
dearest in free society. Truly, ''the price Of
land is the thermometer of liberty"-and laborers
are freest Tor, at least best Off when lands are
cheapest
Such the normal relative conditions of the
slave and the hireng but in a monetary crisis like
the present, who can find words to express the su
perior advantages Of the slave? He has his every
want sufficiently supplied, and has no fear appre
hen>iOn that the supply will fail or be diminished
whilst the free laborer is pinched by cold, by
kedness and by famine, and sees death staring him
in the face in the not distant future.
Hard all this is upon the hreling it is greatly
to the advantage of the employer He is not en-
numbered with the support and maintenance of the
sick, the aged, the intrm, OF women and of chill.
dren. at any season. of able laborers in
unfit for work. And if panic like the present
comes, he can turn out all hands to starve whilst
the master has to support his negroes, however I'M
profitable their labor, or however unable to labor.
Add TO this, that negroes cost in the market
about ten times much as Boston immigrants, and
you how hopeless it is for us, under present cir
cumstances, to attempt to compete with the Saints
of New England in colonizing new Territories.
But If the slave trade were revived, these very
saints would go at it with much energy as their
equally sanity ancestors; and, besides, would be-
come slave owners in all the Territories suited to
the African. 'Tis true the negro would cost Them
more, both in buying and supporting him; but
hrcng with a muSket and the right Of suffrage, is
an unsafe laborer, however profitable. Renew the
slave trade and we should never nave another free
State where negroes could be probably employed.
White labor at the North would get sugar, cotton,
rice tobacco, corn, wheat aid other slave products
at half the present prices; and, besides, would have
more constant employment. because the market for
their products would be extended at the South.
Now we see the laborcrs of the North. the most
moral industrious and intelligent working men in
the world thrown out by their employees to starve.
These laborers different from the scum which
the Emigrant Aid Society packs off as light is Fl ON
darkness. They produce all the necessaries, COM
forts and luxuries of life at the North, and enjoy
some of them Our negroes get full and fair share
of all they make; for they are better off as slaves
than in any other condition.
This proves that the master deals fairly with the
negro. His skill! providence and superintendent
are ample pay for the slaves labor and more than
other situation.
The negro is dealt by fairly and honestly -the
white laborer most grossly defrauded. The fault is
not in the employer, however, who is very generally
All honest and humane man, but in a vicious, unnat-
ura and, in the long run, impracticable social sys
tenn, which never works smoothly, and frequently
flies out of gear and falls to pieces.
There is s>ciety at the North now, because the
very word society implies association and mutual aid
and assistance. Nature impels men into society for
the sake of mutual insurance against all the casual
ties, misfortunes, wants and weaknesses of life. 1t
is the only condition in which he exist, because
his wants and his nature make him social and gre
garious animal We see the singular and unnatu-
raj sight at the North Of social animal ASSOCIATED.
Western Europe will soon exhibit like phase. La.
borers will be turned out of employment, business
be arrested, trade and commerce at stand STILL and
for awhile, every tie that binds to his fellow
cut sheer asundcr." Man will begin to learn what
is meant by the failure of free society,"" long.
Slave society never fail, or even suspend, be-
cause it is natural and God-ordained. 1t can ride
out any Storm and if the captain and the pilot
be lost, the crew is always safe.
Seeing that free society is an exploded humbug, 1
hope the North will unite with us in reviving the
slave trade, which will be equally profitable to each
section, and is the only measure that can possibly
preserve the Union, for We of the South will not be
robbed of all the territories, and only avoid be-
ing sosrobbed by dsunion or the slave trade. These
appear to me the alternatives of the hour