The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-04-15
COMMUNICATED


COMMUNICATED
THE DOMESTIC LABOR OF RrcHxoyp
This, Mr. r..Eiitor, is an humble theme, and vet
there are few subjects which more directly and
Immediately concern our social happiness and
prosperity. 1t is therefore we'll worthy of our
serious consideration. It will not be questioned
that is to ths interest of our CITY TO h.ve cheap
and efficient labor, aud that its Iaboriug class
should bear its own burdens. The fact must be
admitted by ALL that our present labor is extreya
gantiy high aud 50 rsrati0nsly inefficient that it
cannot much longer be borne with: while We have
TO pear all ITS burdens. IL becomes Us therefore
10 Inquire into the causes of the present condi.
the evil.
We are now mainly dependent for our labor
upon htfed slaves; much more 80 than. formerly
me relation of master and slave. with it's con-
tfoiiing and amelorating influences, exists among
Us 20 very limited extent and its power is who'll
ly inappreciabIe
The iaboring class Of eyerv cou,,rv vbotbor
bond or free, must be so far under subjecion as 20
compei them to yield n ready obedience to tho
commands OF their employers; where free labor ia
employed. moral discipline. aided by a stringent
system cI laws, Is sufficient for that purpcse Rnt
1t Is not so with slave labor Slavery ia a stata Of
tnrOtnntdry SuljscttOn requiring constant c0ercio1
Neither the suppor. of the slave, nor h:s social
positiop' IS dependant upon bis moral character
ana MS obedience to his master. The slave io,es
ueither the oue nor the other by the voIat;on o1
every preceptof the decalogue, and the prossest
innieiity to every duty to his master Moral dis
cap'ne, therefore, cannot control slaves You must
Dient is the only discipline which eau cs their
suoordination and obedience 10 the dominant
race.
Now, 1T is just here, that most of our trouble
with our slaves in Richmond originates We are
dependent on slaves for our domestic labor and
we are virtually deprived Of the power to exer-
else over them that discipline which is iudispen-
sable TO enforce their obedience
Inc rapid deveiopement of the more Southern
states, the increased amount of land brought into
cultivation In our own State, and the extensive
| system OF Internal improvements which has bee,
carried on for the last twenty years. have all con-
trionted TO increase the demand for labor until it
pow greatly exceeds the supply, as is shown By
the extraVagant prices. Owners of slaves, there's
fore, now find no difficulty in obtaining employ
u.ent for them at very high prices. And with Us
the evil is greatly increased by the employment
OF agents, who are few in number, and control the
greater part of the labor of CITY, These agents
| can, and doubtless do, combine to enhance tht
prices. Their interests and their sympathies ART
with the owners, and it is their duty to obtain the
highes. possible prices for slaves entrusted te
them for hire. If the prices they demapd should
be extravagant, they have only to hold or until oul
suHerings compel us to acceds to them. And thew
can hold on without loss Inconvenience to the
owner, for believe it to be notorions fact tba,
while slaves are so kept for hire by agents, pro
vision 10 made for their food or lodging but they
are suffered to billet themselves on the citizens a,
large.
Being thus enabled readily to command their
own prices for their slaves, it soon becomes a
matter of Indifference with owners whether they
are submissive and faithful to those who birr
them, or not. They not only very soon cease to
care about their moral character, 80 long as their
purses are not effected; but false philanthropy
induces such owners to extend to their slaves every
indulgence, not Inconsistent with theirfpecuniary
interest. Tins has grown up amongst US A sys.
TEN of permitting slaves to select the person TO
whom they will be hired. Tie Rtrer must obtain
The Starcs consent 10 tire acith him. The slave is
thus made party 10 the contract, and placed in
position TO stipvlate for rights, privileges and
immunities utterly Inconsistent with the condi-
tion Of slavery, while the hirers, 20 obtain his
consent, must vie with each other in promised in
dugencies. Discipline is thus relaxed, and the
slave placed in an anomalous position, which is
neither that OF slavery nor freedom. He is nom.
inaly slave, and as sRch, has all the advantages
of the support aud protection of master, while
the power of the hirer ia coeree his obedience is
gone; and at the same time, he is exempt from
those moral restraints which state of freedom
would impose.
Ina word, this syssem, which is becoming fear
fully prevalent with rs, secures to tie slave the
support and protection incident to slavery. while
II, a. the same time, conters upon him. to yery
large e2teut the privileges and immunties of free
labor y nder such a system, it is simply imprac-
ticabe 10 enf)rce proper discipline; and tho hirer
rather than encouater the vexation and obloqny
next year, makes up his mind to bear with the
ideness, disobedieuce and even incidence of his
slave, unt the end OF the year, hoping for better
success in the future What the ultimate result CT
this system must be, it is not difficult to forete
from the fruits that We are already reapiDg from it,
Our slaves. instead of being submissive respect.
fni, cheerful contented and consderate of the in.
terests of their masters, as they formerly were
a now insolent, disobedient, discontented, idle
and utterly reckless of the interests of their aas-
ters. They indulge in all the vices of the donin~
ant race. They dress most uDbecomingly and often
most extravagantly. Silks and satins, broadcloths
and costly jewelry are far more common with
them than they wore with our grand fathers and
grand mothers. They frequent in crowds our
places of amusement-they insolently joste ogr
wives and daughters in the streete-they visit
fasbiouaby, have their separate balls and parties.
and churches aud funerals, and they are now oil
ladies and gentlemen All this has to be borne citt,
and paid for by their hirers; for out of pock-
cts must come the means to support these exirava-
gant.tastes in cur servants.
This large liberty and free indulgence have
awakened and fostered in them the desire for
still more, and made them ressiess and discontent-
ed under any restraint; while they have afforded
them the opportunity to coElbine among them
selves to secure further immunities But this is
not ALL We not only have 20 pay very high prices
for them, and to bear With their idleness and
dsobedieIce and TO pay for their extravaganza and
reCklessDess, while IN health, but We, also, have
TO support and nurse them in sickness, and pay
heavy taxes for them to the State and city. /
presume the slaves in this city subj 90 taxation
cannot fall short of ten Thousand, aud the taxes
on them at s. per head would be $1,000. This
is a moderate estimate.
This Is no fancy picture. Slave labor, as 1t now
exists here, 10 the dearest most urpro 6able, and
she most yexatious, that any people were ever
cursed with, and cannot be borne with much
longer.
TcoNcLUpEp ro-aonRaw