Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16
SLAVERY NO IMPEDIMENT TO IMMIGRA
TON.

Wecsnnot too strongly disapprove the habit into
which some of our politicians have fallen, OF throw
inp upon ssve-propartY the burden OF every obJec
ton which they may entertain against proposed mea
sures of intellectual or material advancement. We
have vet TO discover the 6rst instance in which such
q theory admits of specific justification, while the
theoretical deductions Themselves serve no practice
purpose except to furnish abolition dissemioators
With specous arguments against the institution Of
alayery Such 10 the whole extent of the effect rs
hitherto developed. But there s even a more dan,
eerous tendency manifested by this oneidea system
Of political discussion, that it may ultimately serve
to create an unnecessary prejudice against slavery in
the minds of earnest advocates of reform and ad-
vsncement, whose legitimate views and objects are
continually ihwarted by Juggling the slavery ques.
ton into matsrs with which it has just connection
While It is impossible to enumerate oil the instances
in which this 10 attempted the citation OF few may
not be insufficient to illustrate and give emphasis to
our meaning.
1t has been frequently urged by the politicians
of the Keitt school, as well by more conservative
statesmen, that universal suffrage is dangerous to
the existence of slavery. The extension Of primary
education by system Of schools iostered by State
patronage, has been subjected to the same roproach
The doctrine Of religious federation has been similar
iy impugned. The naturalization laws have been
assailsd on the same ground. The encouragement
and extension of manufactures have met with the
same objection. Foreign commerce has not been
exempted from this species Of opposition, which has
also been more frequently and speciously urged
against the development Of internal trade by means
OF great system Of canals and railroads.
In every instance adduced, the attempt to antago
Mise dave property to ooexisting rights is utterly fall
lsoious,-in none more than in the instance last
sdverted to. And We are sincerely Rrati6ed to re
ooense the efforts of prominent men in midst to
expose and denounce such dangerous fsllscy. We
quote the following sentence from the speech recently
delivered In the Senate by Mr. Bruce, of Charlotte
Sir, I have always considered it libel upon
slavery, the assertion that save-hoiding State is
not susceptible Of every form Of development. and
especially that it is incapable Of attaining com
meroial power"
Mr.. Bruce right. Slavery a 1t exists in Virginia.
IL not sicky institution to be cultivated bya Chinese
policy Of intercourse with foreign nations, or by
the repression of Internal trade. Nor is it artificial
system, dependent upon arbitrary enforcement, and
Inconsistent With the other elements of national adj
vancemsnt. Its great Recommendation and benefit
arise from III entire adaptation to natural and Divine
lsws-snd like every other institution founded in the
Law of nature and revelation, 1t gathers strength
from immediate connection with the most enlarged
extension Of civil liberty, with the dissemination Of
knowledge, the increase of population, and every
form Of industrial and commercial development.
But while Mr.. Bruce has avoided the gros fallacy
of denying these unavoidable ooncusions he seems
uuoonsciousy 70 have fallen in with some Of the de.
duotens drawn from the same erroneous theory.
Referring to the drain Of slave labor from Virginia
to supply the lnoreasing demand at the South. Mr..
slaves, afforded BY our rail road connections with the
more Southern States, thus occasion an injury to
own interests moro than commemorate With the bsne
fits derived from the Southern lines of rail road.
Without psusiug to consider the issue hese raised
in all the various phases in which it may be present
ed Nc may sdvsrt to the fact that this emigration Of
slaves from Virginia, does not find Ito origin in the
establishment Of rail roads. Although rail roads fur.
nsh increased facilities for transportation, and may
thus have increased an already existing tide of emi
grafton from Virginia, It is not to the rail roads them
selves that We must look for the causes Of its origin
And the suppression Of the rail roads would furnish
no sufficient check to is continuance. nor can any
reasonable calculation demonstrate that further encou.
rasems.t to our Southern rail roads, would be attended
with an alarming increase Of slave expectation. 1t ia
sso evident that the means Of prevention suggested
BY Mr.. Bruos-that of prohibiting the export Of
slsves-b entirely upracticsble. even were it not Of
questionable expedisucy.
These, however. are mere incidental considerations,
into which Mr. Bruce has been led in the discussion
of the paramount question of the development OF
our material and the consequent apprecia-
tion Of the value Of slave labor in Virginia. He
Justly refers The present reduced value of slaves in
Virginia compared with their value further South,
to the dnost exclusively agricultural status Of our