New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-26

CeveIol newspapers In Inc sihVcuViulnt iLseioss
have dawn very exciting contrasts a, to the rela
tive position of slave laborers and free laborers
during the present interruption to the regular
course Of industry. They point out to rs, on the
enc aide, negroes as well fed aud well clothed az
when their tabor was most profitable fat, seek
contenttd and happy -idpg along the streets in q
state of exuberant content and good nature, So
cure against destitution, whst,ver calamity may
oyertske their masters. Ga the other, they call
attention, with seeming .ympsthy bat real exulta-
tor, to tie rather exaggerated number of "hun.
"dreds Of thousands Of Northern operatives thrown
"upon The world without q penny as Winter sets
"n with oil its severities," ain want of bread in
"wsnt Of fuel in want of clothing, des.tuts of all
"the neoessaries of life. and condemned to endure
"inconceivsble suffering"
These eulogsts of the blessedness Of Slavery seem
TO forget thst every dollar Of property at the North
is pledged to guarantee each and all of the popula
ton against that destiuton which they describe in
such fearful terms. 1t is mistake to suppose that
the starvation of the sborer, il by any accident he
becomes unable to provide for himself 10 part Of
the free. labor system. When worst comes TO worst
the poor laborer no longer able to provide himself
with food, fuel, clothing and shelter, has but to
apply to tAe authorities, who are bound to furnish
him with all ttese necessaries a! the public expense
To the free lsborer it is no doubt spanful humilis
ton to be obliged to fall back upon this resource,
bat we spprehend that the food, clothing and
,helter afforded By the lsast inviting Northern aims
house, is fully equal to anything TO be had in the
best provided plantation negro quarters. We have
noticed that the dietsries of our Northern prisons
far surpass in variety and quite equal in plenty
the most generous allowance to be had on South
srn plantation.
A free lsbOrer redu ,ed TO the condition of pau
per, 10 certainly an uuhsppy object. Hs loses to
certain extent bis power over himself and ap-
breaches the condition of slave. Bat even in
this cor dtion while he enjoys for the time being
all the boasted advantages o. SITery in being fed
and clothed at the expense Of somebody else he
.,,o has some consultations that the slave canno.
.tnow-the pro,pect as soon as industry revives'
,f remaining his position Of freedom, sefcontrol,
and seM support. On the other hand, the Idle
slaye. of whose careless happiness we hear so
much, may find himself any day, as his owners
means di mush, put upon the auction block, SOIL 20
a trader, torn from his wife, children, aud hone'
and shipped OF TO some South Western cotton
plantation to exchange his short season of dleness
for excessive labor uuder the lasb. The Worst u n
can hsppen to a rec Northern lsbOrer is to be re-
duced temporarily to q condition of dependence IN
an aims hou,e, .uch IS may serve 10 give him an
ide. of The bOasted delights and comforts of 'er7f
tuds-delishts and comforts which he will be able
20 epi y without any apprehension Of finding him.
self shut up in slaveail as preliminary to trans
portatiOn.