Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-01
q 49, -. PhLIal.lphl.-l
slavery and the RebellIon.

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Itis significant and singular fact that
out of the very prosperity Of the slave in
terests in this country, indirectly, arose the
rebellion which now threatens to terribly
iniure, il not destroy IL While the halls
Of Congress we're resembling year after
rear with elamors for better protection for
slavery, the 1peeuIiar institution" was so
well protected that slaves were constantly
rising il value much more rapidly than
any other species of property in our eoun-
tfy- This increase Tas not spasmodie or
irregular, but steady and constant, and II
VAS kept up until the slaves Of the United
States sold for a price far beyond that ever
obtained for them IN any other nation in
which slavery had been tolerated. All this
Continued to the moment when the long
cherished secession heresies of the South
eliminated in open insurreetion against
the Government; and it afforded the very
strongest proof that could have been gwen
of the confidence of the capitalists OF the
slave States In the security of slavery
while the Union Was unbroken and uuas-
sailed. Bnt out of this high price of
slaves, which was an Overwhelming and
conclusive answer to the fimsy preteuees
by which the secession demagogues eu-
.deavored TO justify their treason, arose the
very feeling which vas one of the strong
est levers used in precipitatiug the Cotton
States into revolution We allude to the
demand for the revival of the slave trade
which suddenly attained a surprising de-
gree Of popularity in that section. The
planters grew tired of paying Sl,40o or
81 500 for field hands from the Border
States, and the poor whites began to con-
sider that there was something very unjust
ftar1 afff,ar N
4 sum which they could not command, or
to dispense with their services altogether,
when by an asrogation of the United States
laws against the African slave trade they
might obtain supplies for a few hundred
dollars per head. The dissolution Of the
Union, which, until the last few years,
was rarely or never spoken OF without hor-
ror, rs one of the most frightful caiamities,
BY the mnssess of the Conton States, be-
gan to be considered BY them an essential
condition of their prosperity-not on ac-
count Of the reasons they put forward, that
slave property was insecure in the Union,
but really because the policy of our Gov
eminent bad rendered il so secure and
profitable that Slaves commanded a higher
price than they wished to pay. Thesepro
slavery philosophers, however, were as
shurt-sighted in their views of their selfish
interests as they were cruel and trcasona-
BILE in their designs They forgot that the
first effect of their blows against the
Union would be tue infection of terrible
blow, by themselves, upon their iavorite
institulion-that 10 trying to destroy the
Union for the purpose of getting rid Of its
| laws against tue revival of the slave trade,
30 that they might buy slaves for small
sum. they wonld so diminish the value of
slave labor, destroy the sale of its rrO-
duets, aud undermine the permanence and
security of the Institution as 10 render it
doubtful whether slaves were worth having
at any price, and in some States, question
able whether they could he held in bond
age at all. The comparison may be a trite
and not very complimentary one, but they
acted like the dog who in crossing the
stream lost his meat by grasping at its
shadow. And now, whatever damage has
been or may be done 10 their Institution.
they must attribute to the influence of the
rash coupsels Of their own trusted leaders.
Whatever glory or blame may be attached
TO the infiction of the severe blows upon
it, that have iaIready injured or will here
= fter injure it, is due to those great prac-
teal AbOIitionists in disguise who figure
as the saints of the pro-slavery. calendar.
4