New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-05
orted it would be rsohosen. II any doubt this,
LET them just try it on.

Reopening the slave-trade with Africa ID ifoeiy
advocated by the Southern papers. Among the
most prominent in the list is The Richmond Wig.
The trade in negroes is such common one In VIZ
giria that the advocacy of its extension BY the
Journals of that State is nowse unnatural Indeed,
negroes are the most important article Of Virginia
commerce. About II, 600 Of them are sold to other
States annually. Being mostly adults, their value
does not fall short of 200 coo per aunum. This
is lucrative crop; more lucrative indeed, than any
other product Of the State. Virginias chief reSe'
nue is in fact derived from the sale of her popua'
ton. II brings more by far TO the Golfers of her
ctzens than is received from all other sources oil
production. The entire corn crop Of the State is
Lot worth over ten millions, the tobacco crop not
over four or FIVE millions, the wheat crop less thsn
ten millions. OF the corn and wheat, of course
very large proportion is Consumed on the soil. To-
baccO and negroes are thus the chief articles OF
export and they stand, as above stated say fifteen
million dollars worth of negroes, and perhaps four
millions worth Of tobacco. Add to these million
dollars worth of quadruped live stock and we
have the bulk of Virginia's exports.
In view of these facts, We have looked with some
amazement at the want Of consideration exhibited
by the spectacle Of Virginia newspaper advocat-
Ing the opening of the negro traffic with Africa.
The Wig of Richmond, familiar with the profits
of dealing in this kind of stock, very naturally
maginss that the more the State has of il the bet
ter; but, like most Southern caculstors, where
trade is concerned, il exhibits great shoItsghted
ness. According to The Hhig, Nirg gRia is short OF
laborers The high price they bring is, it argues,
evidence that they are scarce They are sold to
other States; and the way to remedy the difficulty
is to import fresh supplies from Africa. But did
il never occur to The U1ig that if Virginia may
repenish her stock Of negroes in this way, so may
the Gulf States, which now absorb Virginia sur
plus? And what then Why, that the price of
that article Of merchandise would suddenly fall
from 81 200 head to 5000. Did this very occult
view of the case never cross the mental vision of
cur respected cOtemporary' Virginia sells now
I5 900 negroes per annum, at the average rate of
81 900 head. They bring to the mother of States
end of statesmen $l5, 900, 900 per annum. Suppose
the came article batting the T. L. V. blood in
their veins, cas be drawn from DahOmey or the Ga
boon for 5000 head; what then becomes of the
fifteen millions now received and spent by the
whites of the Old Dominion?
We assure The Whig that however the reopen
ing of the slave.tradc with the African Coast may
suit the purposes of the buyers of flesh and bone,
it i'll never do for the raisers and sellers thereof
Virginia is declining and decrepit enough as things
low stand, with all annual revenue of fifteen ml-
lions from the sale Of her own sons and daughters.
Deprive her of this, and what viii become Of the
great stock growing interest there what will be-
come Of tie Virginia that we know, the great
slayehoding. slave breeding, Slayery-extending,
Slavery sustaining, Virginia Of modern times She
Will be sacrificed at blow. Her revenues, which
We now SET down at twenty millions, will then be
reduced 10 five millions. She will be driven to the
mi erabe necessity of retaining and maintaining her
own growing population. Deprived of the glorious
privilege of selling off her own children at remlner
atye prices, what will become of the miserable
remnant of prosperity that remains to that most
ancient and renowned commonwealth The Hhig
must review its conclusions touching the opening
Of the African slave trade, or we fear il will ere
long be set down as more malignant enemy of
Virginia than the most rabid AbolitOnist alive.