The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
WASHINGTON, D. G..
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1859.
FREE NEGROES.

r
tunity of furnishing up the letters Of Slavery,
recently contained the following paragraph:
"It is a fact, according to Census Compen-
dunn quoted by Wilberforce,' that the colored
population of New England and New York
was 1858 in 1910, only ", 900 in lS5O-show-
ing decrease in ten years of 598. 1t Is fact
that, in all the free States and Territories,
taken together, the colored population in the
same ten years increased from III 1857 to
l96, $50, or l4.38 per cent. and that IN all the
slayeholding States the free colored popula-
ton increased only about per cent. Ii is a
fact that, within the same period, the slave
population of the United States increased from
2,487, AS to 3,204,3l3, or 1882 per cent. (just
double the ratio Of the eolored population of
the free States) 1t is fact that the whole
population ofthe United States, within the same
period increased from IA, 1876 695 to ,553, 068,
or 37.74 percent. 1t is a fact, an aggregate of
less than 100000 slaves imported into the Uni
ted States since the first settlement of the coun-
try, see Census Compendium, page 83-4, have
increased to 3,638,808, including those now
free. In other words, there are nine colored
persons now, for every one imported. 1t is a
fact, (see Carey on the Slave Trade, and Cen
sus Compendium, page 1874, that 100000 ne
groes imported into Jamaica prior to 1917 had
diminished to less than half that number in
1888, including free colored persons and that
of 100000 negroes imported int the whole
British West Indies in the course Of years, only
100000 remained to be emancipated in 1888.
Add for free colored persons 100000, and we
have total of 1000 survivors, from stock
of 100000. Surely if Englishmen, after kill
ing off and utterly annihilating a million ne
groes, besides perhaps half as many more who
haA IN fha hau
thing to say about Slavery to Americans, who,
from a stock of less than 100000 slaves i'm
ported, can now show, of their descendants,
1858, 808, it should be said in tone of deep
humiliation and reimbursement"
We will add few facts to the list above re-
cited by the Journal Of Commerce. 1t is a
fact, that the free colored population are denied
equal political privileges in every State of the
Union, either practically or theoretically. 1t is
a fact, that they are social outcasts in all the
States. 1t is fact, that the white working
classes in the free States combine against the
colored population, and refuse to allow them
the privilege of laboring with their own hands,
at any of the more lucrative and honorable me.
chanical pursuits. 1t is fact, that colored
laborers are mobbed and pushed aside by
white laborers, wherever they would undertake
| apro6tabe job. 1t is fact, therefore, that
tyNpny, political and social, of the most ter
rible kinda tyranny which denies the poor
privileSe of labor-prevents the free negro from
improving his condition, and to great extent
from making his bread
1t is a FAC, that, in consequence of this
! tyranny, the fire negro has no stimulant to his
enterprise or inhibition; and if he has talent
and genius forthe hishAai- art or occupatiop.
he must hideiAem from the public view. Itis
a fact that tbs political and social tyranny is
mainly upheld by the party to which the Jour
nal Of /0D,merce belongs, though all parties
are n,<e or less culpabe.
It's well-settled fact, recognised by politi-
csyeconOmists, that the increase of population
4 dependent upon the abundance of food and
profitable employment which is TO be had. 1t
is fact, that the natural increase Of popula-
ton in the United States, Canada, Australia,
and other British colonies, is something like
thirty per cent. in ten years, owing to the
abundance of remunerative employment. 1t is
a fact that the rate of increase in England and
Scotland is less than half that of the countries
above named while for ten years Ireland retro
graded in population to the amount of million
and a half 1t is fact that in France and
Italy, and in many parts of Germany, popula-
ton is stationary. The same is true Of perhaps
every country in Asia, if indeed the progress is
not downwards.
Is it to be wondered at, then, that the poor
free negroes, who are more oppressed than any
Of these nations, should increase less rapidly
than other classes of society?
The Journal Of Commerce takes great pleas
ure in contrasting the increase of the free ne
gro with that of the slave population. The latter
increases twice as fast as the former. No one
doubts the increase of the slave population. 1t
is highly profitable business to breed slaves for
the Southern markets, just as horses and cattle
are bred for the same destination. The slaves
have no responsibilities for their families. Thew
have no hesitation in forming alliances, and are
not deferred by the dread of poverty. As a
general rule, they perhaps receive enough
coarse food to keep them in good condition for
work and for the rearing of children. This is
particularly the case in the more Northern
slave States, but is a good way short of the
truth in the planting States. In the former
the natural increase of the slaves, stimulated
by the high prices in the Gulf States. is far
above the standard of the white race. In the
latter, which may be called the negro.consu
ming States, the natural increase is much below
the white mans standard.
The Journal Of Commerce has a great dea
to say about religion and education in general
but omits to recognise the fact that education
is more general among the free colored peopl,
OF the North than among the poor whites of tn,
South and it is equally oblivious of the nu
merous class of facts going to show the grea
improvement in the condition of the free ne
groes which has taken place within twent
years. They are becoming more selfreliant
are accommodating property, are building
churches, school-houses, and colleges. And a
the fruit of these efforts, we have seen quite
number of colored men raise their heads abov
the common level, by their talents as preachers
popular orators, and journalists, by their inyen
tons, by their learning, and by their skill an,
science as physicians.
These are facts which the Journal of Com
MERGE seems not to appreciate, and yet they ar
indisputable. They are facts which. if uree
upon the public attention, would go far to r,
move the wicked and cruel prejudice which !
built on the false assumption that the negro
NJ
\ incapable OF high civilization and civil libe
to and the Journal is not willing tn offepd N
.ass 'hri : represents by recognising then
tele IS her great fact bearing ON IN