New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-03
FREE LABOR Or THE sLAvE.TRADE.


Wisr-through the seasOnable arrival at Harpers
Ferry OF detachment of United States Marines
the institution Of Slavery in Virginia has escaped
the sudden and speedy destruction with which John
Brown had designed to oycrwhelm it. But this
escape. if we arr to believe the Virginia newspapers
il only for the moment The institution OF Slavery
in that State is undergoing process OF destruc-
ton, if somewhat gradual, al least sure. III
John Brown could have had little patience he
nigh. have saved his life and spared bis pains.
There il no occasion for resorting to the violent
method which he sought to put in practice Indeed,
We are ASSURED By IN, Richmond Ev7u'rer, the
orean Of Gov Wise, that all along the northern
border Of Virginia, in Fairfax, Loudon,
Jefferson, BerkeIey Morgan, Hampshire, and
similarly situated counties, Slavery Is already
practically abolished. In those counties II IL an IN
s,i.uton. so We are told not much sustained by
the sanction of law, as preserved by the voluntary
suferance of the slaves Themselves. This state OF
things The Eaqu,rcr aScribes to what it calls the
operation of Federal non-interveniiOn, that Is to
say, the failure of the Federal Government to re-
store runaway slaves To their masters. According
TO TIE Enquirer, if the negroes OF Harpers Ferry
and its neighborhoOd did not rally to Browns
standard it was not because they are satisfied with
Slavery, but because they already practically
free They were unwilling to risk the consequence
of "a conflict which even if successful would confer
10 benefit greater than they already enjoyed the
privilege, 10 wit, of any moment, hat in hand bid
ding adieu to their masters and decamping to Penn
sylvania, quite beyond the reach Of reclamation or
recovery In all Northern Virginia, are assured,
no law euforccs obedience, no authority OF the
master compels labor, since to insist upon either
results in the certain loss of the slave, who remains
in the State only so long rs it suits him to do so.
The only yestige of his former authority left to the
master is that of converting the negro into money
by stealthy disposng of him TO some slave-trader,
who carries him off to the South. White labor
steps into the place of these deported slaves. and.
n the language of The Enguror. "posons the very
life.blood OF Slavery in Virginia. eating into its
'yery vitals like loathsome cancer
That journal seems TO think that vigorous en-
forcement of the Fugitive Slave Law might save
Virginia from that encroachment OF Free Labor
which If regards with SO much loathing aud abh0r-
renee. But tn, DanriUe Transcript, another Viz
giua paper. shows that this dreaded encroachment
of Free Labor is mainly due to quite another
canse-a cause which affects not merely the border
counties. but the entire State. This cause Is the
high price of slaves, which within few years has
mere than doubled. Ten years ago q prime hand
sold for $3.50; now he will bring $500
Then. in estimating the value of a large
number of negroes, 1926 was assumed as
the average valuation per head Thai. valuation is
now twice as great. Agriculture in Virginia is not
sufficiently renuneratye 10 enable the farmers 70
pay these high prices, or 70 compete with thc cot
ton-planters in the slave market. Hence result
10 be seen not merely in the northern tier OF couD
ties. but everywhere in the State: wherever and
Whenever slaves to be sold. they almost ceI-
tain 10 BE- bought by the negro-traders and trans
ported ut once 10 the cotton-Towing States of the
South Under the operation of this system there Is
every reason 10 believe that the next census will
show, as compared with the last, decided dimlnu-
ton 10 the number of slaves held in the State. But,
while negro labor is thus diminishing, the demand
for labor in Virginia Is constantly growing. The
extensive system Of public improvements still going
on in that State, not only employs large number
OF laborers, but by opening facilities for market
il constantly opens new avenues 10 the profit
able employment of labor Within the few past
years the processes Of agriculture in Virginia have
been greatly improved The same has been the
case with other industrial pursuits. With this i'm
provement comes inevitably an increased demand
for labor. White labor must come in to supply the
gap. The real danger Of the slave system of
Virginia is not from the North but from the South.
Ii s the Southern cOton-helds that are constantly
draining Virginia of her slave labor, and opening
the way for that influx OF free labor which some of
her journals seem TO regard as so terrible cal.
amity.
What change has come over the spirit of Viz
snia since the days OF her great member Wash.
nstons. her Jefersons, her Madisons. her Nonroas,
Then the great problem was, how to get rid of
Slavery. Now the problem is, how to retain il.
Then this opening for getting rid of the slaves would
have been regarded with hope and pleasure. Now
be draining of Of the slave population is deplored
as the greatest Of calamities.
There il bu. one means BY which this drain can
b. stopped. and that means il the revival of the
African slavr-trade. 1t is Only b. giving the cotton.
growing States so opportunity to obtain cheap
negro labor from Africa that this perpetual drain
upon Virginia can be stopped. The public mind
throughout the South IS rapidly preparing itself for