Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-04-10
Virginia Versus slayer.

There is nothing like figures. The all
instructive census speaks like a prophet
out of the Old Dominion.
There are one hundred and forty eight
counties in Virginia. These ~cOntain-l..
049, $40 white inhabitants, and 49l.456
slaves. Forty-eight connties-rather less
than one third of the whole-lie westward
Of the Blue Ridge, which traverses the
State from northeast to southwest. They
are, Of course. adjacent to Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Kentucky. They contain 5000
slaves-One third Of the counties. and ore
huHdreh part Of the slaves. Not only
does this extraordinary relative disprOpOr-
tiOn exist. but a majority Of the western
counties have already diminished their
number of slaves since the previous census
lin the aggregate Lis. During the
same period. the white population of these
thirty eight counties has increased 1882
souls! One alone-0hio cOunty-has
gained 4,5S4 white inhabitants; being
within a fraction Of the whole number Of
slaves in the forty-eight. The total gain
IN whites of the l4S counties of the state
is 1879 in ten years. of this number.
therefore. 1882; or over fifty per cent.
has accrued in One-third of the COUNTIES
the forty eight west of the A~lleghanies-
To reeapitulate, in a tabular form, for
greater P~erspicuity;
hoe counties contain $50. 70s slaves.
The same have gained 1869 W inhabitants.
43 W counties efntaiR 5000 slaves
The same have gained 79sI2w inhabitants
In a less marked. but distinct degree.
the same process is observable in the cOun-
ties bordering upon Maryland; indicating
that they are Influenced by the causes
which have at once diminished the slave
population and increased the prosperity of
.Aat State.
1t would almost seem that the southern
, states are determined to defy allie prece-
dents, principles. and statistics. They
are singularly REGARDLESS of those impIeg-
nable phalaDxes of figures which are only
the signals of the marching fates behind
them, Virginia. however. one Of the old
est, wisest, and most patriotic members of
the cnnfederacy. in spite of the Hotspurs
who goad her within and without. has &C
; ted with a GOODNESS as worthy of herself as
it is of imitation, and which gives promise
: that she, at least. will not shut her eyes
against facts. The marvellous increase Of
: population in her counties hat lie nearest
free soil. and that, having feEest slaves,
> are rapidly diminishing them. is a preg-
: nant intimation. 1t is a glorious proph-
: eey that her noble soil, named of EnQland's
unwedded queen, and celebrated by her
! poet as 'fruitfulest Virginia. shall yet.
! aud at no distant day. be FREE. Nothing
can prevent this result. Secession itself
: will only delay it. In the Union or out
! of it, Virginia. and all our border sisters,
: will sooner or later realize the advantages
: of consistently free institutions.
: Now is the time for our philanthropists
: to prove that their cutlery for emancipa-
: ton was honest. There are seven States,
with Virginia at their head. hanging in
the balance. Shall they cleaEe to US, OF
: shall they follow the aliens? Five of the
= seven are ready to become Free States a;
: rapidly as their truly momentous slave in.
terests are adjusted and provided for We
do not mean to say that they are conscious
I of this their condition of forvaIdness, but
\ that such is the fact. indicated BY stats.
= tics like those which the Virginia eensu;
furnishes. The question is; Shall We
make it possible for them to stay with US,
and so render their speedy enumeration
I among the free states certain; or shall We
D by insisting upon points which will prove
, mere formulas in the progress Of i~rrcsisti
u bic destiny, keep them out and keep then
: back? Have we faith in freedom. or have
e We not? Whatever guarantee We can give
e that the subject of slavery in their borders
{ shall be left forever under their own con
! troll. we ought to give. We ought to give
8 it equally for the sake of justice and fol-
d the interest of the slaves; for BY it theil
: emancipation is assured and hastened.-
e " 7. World