Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-09-28
Figures Lying about Sla4.ry

It is said that figures never lie. and
We suppose that it twas In view. Eof this
aphorism that the Augusta. Ca, Dis
patch prepared its recent article to show
that slavery is not safe in Virginia
against the Frse-seil tendencies eli her
own population The whole argument
Epf figures amounts simply ID tlis---that
because there are id Virginia two whites
to one negro, therefore slavery IS upon an
insecure basis in the State, Sach IS tha
logic Of the Dispatch, and we submit that
Iit IS altogether delhsory. Why, Ii as
Esumes as true whatEwe have before Prov
len to- be- false--that the whites of the
State who do not hold slaves are opposed
Ito slavery, Nothing could be more fall
lacious. Slavery has no warmer advo-
Gates sud defenders THAN Virginians who
have never owned aislave, and such is the
fact with most ofthe 37p. 600 whites who
live west of the BlueI Ride. Whoever
may say otherwise we affirm that the
people Of WesterdI Virginia ale, true as
flint to the insulation oflSlavery, and are
becoming every day more and more iden-
tilted with and attaehedEto it.. The rail-
roads Of the East, penetrating he noun
tains effhe West, have brought the two
sections nearer together, and they are
acting andre acting upon each other
beautifully A few years earlier, this
might have tended 10 weaken THE slavery
feeling in both sections but now, So great
has been the change inI public opinion
here, it operates to indoetrinate the West
with that deep attachment to the patfiiar-
.ehal institution which IS felt universally
inthe East and Valley. TideTWater OF
Piedmont Virginia. is no safer Oh this
slavery issue than the Valley and Trans
Alleghany, aud when Virginia becomes
Pfee.soil Georgia viii be ready to follow
suit.
As totho fact adauced. to show that
even the East is tainted with this free
soil infention, we say nothing. II is
very much to be regretted that even i
colorado pretext has been given for the
use ofsuch language as follows:
There is paper. Published in he city Of
Richmond, HE grea slave mart ofg the State,
WhlcH pdPEIs processing 10 De I1em0cratlc,
gives frequent vent I'd sentime ntsleqaalIy as
obnoxious AS any ever uttered byCassius NJ.
Clay, or the notorious Logeioy who met his
deserts several years since Weatook occa-
sion to allude to this Sheet some weeks since.
It's editor,th son ofSa high oiIicial In the
State, boldly asserts that Yirgmia,s interests
are freesgi- In our opinion he Who poisols
the mind Of white man. on the subject Of
slavery. is faf more euIpabfe than he who
campers with a few negroes. The reasons OF
this opinion will cccqr to every mind. We
subrnitwhether it can be said that slavery Is
gaining ground in al original slave State,
when influential papers declare that, in tile
event Of disunion, the State ought to jim the
free confederacY. Iflpublie sentiment to1er-
ates such diapers and their editors, is public
sentiment sound there
We protest against any inference from
such premises, nnfarorable to the people
of Virginia They are not responsible.
for the conduct Of those who have given
occasion for such laaguage /; they donot
sympathizs with or endorse the views of
such person, land hear with amasement
and wonder that such impressions have
been made upon the Southern mind. IT
isano fauNlof ours. and We take none of
The responsibility.