The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-12

the whole or any part of that period and
it ObGges no two States to proceed alike.
It also provides for compensation, and gen.
orally the mode of making it. This, it
would seem, must further mitigate the
dissatisfaction of those who favor perpet-
ual slavery, especially those who are to re-
ceive compensation.
fH WHY COMPENSATE.
Doubtless some of those who are to pay and
not to receive will object to it. That the meas
ure is both Just and economical is certain. The
liberation of the slaves is the destruction of
property acquired by descent or by purchase,
the same as any other property. 1t is no less
true for having been often said, that the people
of the South are no more responsible for the
introduction of this property than are the peO-
pie of the North; and when it is remembered
how unhesitatingly we all use cotton and sugar.
and share the profits of dealing in them, it may
not be quite safe to say, that the South has
been more responsible than the North for its
continuance. If then, for common object,
this property is to be sacrificed, is it not just
that it be done at common charge? And if
with less money or money more easily paid,
we can preserve the benefits of the Union by
this means, than we can by the war alone, is it
not economical to do it?
AN ECONOMICAL VIEW.
Let lis consider it then; let US ascertain the
sum we have expended in the war since CON-
pensated emancipation was proposed last
March, and consider whether, if that measure
had been promptly accepted by even some OF
the slave States. the same sum would not have
done more to close the war than has been
otherwise done. If so, the measure would
save money; and in that view would be a
prudent and economical measure, certainly.
1t is not SO easy to pay something as it is to
pay nothing, but it is easier to pay large sum
than larger one.
The aggregate sum necessary for cOmpensa-
ted emancipation of course would be large, but
it would require no ready cash nor bonds faster
than the emancipation progresses.
SHARING THE BURDEN WITH POSTERrTY.
This might not and probably would not close
before the end of the thirty-seven years. At
that time we shall probably have 100, 600, 900
people to share the burden instead of 81 ,0O0,-
600 as now, and not only so, but the increase OF
our population may be expected to continue
for long time after the period as rapidly as
before, because our territories will not have
become full. do not state this incensiderate-
ly. At the same ratio of increase which we
have maintained on an average from our first
national census in 1890 until 1860, we should in
1900, have a population OF 1O3, POS, 415, and
why may we not continue that ratio far beyond
that period.
Our abundant rOOm our broad national home
stead is an ample resource. Were our territory
as limited as are the British isles, certainly our
population could not expand as stated. Instead
| of receiving the foreign born as now, we should
| be compelled to send part OF the native born
away but such is not our condition. We have
| :, 1868 900 of square miles. Europe has $780,
| 600 square miles, with population averaging
| 1914 persons to the square mile. Why may
not our country at some time average as many!
Is it less fertile? Has it more waste surface by
mountains rivers, lakes, deserts and other call-
ses. Is it inferior to Europe i'll any natural adj
vantage?
PROSPECTIVE GROWTH OF POPULATION.
If then at some time we are to be OS pOpu-
lous as Europe, how soon? As to when this
may be, we may judge of the past and present
as to when, it will ever depend, much on Whc-
| thcr we maintain the Union. Several of our
States are above the average of European pop
ulation, Of 1871 to the square mile Massachu.
sets has 157. Rhode Island 1873, New York and
New Jersey each so, also two other great
States, Pennsylvania and Ohio, are not far be-
low, the former having 63, and the latter So
The States direct above the European average,
except New York, have increased in as rapid a
ratio since passing that point as ever before,
while no one of them is equal to some other
parts of our country in natural capacity for sus-
tanning a dense population. Taking the ratio
in the aggregate we find its population and ra-
ito of increase for the several decimal periods
as follows: