Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-08-06
= = . G A z = 8 = =
The Emancipation Question.
THE PARALYSING EFFECT OF sLA-
VERY.

States Senator and Secretary of the Treas
ury devotes his second letter on the Eman-
cipation Question to the effect of slavery
in retarding progress and population, and
illustrates the subject by comparison of
the advance of Maryland and Massachu.
sets in these respects. We reprint Dor.
tions of the latter:
The census proves that our progress has
been greatly retarded by slavery. IF the
North had retained, and the South abolished
slavery, their relative positions would have
been reversed; Virginia would have taken
the place of New York, Maryland of Massa
chusetts, Delaware of Rhode Island. Ken.
lucky of Ohio, Missouri of Illinois, and Ten
nessee of Indiana.
| shall begin with Maryland, because in
proportion to her area she has greater natu.
raj advantages than any one of the thirty
four States, and If the comparison of the
free States Is most unfavorable to her, it will
be more so as to any other Southern State, as
the census shows that, from 1870 TO 1860.
and from 1850 to 1860 the increase of popu.
.lation in Maryland per square mile was great
er than in any other slaveholding State.
Maryland borders for 200 miles the great
free State of Pennsylvania, and Delaware
100 miles, whose slaves has decreased from
1887 in 1870, to l,798 in 1860, and where
slavery now exists in name only. Delaware
like Maryland) is also loyal State, and
would be the last to leave that Union. which
it was her glory the first to enter, and by a
unanimous vote under the Constitution of
l7S7. On the west Maryland is bounded
by Preston county, Virginia containing in
1860 free population of 1882, and g.
slaves only. Of the eight counties of East
ern Shore of Maryland all but one border on
Pennsylvania or Delaware, and Of the West
'arn Shore, all but five border on Pennsylva.
lnia or this District Those six counties which
border neither Delaware or this District con.
tain far less than one-seventh the population
Of Maryland
Western Virginia, BORDERING Maryland on
She south end West has just voted, with great
unanlmty, to 'abditsh slavery and proposes
to become free State. Within the heart of
Maryland stands this District. where slavery
is now abolished, producing serious losses
and embarrassments to the State. The two
counties of Prince George and Montgomery,
adjoining this District, contained l7,790
slaves in 1860, being more than any other
two couuties of Maryland, aud more than
one-ffth Of the slaves in the State. How
long can slavery endure, and of what value
brought or sent to the District is free, and
where it is already seriously cnntended that
the language of the Constitution, Slaves in
one State escaping into dnOther," cannot ap
ply to this District. Indeed, with tie feeling
50 intensified already by this rebellion against
slavery, it cannot long exist in Mary gland
By advancing legislation and public senti
ment the Fugitive Slave Law is becoming in
operative, and slaves in Maryland are
held by a more precariUus t. nure. | speak
of the facts rs they are. and not sanction
ing any violation or evasion Of the ConStitu
ton. Indeed, unforeseen events. as this terri
bic rebellion progresses, may sweep slavery
from Mary land, without compensation or
colonization.
But. Independent of present and future
peris, it is proposed t" prove, mainly by the
census that all the material interests of
Marylan would be greatly promoted by her
prompt acceptance Of the offer of Congress.
We must consider the area. soil. climate,
mines. hydraulic power. location, shore line,
bays and the progress Of wealth and popula
zion in all eases. except where expressly stated,
the population includes slaves and free
The relative progress of Maryland has
been slow, indeed The total population of
the Union, by the census of 1870, was 3, ,929,-
S27, of which Maryland. containing then
3l9,72S, constituted twelfth part (I2 %
In 1860 the Union numbered 81 ,445 .080. and
Maryland 6S7, 7,03l, constituting then only
45th part AS 76). In 1890 the free States
numbered l,968, Ass, Maryland's population
then being equal only TO one sixth (6 l2l, but
in 1860 the population of the free States was
l8,920,078, Maryland's number then being
equal only to one twenty-seventh part
(27 52l. But if Maryland had increased as
rapidly from 1890 TO 1850 as the whole Union,
her proportion one twelfth part, would have
made her numbers in 1860 2,62O,3l and If
her proportional increase had eQualled that
of the free States, her ratio, one sixth. would
have made her population in 1860 3, l53 1892.
From her small area (seven States being
smaller), she would not have reached either
of these results, but, before closing these let
ters, 1t will be proved that in the absence of
slavery, her population in 1860 would have
been at least ,755, ,66l or the same per square
mile as Massachusetts, and Baltimore, bear
ing the same ratio to this number as to Mary
lands present population, wonld have con-
taiued in 1860 542, 900, instead of 2l2 900,
her present number.
take the areas from the able report mo
yember 29, 1861 of the Hon. Joseph ).
Wilson, then the commissioner of the General
Land Office, where these areas are for the
first time accurately given by actual admeas-
urement excluding the water surface.
The population is taken from the census, the
tables of 1850 and 1860 being compiled with
great ability by the present Superintendent
the Hon. j. C. G. Kennedy. | compare frat
Massachusetts, and Maryland, because they
are the maritime and old States. and both in
1870 had nearly the same population: but as
shown hereafter, with vastly superior natural
advantages in favor of Maryland.
Area of Maryland ii, ,l24 square miles,
shore line, by tables of United States Coast
Survey, viz main shore, including bays,
sounds &c 502 milas islands 2Q8. rivers to