New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-30

quoted by the idea that their abstinence would hay'
no weight in the scale of Anti-Slayery effort and
that Slavery is inyulnerable to oil such attacks
They ask their brethren if they have nc
testimony to bear against Slavery DIV
10 condemn il in the abstract, ana
refuse to hold slaves-if there is no power IN exam
ple. no efficacy in the plain, simple consistent testi
mony borne by abstaiping from its fruits' Iney
aeqe that such abstinence by lessening the demand
for slaye products, would improve tho comfort OIL
the slave. The testimony is unanimous that when
the prices of cotton and sugar rule high, the con.
dition of the slaves is far worse. They are then
driven TO the utmost extent their strength will per-
NIT; the mills are worked day and night; the do
nestle slave-trade becomes brisker, and families
are much oftener separated. Increased demand for
either staple causes increased prices both being the
esult Of increased consumption. Evidence Of this
state of things was given in Shareholders COnyen-
ton, held in Louisiana some years ago. in which
the question was gravely argued whether it would
not be better that is more profitable, when the
price of cotton or sugar reached certain figure
then named, to "use up" that is, work to death,
their slaves in seven years, and buy new set when
they were thus killed of, than to protract their ex-
stence few years longer by decent treatment.
The value of human snews was on this occasion
calculated to nicely. Dollars aud cents being
taken ss the basis the beginning and the end, it
was voted that it would pay best to use them up in
seven years.
The business of collecting Free-Labor goods for
sale as sucb began in Philadelphia under the
auspices of Lydia White, in I645. The movement
was subsequently consolidated into "The Free Pro-
" duce Association of Friends" composed of per-
sons residing in Pennsylvania New jersey and
Delaware, by whom a fund of several thousand !
dollars was subscribed, part being absolute dOna-
TONS and part as loans without interest," but all to
share pro rata, any losses that might be made.
This Association was not Incorporated, and much
difficulty was experienced in managing business
requiring so much personal attention, by the agency
of committees composed Of those who had daily
engagements Of their own. Individual care and
oversight being seen to be indispensable, one OF the
members was induced to undertake the whole
charge. He invested capital Of his own, and was
permitted to use, without interest, the sum already
contributed. But the difficulties to be surmounted
were sOon found to be numerous and perpexing
The task of seeking supplies of raw cotton, with
its attendant expenses, had been assumed oy the
but to procure its manufacture into
variety of fabrics to meet the wants OF famules,
involving careful bargaining and superintendence,
the solicitation of manufacturers, with the induce
ment of extra pay, and multitude OF ct caeteras,
was found to be exceedingly laboTiOus, and TO re-
quire continual additions of capital.
As the supply of Free-LabOr groceries was IN
cluded in the plan, and as Free-Labor sugar and
molasses were in those days but seldom offered in |
the Philadelphia market, great care and industry
were required to procure them. The proprietor
was even compelled to visit the Free Islands in the
West Indies, and make arrangements on the spot
for supplies. OF latter years, these articles have
been more freely imported into this country. To
secure a steady and ample supply of refined sugars,
was also great desideratum. But this could be
only by purchasing large and ncon-
venient quantity at time so as to make 1t an OBJ
ject fer the refner to keep the Free-LabOr article
separate in all its stages of manufacture. Rice was
also an indispensable article to have on hand. AT
first it was obtained by Free-Labor cultivation In
Virginia and North Carolina, but so many difficult
ties attended the process of cleaning, that East
India rice was substituted. Many other articles in
the same line demanded special attention to insure
their being the product of Free Labor. Indeed
the trials and perplexities encountered in accom-
plisbing the ends of this undertaking, would fill
small volume. Nothing short of the most cOnsci-
entous perseverance could bear up against the de-
ays the difficulties and the losses which were con-
.nually experienced.
After encountering these perplexities for years,
especially the difficulty of getting the cotton man.
fractured in different mills in this country and even
n England it was resolved to have q mill devoted
to the production of Free. Labor goods.
No sooner was this determined on, than friends to
he great enterprise were raised up in Philadelphia
md its vicinity who cOurageOusy supplied the
money to put it in operation. 1t has been nearly
i've years constantly engaged in producing yarns
from No. 80 down, sbirtings sheetings, drllings,
flannel drills, printDg-clOths, gingtams, furniture
check, Summer stuffs in great variety, cambrics.
paper muslins, cheese swathings, denims, ticking,
table damasks on jacquard looms, some Of which
are of elaborate and exquisitely finished patterns,
cotton and wool, Kentucky jeans, satinets, cash
nerets, and cotton-warp fannels. In addition
10 this great variety of fabrics yarns are made for
Wicking, knitting hosiery, and for warps, with
cotton laps. The raw cotton is the growth of
Texas, the product of that noble leayen of German
Freedom which has there entered into possession.
Some also is produced by small planters in other