Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-01-12
SPEECH OF MIR. SPRATT,
OF CHARLESTON,


OF CHARLESTON,
In the House of Representatives, at tile last Ses
sion Of tile Legislature, in support Of hi
Resolutions on Re Re.openingIof tile Slapt
Trade
Mr.. SPEAKER: In advance of discussion on
the resolutions have had the honor to present
if they be discussed, would ask the indulgence
ofthe House whilef state little more at length
their aim and purport.
1t will be seen that they do not propose a
further Importation of foreign slaves. Upon the
propriety of that measure there well may be a
diversity of opinion, and as it is measure which
the South shall be in condition to act for
themselves upon The subject. tits enough for
the present to consider of the Importance of
emancipating slavery from the control of Con-
gress, while we lenye that question of ulterior
policy to the time Ehen it will come in proper
order for investigation. 1t would be but fair to
say, however, that even in reference to that
ulterior polcy1 cab have little question; and
that. ifrestpctions by the General Government
should be removed would certainly oppose
convinced that theioreign slave trade, and that
South and it will not be out of place, perhaps,
even on the speciaEquestion now before us, to
briefly state the grdinds of that conviction. In
the first place, conceive that it is the only
road to political power and that without politi-
cal power there is mo security for social and
political rights. l..
By reference to tie census returns of 1908, it
will be seen that the slave and hircling States
were equal in number and nearly equal in popu-'
lation. Since that time no slaves have come TO
the South, but since that time five millions
foreigners have come to the North; and while,
therefore, the South :at present has but fifteen
States and ten millions people, the North has
seventeen States and sixteen millions people,
and an increase or least three hundred thou
sand per annum from abroad. In view of these
facts, it would seem certain that the South has
; come to be at the mercy of the North in Legis-
ylstion, and that these restrictions have been the
Gapses oft. q
But, Us equality was lost to the South by the
Suppression of the slave trade, SO would it seem
thtthe slave trade would Of necessity restore
it. That trade re-opened, slaves would come,
If nGtp the sea-board, at least to the Western
froneet, and for alkYlo come, there would bea
directincreasc of representation in the National
Legislature. Therewoud also be broader base
for theruling race to stand on three millions
five huiSlred thousand slaves support six millions
masters bow. Stillmore would give broader
basis for Still more, and every slave that comes,
therefore, might be said to bring his master with
him and thus to addmore than twice his polit-
-a2sEal,,e s.k>nne aG-
Bhtfo political power there is a necessity l0I
States 1s well as men, and slaves woul,l quite q:
surely give them to us. Ten thousand masters
have failed to take Kansas, but SO would not
have failed ten thousand slaves. Ten thousand
of tho tudest Africans that ever set their feet
upon our shores, imported ifnecd be, in Boston
ships md under Boston slave drivers would have
sweptthe Freesoil party from that land. There
is not kn Aboltionist there who would not have
purchased slave at a price approaching the
costs q Importation and so purchasing a slave,
there's not an Abolitionist there who would
not hive become as strong propasandist OF
slaveT as ever lived. As they would have
TAKEN Kansas, so if imported freely, would they
take scry Territory offered to the West. And
thus in giving States and population to the
Sont9 it is reasonably certain that it is within
the paEer Of those rude: untutored savascs to
decide this great political question, to restore
the Smth to power, and, perhaps, to save this
Union
Ashley give road to power for the South,
so, alS, l have thous they give the only road.
10 aaincrease Of power there must be popula-
tion Ind Of such n population as is necessary to
extend the institutions of the South, there is no
othersource than Africa. Europeans will not
comet They would come to enterprises in con-
nectidl with slave labor, if these were possible
but tEey will not come to competition with our
slaves and while, therefore, they come in mil
lions 10 the North, they will not come to us.
But if they should, it is to be feared they
wouls not come to strengthen us, or to extend
slayey, but to exclude the slave. If slaves
were abundant, there would be officers Of d;rec-
ton ito which the foreigner could come-if
theyHwcre cheap enough to be employed in
competition with European operatives in the
arts, there would be opportunities of enterprise
to which the foreigner could come, but not so
abulsaant and so cheap the hireling only comes
to @mpetition with them, and to their eXclu-
siona therefore, and thus it is that from Mary
landsand Delaware, and from the Northern
counties of Virginia, and from Baltimore, Rich
inoha; Charleston Mobile, New Orleans and st.
LouR, Slaves have been driven from almost all
the anployments TO which they were ever ac-
custdmed and have been sent in thousands to
the rIfal districts Of the further South. Through
ASt
the South. Without slaves enough for combina-
tion5they would Aboliionizc the States they
came to strengthen, and would break the very
centres Of our institution. But grant the con-
dition Of abundant slaves at prices to be used in
trade and we could draw an army of defenders
from every State in Europe.
As the foreign slave trade would give poti-
rafP9wer to the South, so, also; would it give
preAerty and progress. There is one thing at
The South, the Importance Of Which | think Is
not sufficiently estimated, and that, is The want
@oppoluniy. When slaves are offered in our
markets, they are competed for By planters from
the South and West. TO us they arc worth
what the lines of business open to them lcrr
will justify; to planters from the South and
West, they are worth the price that is justified
bye!sht bales of cotton per annuin, at fifty dol
lars per bale. AT such prices they can hardly
unemployed oiiishter landSin the older States:
a Such pFile5- Can Nneysr be employed by
!ta,lsssssp n compeiliion Will pauper labor else
Wlefr The higher prices Of labor raise the
price oipntisions upon artisans and operatives
That still imore increases the charges upon me,
clailcaLehployments there thus comes to be
no marslnl between tue costs Of labor and the
y'ue Of 44moductS-and no opportunity, there
fore, III Culinary lines of busincss2 Without
such opportunity, there is no atlsancement Du
p~puatioa Without advancement,in in population
there is noprolit in lines Of railroads and steam,
boats naaacrcae in the value Of lands and
other Pr"tAhent property; and SO it is, there.
fore, that 6sond The cultivation of tue soil and
tue sale aliatral'sportatiun Of its products TO q
foreign .1naffst it is hard to say what businc S
tLere IS i'll Which enterprise and capital can be
mye"'ed wifi tue certainty of success; and
while We tegn with enterprise, while we pour
millions intosnndertakngs that never pay. and