The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-08-27
From the Cincinnati Gazette
The Next Census-Its Bearing upon
Slavery, and upon the movements Of

ol8VSry, anu upon Iue movements VI
our Population.
If what now seem to be reasonable antici-
pations, should prove to be correct, the next
census will present an argument against
Slavery which will compel attention at the
South as well as at the North, an argument
which no sophistry can evade, and no denial
brook the force Of, that will show the empti.
ness OF all threats of disunion, and exhibit
the boastful slave-power weak and depend
ent-stripped alike of its pretensions, and
ito controlling influence. In the calculations
which we propose to lay before our readers,
we will confDe ourselves to the white popu.
lation, Cor notwithstanding the political in
Auence which the master derives from his
slaves, as an element of real power, as q
means Of growth and progress, the slaves are
of little more importance than the cattle
themselves, and there is as much propriety
in predicating vote upon the ox,as upon the
human chattel that drives him. In 1850, the
white population of the North was Is, 1886
against 6,lS4477 in the Slave States, and
notwithstanding the votes given for the slaves,
the relative power of the North was greater
than these Agures indicate, because of the
more general education, and the great
er intellectual activity of her people. The
population of Illinois, in 1850, was SAC, O34,
and Of Indiana, 977, I54 Now, Illinois est.
mates her peorle at 100000 and it is be-
lieved that Indiana is about equal in popula.
ton to Virginia. These are significant
statements, for other Western States and Ter
ritories have made, since 1850, at least an
equal progress, and it is quite certain that no
result even approximating to this will be
show in returns from any one of the Slave
States except Texas and Missouri, and when
the character of the emigration to these 10
considered it will appear that very large
proportion of it must be counted for freedom.
so that their growth has weakened instead of
strengthening the slave>power What, then,
10 the probable condition of things which the
next census will reveal We are aware that
made at this time can only APP
proximate the truth; still, We think the esti-
mates we present are sufficiently accurate
to warrant a general inference.
We think, that the report of 1860, if we
include that portion OF the population Of Mis-
souri, and Texas which sympathizes with free l
Institutions, will show nearly twenty millions
as the strength ofthe North, against the eight
millions Of whites in the Slave States, except
ing proportions of Texas and Missouri as
before stated And this proportion of eight
to twenty will by no means exhibit the actual
relative strength Of the two divisions; for the
wealth and the intelligence, the activity, the
enterprise, the skill, the power of machinery,
the ability to create wealth, the influence of
great cities, these are all in favor of the |
North far beyond the ratio of population.-l
Whoever will take the trouble to trace out
some Of the direct consequences of this I'M
equal development of the Free States, and will |
the number of representative and
llectoral votes which the North and the South |
will be respectively entitled to, after the
next census, will see, we think that it will |
settle beyond dispute or recall, every great
question in regard to Slavery, and the whole
subject will very soon assume entirely new |
aspects and relations The political scepter |
is already smitten from the hand of the slave |
power. and the coming census will be pub |
lie official announcing that it has abdicated |
ts throne The ambitious politician must
heneeforth u his eye upon the North, and |
mark the beat Of the pulse of freedom. The |
premonitions Of this charge are becoming
more marked and significant, and when In |
he report Of the next reckoning of our PEG.
Die, the North shall behold her overpowering
strength, and the South shall see her compar.
tive weakness displayed, the tone and the
,Ollcy Of both sections will be materially
hanged
Bat whatever the temper or aims of the
,reat division Of the country may be from
hat time it is at least quite certain that there
will be abundant food for serious thought
I will then be seen that after an experiment
t something more than three quarters Of q
entury, the North which started at q disad-
antage 10 several important respects, has,
it'll her free Institutions, reached to about
vice and q half the white population Of the
Outh with her slave system, and that the
rec States have bar more than this proper
ON Of wealth. and every other element oil
reatness. 1t will then be for the North to
onsider, whether, with the political power
,mpletely in hsr own hands, she will suficr
ID government to be controlled hereafter a.
has hitherto been, BY every insssest and
ZEN caprice Of the South, or whether that
,licy, which alone can make the union truly
'osperous and great, shall henceforth be ;
eadily pursued Il will then, also, be i'm. !
,ltant for the Slave States to consider and
'oide whether they win still cling 70 .
stsm which has progressed andhindersd their
pgreaaion ON every side, which has brought
'9n Diem Wsaln&ss and disgracs, or whsth.
they viii sssk some method Of recovery
NJ psQlHona