Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-02-25

;Ihe issue III Sfaycfg In Missouri.
II appears By the recent census of Missouri,
that while the white population OF the State las
increased thirty eight per cent. in the last six
years, the slaves have increased only about two
per cent in the same time. There are pa, $40
more white persons in Missouri now than there
was in 1851, while the addition to the number
of slaves since that time, Is only 1928. Il is
evident that this number eighteen hundred and
twenty three, does not even represent the natu-
raj increase OF the number of slaves lSS, S271 in
the State in 1885, for negroes are proverbially
prolific animals, under circumstances at all IA
vorable 70 their multiplication. Neither is it
equal to the number Of slaves that have been
brought into the State by the substantial far
mers from Kentucky and Virginia who have set
tied in Missouri within the last half dozen years,
for several instances of companies of such emf
grants, with as many as 100 negroes each, have
come under our individual observation during
the last year. Certainly not less than 5000
slaves have been imported into Missouri from
the oshhr slave states, during the last six years.
What, then, is the conclusion irresistibly forced
upon us by these undeniable facssg Simply this
s-~that more slaves have died in, and been sent
out of, the State together, than have born in,
or brought into, the State. Out Of all that have
been born in and all that have been brought il-
to the State since 1851, only enough hare been
retained to give the paitry increase Of two per
cent on IS, 227, in six years.
Here is the key to the true solution Of the
emancipation question in Missouri. II these
figures are correct, and we are not aware that
they have been questioned, slavery has reached
its climax in this state and is on the wane. 1t
has reached point beyond whichit cannot, or
will not, sustain ITSELF and is, hencefortb, DOOM
ed to decline. The next census will, no doubt,
shows positive decrease in the number OF slaves
Had there been no slaves brought into Missouri,
in the last six years, as is the case with the slave
States, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and North
Carolina, there cannot be doubt that positive
decrease in Cur number of slaves would have
been reported even in the present census. The
fact is beyond question that the slaves we have
sold to the south and set free, together with
those who have run away and been stolen by
the abolitionists, since 1851, considerably out
number either those born amongst US, or those
brought into the State, and very nearly equal
both together.
This is a serious, stubborn fact and is pregnant
with considerations which our statesmen would
do well to constantly bear in mind. If a cen
sus of Virginia, Maryland, or Kentucky,
should disclose the TACT that the number of
slaves in either of those states had increased only
two per cent in six years, the circumstances
would possess but little significance; it would
IRENE south, where they are consumed, had
been nearly equal to the supply of slaves in Vir-
gina, Maryland and Kentucky, where they are
produced. Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky
| are old save growing States and if, during any
period, they should sell more slaves to the south
| than they have raised in the same time, the
| fact would, by no means, warrant the opinion
| that the institution OF slavery was crnmbling in
| them. Their stock of slaves would still remain.
But Missouri is a new State, and is an importer
as well as exporter OF slaves. Up to ten
| years ago, she imported more than she exported.
| Her hemp and tobacco lands were being taken
| up by Virginians and Kentuckians, and the
| slaves required to cultivate them were not d.
| yerted by greater demand and higher price
| for them; in the cotton growing regions OF the
| Gulf States. She was filling up rapidly with
slave holders, and promised to become one of
the strongest of the more northern slave states.
But things are now changed. The increasing de-
inand for cotton has increased the price OF slaves
| in the cotton states, and made them more valu-
| Bile there than any where else throughout the
South. So high are the prices they bring that
| Missouri, poorly supplied as she is with the ar
tcle, enters the market as seller, sends her ne
groes to the South to raise cotton and imports
| white men to raise her cattle and grain. The
| result is that the increase of her slave popua-
ton in the last six years is only 1928, while the
Increase of her white population tor the same
| period is PA, $40, And yet slave labor is not
unpf oftable in Missouri. On the contrary, it is
highly remunerutiye as the prosperity of the
hemp and tobacco raisers OF the state, who gen
orally own larger number of slaves than other
farmers proves. But it is more profitable in
the extreme southern states, and hence the ex
portation Of negroes to the South from Nilsson
ri to an extent which, if it continues will sooner
or later render Missouri slaveless.
We are not discussing the Emancipation ques
ton. 1t is subject which needs not be discuss
ed by partsans and demagogdes in the arena OF
party politics with view to legislative action in
| reference to it. We have only stated facts-se.
rious stubborn facts-backed by figures, and
made them the basis of fair and legitimate con.
clusions. Now, what shall be done? Nothing
at all. If slavery in Missouri has, of ITSELF and
| under no artificial stimulus, but under the press.
ure Of natural and hcalthful causes alone, taken
the ncipient steps towards self extinction, all the
leg islative enactments that can be thought OF !;
all the slave Codes however severe, that may be
adopted; all the encouragement that may be
| held out to the Importation, and all the obsta
Giles that may be thrown in the way OF the ex
portation of negroes, cannot arrest its progress.
| As all Abolitiondom could not root slavery out
| of Missouri, unless aided by the cooperation of
| the intrinsic laws of slavery itself, SO the in
tensest Pro-Slaveryism that can be brought to
the task cannot keep the institution in the State
when once it has commenced to extinguish it
SELF If decay is eating at the heart OF the sys-
TEN, outward pasterings and appliances, while
they NAV retard, will not suspend the action of
the disease. Then let there be no bitter agita-
ton If slavery is about 70 abolish itself in Mis-
souri,, it will do so without the aid of Emancpa-
tionists, and in spite OF the opposition of Pro-
Slavery men. Let the Freesoilers and Anti-sla.
very men keep quiet and not set up great
howl liberalization at the probable self-extinction
OF the system, claiming it as their work for the
event, fever it occur will not be due to their eff
forts, but to the operation of natural, normal
causes. -ae.
There is another incident connected with this
subject of the probable abolition Of slavery in
Missouri, OF considerable interest. What is to
become of the slaves ?-They are not to be set
free in our midst, and thus reproduce in Missou-
ri the gaunt desolaton which broods over the
deserted plantations and abandoned estates of
Jamaica. Nor are they to be transported at an
enormous expense to Liberia. But they are to
be exported to the South, to swell by their labor
the annual production of Cotton. The subject
of the inadequacy Of the supply of this article to
the rapidly increasing demand is one which is
attracting the attention of political economists
throughout the world. The annual production
VI WYNN ih WHO SoahIi - at INC very
highest figure, is but 100000 bales, while the
demand is great enoughsto absorb 5000, 900, if
they could be furnished. But how is this excess
of demand over supply to be afforded? Cotton
is only procured, in any considerable quantity,
by slave labor; and whence is to come the ill.,
crease Of slave labor necessary to make the sup
ply OF Cotton commensurate with the demand ? |
1t was this important question which, few |
months ago, suggested in some parts of the coun-
try the re-openlng of the slave trade, that the |
deficiency in cotton producing laborers might be |
filled by slaves from Africa. That project was |
cried down, leaving the question which suggest
ed it unanswered.-That question remains still |
unanswered.-Will not the silent movement 60
ing on in our own State, the self-extinction of |
slavery in Missouri, do something toward soly- |
ing it /? By the time that the institution becomes
extinct in this State, not less than two, perhaps |
three, hundred thousand cotton laborers will be
drafted from Missouri to the plantations of the |
South This, however, is not the matter in which I
we are SO Immediately interested. Our concern |
is the imminent probability that slavery in Mis-
souri, has commenced the work of abolshing it.
self, and that the next quarter of a century will