The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-14
Tss influence OF Cotton on Slavery.


The recent census Of Missouri discloses
remarkable fact, that has surprised botn par
ties to the ell absorbing question OF slavery.
It is evident that slavery has reached Its eli
max in that State, and is gradually diminish
ing or dying out from the silent and unobserv-
cd operations of natural causes. Notwith-
standing the thousands that have yearly been
carried INTO the State by immigrants from
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia-and the
natural prolific increase Of the black race, as
observed ~ other States-the whf lc increase
in Missouri in six years, during which the
whites have increased 250.OO0-the blacks
have gained only J, S53 in numbers. In 1851
the number Of slaves was SS,327, making the
increase only ono third of one per cent. annu-
ally. Il is supposed the number carried into
the State from other States, during the last
six years cannot Be less than 5000 or 90
COO The natural increase Of slaves through
cut the country is shown, by statistics, to be
about three PR cent. annually; it is natural
to suppose 1t would be above the average in
Missouri; but taking three per cent as the
natural increase, it would have given an adj
dition Of about 5000, which, added to the
number of slaves imported, say $1,000 would
have exhibited an increase Of slaves Of 81 :
600; instead of which we find only $50; con-
sequen.ly, there has been loss Of more than
29,eoo-which is equal to 25 per cent. on the
whole number that would have been in the
State at the present time. if the natural in
crease and immigration had been added to the
original stock.
There are now but very few slaves North
Of Missouri river, and the largest slave
population in proportion to the whites, is in
the Southern counties, next to the Arkansas
Line.
1t is foolishncss and wickedness TO lash the
popular passions into rage, and lead the
coun.ry to the brink OF civil war and disso.
luton of the Union. to arrest the extension o.
an evil, which we see by the operation Of natu
raj causes, cannot hold its present dominion
and is yielding its own ground voluntarily.
There are very active operating causes tc
save states, and TREY are likely to act with
increased force. The production Of cotton j:
70. keeping pace with the demand. The
pr!aes of the great staple are more likely tC
advance than reeedc. The profits of cotton
Planting exceed those Of any other agricultu
raj pursuit: the slave is more needed in thai
employment than in any other branch: it il
said no other hand can pick cotton with thu
facility of the negro. The large profits o
cotton, aad the peculiar adaptation Of negroe.
Or tie labor, will take them from all oths
employ meats and concentrate them in the cot
t5s tieids The enormous prices now pail
fer blacks on cotton plantations, will rapidly
-,lsaw the slaves from the North where THEFT
r'aces can be supplied by white labor. The
hand that can earn $500 or 5000 annually il
~ cotton tieLl, will not be kept in kentucky
where better laborer can he found TO supply
lis place for $3.50 to $500 II the high price,
& cotton continue, we shall neeI no Missouri
mp 'omiso Inca ror Wimot proyiso to keeE
s,aJery below So OF latitude