New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-24
SLAVERY IN DELAWARE.

Correspondence Of The N. I. Tribune
LEwEs, Del, Feb. IL, 1850.
Some facts of recent development with regard to
the traffic in slave property in Sussex County and
ia prospective influence on the institution are sug
gestive 10 the mind of text for letter treating of
the present .totus of Slavery in the most southern
county of Delaware--southern both geographically
and politically in degree-and its probable modi-
fieation in the future by means Of certain agencies
which have been operating, and still are operating
with much force, aDd still more efficiency and at
the imminent hazard Of its permanency.
Before proceediIg to demonstrate what those
ogents are that are affecting the institution In this
locality at present. and their power to qualify it in
the future, it would be proper to render ourselves
conversant with some statistics having bearing
upon The subject. When the census of 1890 was
taken, Delaware had 6,S67 slaves; In the year
1850 she had 1890; of these Sussex County had
within her borders $40; in the year lo40 she
owned ], 737; thus showing decrease of about 10
per cent from 1910 up to the subsequent census in
the county; this decrease in the per cent Is not so
great in the county in the entire State, for
while we note q decrease OF 10 per cent Ia the
former, we see decrease OF IL per cent IN the
latter. There has been but one decade OF years IN
which there has been shown an increased per cent;
this was that period between 1910 and 1920; In
this the increase was but slight. Every other
census has evidenced material decrease, varying
from ~ TO 80 per cent; and although we are in
possession of no precise data from which to Judge
of the exact number of slaves in this county at the
present moment, we will venture the declaration
that the census of the present year will develop the
fact that the decrease since the last one has been
from 80 TO 40 per cent, reducing the number of
slaves TO 900 or 1000. This proposition Is ut an
idle one, and founded on surmises, but rs based
upon careful calculations, the result OF little IN
quiry and study.
Tie fact of such a sensible diminution in the
number of slaves in this section being admittedand
il is admitted by ALT becomes an interesting sub
ect of inyestpa ion for causes that are capable OF
exertng such o marked influence over matters of
public policy, and welding weight which gives
promise of subverting gradually systems fOstered by
State Governments.
To our mind, few reasons are manifest why we
may anticipate change in the numerical strength
of the system here, and position essentially modi-
fed, in the coming time. In the first ace, IFS
stability is endangered by fugtyes it is very inse-
cure; the Underground Railroad is easily access
sble, and through tickets upon il may be had almost
for the asking. These eScdpddes are by no means
uncommon and we believe we should he approx
mating fair estimate, if we should compute that
the number of iugityes in the of year would
cOunterbalance the number of slaves born in the
county within the same time, and thereby annu the
strength that its increase would otherwise afford IT,
We are quite sure that if we should add to this the
number of deaths, the increase would be fully coun-
teracted As to the increment trem abroad, the
institution would die Of inanitiOn if ii were
obliged to depend upon that kind of pdbatum for its
sustCnance, for bringing property Of this kind into
the State is attended with many restrictions; in
IL. IL, h.E Nha
increase by births could have but slight influence
in perpeuatng the system, is evident from the fact
that there were but Al slaves born in the county IN
the year 1850 Since that time, and in view OF
such decrease in the number of slaves, It would
not be fair to presume that as many had been born
year by year.
Thus having shown that no possible vigor can
be impaired by this natural increase IN consldera-
ton OF the counteryallng influences we nave men
toned, we will suggest second reason, W. .no
high prices of slaves and q consequent qhckenlug
of The trade What is the resuli OF this inctenlen'
Why persons owning this species OF properly,
they no longer wish to retain It, sell 10 specuVi'
who immediately remove the slaves rom inc o'al1;
Bearing good price, many are induced !" S sen
who would not otherwise dispose Oh MS si'hoS' Inc
bnsiness is in the hands Of specfiors VINO transact
LARGELY They nav large sSA : ranging from $500
~ a. ino and occasionally as high as 81 500.
II " not snrprisinQ that holders negotiate with these
.euIotors who are ever on the qui rire and ready
~ offer an equivalent The number taken away
annually BY these traders is large. In the year,
1855. we learned from good authority that so
negroes were shipped from this County within three
months, some few of whom were eonvicts from
the County Jail. 1t has been estimated, We learn,
that, during the past year, one man engaged ex-
tersiyely in the trade has exported 100 negroes,
and we see in the county paper he has accumulated
within fourteen months By this traffic ten Aousaud
dollars. The same newspaper presumed, Oh .elia-