The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-06-26
Slavery in the Border State.

Tire Now Orleans Delta md the Cbnrlesto,
Mercury discussing the policy of a
measure, originally proposed by the Delta, to
wit the enactment Of laws on the pnrt Of the
Southern States, to prevent those upon the
frontier. from dischnrging their slave popula-
tion within their limits. The effect Of this
measure, according to the Dclta would be to
check the present slave exodus, aud fix slavery
forever in the frontier States. whom it would
thus convert into the vigilant guardians of the
institution; and the measure is justified
the ground of the existing danger that Yir-
g'n'n, Maryland and Kentucky, will follow
the lead Of frec.solisn, and be ultimately ab-
olitionizcd
The policy Of the measure may we'll bc
doubted. Like oil legislation. designed to
control the fixed and uniform laws of trade, it
must work present inconv vcnioncc, to be COM
pensnted by prospective and contingent ben
cht ): and would probably produc" an nliena-
tion'ef feeling and distraction o ,nsels, so
much to be deprecated. The subject is one of
general interest however, and we append an
extract from the article Of the Delta
We confess eo SOME surprise to hear our
Charleston contemporary echo the words Of the
Richm ond EHamner-a journal which prefers
gnsconnde and assertion to Logical deduction
that law prohibitorv Of Virginia slave exc
dus. would practically work tho extinction of
slavery inasmuch rs it would abolish the int or.
State slave trade.
Let us look Mt this matter briefly but close
ly. Virginia has nearly n half million of
slaves, principally in the eastern and southern
sections Of the State. The products Of the
soil in these regions are very valuable, and
slave labor is profitaby employed.
V,,f
the Common wealth, where slave labor would
be almost. if not quite rs profitable, it is sub
iect to the assaults of its enemies, and hireling
free labor has taken its place. In n weri,
slavery has retired before the assaults Of the
Bortlor Abolitionist-retircd southwark solely
for safety: lnduhitubly. slave labor is cheap
er than hirelng free labor; and if means
could be devised to resist the dangers which
menace slavery the North. and the deple.
tion stopped Mt the South, it is not apparent
that the rapid increase of nearly an half mil
lion Of slaves, would soon sweep hircling free
labor from Firginin, and insure it's ditrusion
Thus established by necessity, where hreling
free labor has, for the cnIsc was assigned, sup.
planted it, every man along the line would be
n sentinel, and so closely would the Border bc
WATCHED, that the machinery of the um'e'
ground railway would bc wonderfully imrcd-
cd. If not ctfectually stopped.
But ns long ns Virginia pursues her system
Of raising slaves for the Southern market, and
impovcris!,ing herself by selling them Mt exor-
bitnnt Sums outside Of her limits, this state of
things will never occur. Her true source of
wealth is not in the money realized from the
sale ofslnvcs 4; it is in multiplying the numbers
keeping them at home and thus chenpeninr
labor, and nugmcnting capital
In relation to the deficiency of Slaves in the
extreme South, We have only to say. that tat
king negroes from Virginia causes a deficiency
there, and while it strengthens the institution
in ,,l- - ,,t Ia, Al.
cotton growing States will find wny to sup
ply themselves, for the world wants cotton and
must have it, and all the mcilling plilan-
:hropic Cnrksons and Wilbcrforccs cannot pre-
vent the demand being filled. Deficiency in
labor will increase the price Of the great sta
pie, and. after all. the planter would not lose n
dollar, while the negro worshippcrs would
suffer terribly in the pocket.
We have no quarrel with the good old Com
monwealth Of Firginin-on the other hand We
nre proud Of her one of our great canfrdcr-
ntc sisters. The measure proposed by us WAS
with an eye single to her own and our wei
fare. seeing TINT the Tlmycrs without and the
Yankees within her borders put her in peril
When the great issue comes, if she will rush.
"lnto our battle. like Lybinn lion
Upon his hunters"
we shall be the first to sing pcnns to the Moth
er ofPrcsidents' and of states Rights doc.
trincs. Nor, do we desire to cross swords with
our able cotcmporary, the Mercury. for in this
great fight against tho Saraccns of the North,
there should be no disscnsions in the marquee
of the Crusaders-Ntro Orleans Delta.