The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-05-22
INCREASE OF SLAVE LABOR

$50 general is the impression that the American
slave market would be Immediately glutted. il the
African slave trade were rcrpcned II scarcely bc
work of supercrogation to dwell further upon it.
Who would think of importing cargo of African
slaves, unless he was well assured of market? Who
would carry slave from Richmond TO sell in New
Orleans unless he knew there capital in the lat
ter city seeking investment in slaves and willing toI
pay price which would afford him profit? Does
not the same principle apply? Are not the parties
equally in search of mdrhi? And can market
exist unless there is capital awaiting Investment? Is
there any more likelihood of mans importing
hundred negroes without good market than of his
the same prospect! We may rest assured that, even
If all restrictions were removed no negro will ever
be imported until buyers are waiting to purchase.
| The truth is, all traffic is controlled by the same
law--thc law of profit Trade is bargain, and there
must be ut least two parties to bargain. Yet il has
been seriously asked whether one huaared Mousrai
slaves might not be imported into single state in
one year. {" the first season. What an idea Why.
at the low price of $500 cach such number would
require an investment of S2OOOOOOO The whole
south has not that much spare capital for investment
in slaves the first season. But apply the supposi
tion TO the south generally. "Snpposc the impora-
ton of the first SEASON. to reach hundred thou
sand in each of the southern states, and the ira
dcrs to demand the highest market pricc"-wat
amount Of capital would be invested that . season.
Fourteen states, at $50 600 900 each would make up
the sum of $3.50 100000 for 1,IO0O0o negroes This
would require fleet of two thousand three hundred
vessels of 800 tons, and twenty thousand scamcn
each vessel making two voyages foJ the q" season. -
But even this does not come up TO the cStravngant
! estimate which has been put upon the number Of
Africans which it will be necessary TO import FOR the
1 attainment Of any given end" 1t is apprchcndid
that "thc depressing effect of such importat on would
be much greater than is expressed by simple artl
mctical ratio" After the most astute arithmetic in
vcstgation the mighty cqcqtus has been invoked A.
the most suitable instrument Of investigation, aud
the problem is solved either by leaving everything
to time or else importing ZEN mHons of dfricaR btrba
rans, whose very diseases shock our refined scnsbl
itcs! This stupendous importation would give en-
Iployment TO the aforementioned commercial marine
for eight years. and drain Africa Of fourth Of her
slaves. The idea is too grand ever TO be realized
Apply it to the test Of actual experience.
What is the largest amount Of slaves crrt kHora to
have been exported from Africa in given year
Does it approach 100000 still less l.l00 900 In
one huldred years, ending with 1907, so far as can
be asccrtained, there not 100 900 imported into
this country, which is less than 1000 per annrm.
The largest average for any four years is less than
ten thousand And the largest number in Il single
year is less than 1000 According TO Abolition au.
thority or which, of course, gre4 allowances must
be made, say at least 30 per cent? the whole nun.
Der of slaves imported into the British Wcs; In
dies was LOO 900 and the slave trade between AZ
rca and all counfrieS has never but once reached ~
900 in year
1t is quite true that if the slave trade were legal.
lied, or if even successful system Of smuggling
were established, which would require no uncommon
ingenuity probably more slaves would be imported
than ever before. In fifty years our country las
grown. and our population and wealth increased
OF course then, there is more capital in the country
seeking investment in slave labor than there was
half century ago, when but little cotton was raised
our fathers all tainted with Abolition .crupcs.
and had weak stomach at the thought of n native
African. But the laws of trade and the nature of
man, both white and black, bavc not changed in that
| time.
We can put "Quashee' to work with even less
compunction than our fathers did, for the DIUcuds
have had decidedly tonic effect and Quaslce"
himself will work with better will now than for
merly. He will find better examples set him. and
bacon and homcspun are more abundant In Il sin
gle word it still requires money TO buy slaves they
will not be imported when the money gives out the
slave market is not more liable to bc guted than
any other and slave labor is not likely ever to be
as some fear, " an incubus upon the country"
One limit, then, to the importation ofsavcs, being
the amount Of capital the country seeking invest.
mont in such property, there are three Others to
which BRIEF reference will be made the consump
ton of slave produce, the number obtainable in AZ
RIGA and the number exported from Virginia, North
Carolina and other older southern states.
If the consummer does not buy produce, the plan
ter cannot sell it, If the planter cannot sell his pro-
ducc he can have money TO buy slaves If there
is no money to buy slaves, none viii be imported
Was it ever feared that too many poughs would be
made, or too many horses would be raised, or too
many steam engines built? Did the most rigid econ.
omis ever dread the importation of too much clothing
too much food, or the means of obtaining them Too
much abor9 That the demands of capital for addt-
honal lbor must be governed by the consumptive de-