Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-20
For the Spectator.
Thoughts on the Renewal of the African
Slave Trade.
oNCLUDRD7

We have touched upon some of the argument
used by these foes of our Government. The
advance many others if possible more absur'
than those touched on above. Everything the
have spoken or written has, however, beel
filed with taunts and insults to the North, ant
every means by which it could possibly be in
censed against the South has been ostentatiousl,
employed. The cloud which about twenty fiv'
years ago arose in the North no bigger than 6
mans hand has covered the whole northern
horizon. Within the last few years this secont
cloud has arisen in the South which is DO les'
portentuus to Virginia and the other border
States. 1t becomes US therefore to be up and
doing, so as to prevent the storms meeting from
both points of the compass and disoharging its
fury upon us for if this incipient movement ID
not stopped, however either section is to be af-
fected, Virginia is to be ruined.
VirginiaDs know that the political and socia
existence of their State is involved in the con
tinuance of the Union, and in the Union alone
Her voice has more than once saved our glori'
GUS Republic, and if she is true to herself she
can save it again. Let her set her face against
this Slave Trade. Let our Legislature pass res
outions affirming in what adherence it is fell
by the great mother of States Let our repre-
sentatves in congress speak out the mind OF
the commonwealth. Let them introduce meas.
urss to stop the trade, already begun, cost what
it may. Ii we have to guard our coast with a
hundred cutters, let it be done; let in fine, the
whole strength of our chosen men be exertcd to
stifle this Internal commerce. Let US not wait
till the question assumes such complications that
we may be involved before we know it in dis
union and civil war. Now is the time-now is
the hour. Let US act at once. Rely upon 1t,
there has never arisen question more pregnant
with danger to the union, and consequently to
Virginia.
In the first place suppose that the Slave Trade
could be peaceably introduced into the Union
a most absurd supposition. Or suppose the un-
ion to split peaceably, and Virginia to belong to
q Southern Save-Trading confederacy-what
would be her condition. We surely should not
be suspected of ''unsoundness" to the institution
if we venture to take slight prudential view
The advocates of the Trade introduce the ques-
tion of dollars and cents as their main argument; !;
fair play is iewel-suppose we do the same.
Because of the depreciation OF money from the
Influx OF gold and the unbounded emission of
paper, $500 in our present currency is worth at
most $500 in money twenty-seven years ago,
aud $3.50 is consequently worth $75 at the same
period. Now at that lime Virginia came very
near abolishing slavery. What was the causeY
Simply this. AT able-bodied fiej-band was
then worth but $500, aud other negroes almost
nothing. The property did not pay-we were
getting poorer and poorer every year, Till we
were forced to the very brink OF abolishlng
slavery. What would have become OF Us had
negro man, instead of being worth $500, only
brought one fourth of that SUN, viz: $752
Now the advocates OF the African, traffic tell
Us that they wish to make the naaaianuna catue
of negro $3.50; so that, remembering that
money is now worth not more than one half OF
its former value, abolition would certainly fol-
low in Virginia if the price of slaves were
brought down to $3.50, equal to $75. twenty
seven years ago.
These dollars and cents are dirty things, it is
true; but somehow we can't help taking them
into consideration in questions of political e.
economy. If our friends at Knoxville and Vicks.
burg had their way, the negro now worth
3l50O would be worth $3.50, so that the Virginia
farmer now worth 100000 in slaves would
then be worth $4,000. This calculation is
based upon The value of able. e.boded field hands.
The balance of farmers force would be worth
less than nothing; for their food, clothing taxes,
and other expenses each year would amount to
far more than they would briug in market. So
that it would be the result of a correct cslcula-
ton to assert that farmer now worth 100000
in slaves would then be worth less than nothing.
The slaves of our State are now probably
worth, in round numbers, $500,000,000. We are
now as rich in Virginia as any people in the
world. Open the slave trade and we should be
the poorest for our property would De q tear.
tul expense to US, and We should have to get rid
of it somehow, or run away from our ruin
The underground rail road takes OF, say, some
1000 slaves every year from Virginia. This is
a very great grievance, but the loss of 1000 ne
groes year is drop in the bucket" compared
to the entire loss of aW our wealth. 1t is the
best evidence of the heart felt.deyotion of Vir-
ginia to the South that We yet have such az
lection for section 50 large d portion of whose
inhabitants are known to be resolved upon q
measure which would result IN our utter de-
struction, and who are certain of governing the
southern contederacy in case the Union is severed
by their Vaccinations. Let Us see how this
party talks of Virginia. 1t appears that like
most other parties, it has radical section and
conservative % one. Both have, however
kindly taken the case of Virginia into considera.
tion. The radical say that Virginia and Ken
lucky are "unsound" and must be ''mGde souDd'
How do they plan doing this2 Why, by merely
splitting the Union, reducing the value of Oul
negroes to nothing, SO that we can't sell them
and so shall be forced to keep pent up among
US an ever-increasng slave population worth
nothing. Thus the "unsound section" in spit'
OF itself will have "soundness" forced upon it,
Thus too, the border States, with inhabitants
poorer than so many leperos, will become
wall of defense for those who shall have ruined
Us.
This plan is exceedingly kind and disinterest
ed. Virginia and Kentucky can never be sui
ficiently grateful. Gould we lind out the bril-
liant personage who first broached it the Legis
atures of both States would present him
leather medal for his unselfsh ingenuity.
Now let us consider the views of the cOnserCa
tiue section of our friends. They agree with TIL
first in the assertion that Virginia is 'unsouDd,
but do not wish to force soundness upon her an'
Kentucky. They only wish to cut Oft the rot
ten members and thrust US into the arms OF tb'
North. This view shows high contempt to-
Us poor borderers, at which we feel soul sunkeD
and are as those ready to die with shame. w
have been proclaimed traitors and are to b
drummed out of camp to the tune of the Rogue
March. Moreover it shows manly confidence il
their own power; they don't need our help
not they. But stop little. What do they wisf
to do with us after our expulsion Why, tc
make the present northern line of slave states
the slaue holding border States Of the northern
contsderacy. BY thus having no abolitionizet
border to defend, they will not be pestered will
the underyround Rail Road, and can cultivate
cotton in peace.
These conservative gentlemen don't seem tc
reflect, while they charge US with being "un
truen to the South, that at the same time they
admit that we are "true" enough to be trusted
with the defense OF Southern institutions, even
after being thrust into the North on charge o.
treason to the South. Gentlemen, you thus pay
Virginia and Kentucky the greatest compliment