Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-06-15

than a quarter less than that Of slavery. In
happiness of climate, adapted 10 productions
Of special value in exhaustless motive pswor
distributed throughout les space in natural
highways, by moro than fifty nayigablo rivers,
never closed by the rigors Of winters, and in
a stretch of coast along ocean and gulf, in
dentcd by hospitabe harbors-the whole pre-
sentng Incompatible advantages for that true
civilization whore agriculture, manufactures,
and commerce, both domestic and foreign,
blend-in all these respects the slave States
excel tho free States. whose climate is often
churlish, whose motive power is less various,
whose navigable rivers arc fewer and often
sealed by ice, and whose coast, while less in
extent and with fewer harbors is often peril
Gus from storm and cold.
But slavery plays the part OF harpy, and
deflcs the choicest banquet Sec what it does
with the territory, thus spacious and fair.
An important indication Of prosperity is to
be found in the growth of population. In this
respect the two regions started equal. In 1890,
at the first census under the Constitution, the
population Of the present slave States was
l,9Gl,372 of the present free States 1861
4j5, showing difference of only 1888 in fa-
vor Of the free States This difference. at first
merely nominal, has been constantly increas-
ing since, showing itself more strongly in each
decennia census until in 1850, the popula-
ton Of the slave States, swollen by the annex
alton Of three foreign erritories-Lousiana,
Florida and Texas--was only 9,6l2. 760, while
that of the free States without any such an
nexations, reached IS, 3,43l,922, showing diff
ference Of 1922 1873 in favor Of freedom. But
this difference becomes still more remarkable,
il we confne our inquiries to the white popu-
lation, which, at this period, was only 6, 6,ls4,-
~ in tho slave States while it was l323S,-
GO in the free States, showing difference of
more than 7,O5f,193 in favor of freedom, and
showing that the white population of the free
states had not only doubled but commenced
to triple that Of the slave States, although oc-
cupying smaller territory. The comparative
sparseness Of the two populations furnishes
another illustration. In the slave States tho
average number of inhabitants to a square
mile was ll.2s, while IN the free States it
was 2l.03, or almost two to one in favor Of
freedom.
These results are general; but if we take
any particular slave State and compare it with
free State, we shall find the same constant
evidence of freedom. Take Virginia, with a
territory Of 81 ,3j2 miles, and New York, with
a territory Of $1,000, or over If, 900 square
miles less than her sister State. New York
New York has one noble river Virginia has
several Now York for 400 miles runs along
the frozen line of Canada Virginia basks in
a climate of constant felicity But freedom is
better than climate, rivers. or seaport
In 1870 the population of Virginia was
7iS,30S, and in 1850 it was ,42l ,6Gl. In
1890, the population Of New York was 3l0,-
100, and in 1850 it was 3O97, ,394; that of
Virginia had not doubled in sixty years, while
that of New York had multiplied more than
ninc-fold. A similar comparison may be made
between Kentucky. with 81, $50 square miles.
admitted into the Union as long ago as 1890,
and Ohio, with 39,96f square miles, admitted
into the Union in 1902. In 1850, that slave
State had population Of only 9S2 40j, while
Ohio had population Of only 1880, ,320,
showing a difference of nearly million in fa-
vor Of freedom
As in population, so also in tho valae of
property, real and personal, do the Free States
excel the slave States. According to the CEN
sus of 1850, the value of property in the free
States was 7,162. 1873, while in the
slave States it was 81, ,93G, 900, 1877; or, if wo
deduct the asserted property in human flesh,
only $ ,655 ,915, ,l37-showing an enormous
difference Of billions in favor of freedom. In
the free States the valuation per acre was
SlO.47, in the slave States only 1854 This
disproportion was still greater in 1855, ac-
cording to the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, when the valuation of the free
States was S5.77O, 1874 $50; or Sl4.72 per
acre and of the slave States, S3.977,353.-
9i6 or, if we deduct the asserted property
in human flesh, 81, sos. / 81, ,346, or 81. SO per
acre Thus, in five years from 1850, the val
uation Of property in the free States received
an increase of more than the whole accumu-
lated valuation of the slave States at that
time.
Looking at details, We find the same dis
Arkansas and Michigan. equal
in territory, were admitted into the Union in
the same year; and yet, in 1855, the whole
valuation of Arkansas, including its asserted
property in human flesh, was only $64,24O,
l26' while that of Michigan. without a single
slave, was Sll6,503,jS0. The whole accu-
nuated valuation Of all the slave States, de-
iucting the asserted property in human flesh,
in 1850, was only 81 ,655, 1877 but the
valuation Of New York alone, in 1856 reach
I'd the nearly equal sum of 81 4Ol. .2s5,279.
The valuation of Virginia, North and South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Texas, all
together, in 1880 deducting human flesh,
vas 1913, $50 $50, or simply Sl.Sl per acre
being less than that of Massachusetts, alone.
which was S573,3I2, ,2S6, or Sl14.S5 per acre.
The slave States boast of agri, uitarep but
Icro again, notwithstanding their superior
natural advantages, they must yield to tho
rec states at every point, in the number of
arms and plantations, in the number of acres
If improved lands, in the cash value of farms,
"a the average value per acre, and in the value
# farming implements and machinery Here
a short table.
Free Siates.-Number of farms, s77,736;
ercs of improved land, $57 7,Gss, ,OiO cash
aIuo Of farms, $2,l13,3l1,l3 average val
o per acre, Si9.83; valuc Of farming inn
lcmcnts, $50 73G, ,656.
SLAM Sntcs.-Numbcr Of farms. 5Gf ,2O3;
'ros of improved Land, 5497O,i27; cash
aluo OF farms, Sl,ll7Gl0,6i0 average val
G per acre, S6.l6; value Of farming implc-
leuts, SG5,3i5,I25.
Such is the mighty contrast, But it does
OF stop here Careful tables place tho agri-
ultura products Of the free States, for tho
ear ending June, 1850, at Ss5s ,G3i.33f,
hIe those of the slave States were S63l,-
5Iil7; the product per acre in the free
,atcs at S7gi aud the product nor nero in