Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-06

average thus showing how intexible, anu, consequent
ly, how reliable the law of increase, in our case, is
Assuming that 1t will continue, gives the following re-
suits:
1870. 2,32S,S4l
1880. ........."..... ..............56 ,s6I,2lo
1890. 6,677,sI2
1900. zuoflo
1910. ...... slS,o2o
1920. ,soi,05o
1880. Psi ,6SO,9l4
These figures show that our country may be as popu-
lous as Europe nov Is, at some point between 1920 and
loS0-say about l925-our territory, at ssysnty.three
and a third persons TO the square mile. being oil capacity
10 contain 2l7, 1856, 1000.
And we ,ciH reach this, too, if We do not ourselves re-
linauish the chance, by the folly and evils of disunion,
or by long and eIhausting war ~springing from the only
great element OF national discord among uS. While 1t
cannot be foreseen exactly how much one huge example
Of secession, breeding lesser ones indefinitely, would re-
tird population, civilization aud prosperity, no one eau
doubt that the extent Of it would be very great and in
furious.
The proposed emancipation would shorten the war,
perpetuata peace, insure this increase OF popu!at on, and
proportionately the wealth Of the country. With these,
we should pay all the emancipation would cost, together
with our other debt, easier than We should pay our other
debt without it. If We had allowed our old national
debt to run at six per cent. per annum, simple interest,
from the end of our revolutionary struggle, until to-day,
without paying anything on either principal or interest,
each man of us would owe less upon that debt now,
than each man owed upon it then and this because our
increase of men, through the whole period, has been
greater than six per cent. has run faster than the Interest
upon the debt. Thus, time alone, relieves debtor ma
ton, so long as its population increases faster than I'M
paid interest accumulate on its debt.
This fact would he no excuse for delaying payment oil
what is Justly due; but it shows the great importance
of time in this connection-the great advantage OF a
policy by which We shall not have TO pay until We num-
Der a huadred millions, what, by a different policy, We
would have to pay now, when we number but thirty-one
.. - Il -. H. = A. p,n.l,
harder to pay for the war, than will he a dollar for
emancipation on the proposed plan. And then the lat
ter will cost no blood, no precious life. Ii will be a saw
ing of both.
IA TO the second article, ! think it would be impracti-
cable TO return to bondage the class Of persons therein
contemplated. Some of them, doubtless. in the pro-
perty sense, belong to loyal owners; and hence, provi-
sion is made in this article for compromising such.
The third article relates to the future of the freed peo.
pe. 1t does no, obige, but merely authorizes, Con
gress TO aid in ~colonizing such as may consent. This
ought not TO be regarded as Objectionable, on the one
hand. or on the other, in so much as it comes TO nothing,
unless by the mutual consent of the people to be deport-
ed. and the American voters, through their representa-
tiyes in Congress.
cannot make il better known than il already ia, that
| strongly favor colonization. And yet | wish to say
there is an objection urged against free colored persons
remaining in the country, which IS largely imaginary, II
not sometimes malicious.
Ii is insisted that their presence would injure aud dis
place white labor and white labOrers. II there ever
could be a proper time for mere catch arguments, that
time surely i not now. In times like the present, men
should utter nothing for which they would not willingly
be responsible through time aud in eternity. is 1t true,
then, that colored people can displace any more white
labor by being Tree than by remaining slavesy II they
STAY in their places they josle no white laborersi II
they leave their old places, they leave them open to
white laborerr. Logically, there Is neither more nor
less of H. Emancipation, even without deportation,
would probably enhance the wages of white labor, and
very surely would not reduce them. Thus, the custOma-
nv amount of labor would still have to be performed
the freed people would surely not do more than their
old .proporIion of il, aud very probably, for a time,
would do less, leaving an increased part TO white labor
era, bringing their labor into greater demand, and,conse-
oueutly, enhancing the wages Of il. With deportation,
even 10 a limited extent, enhanced wages to white labor,
is automatically Certain. Labor Is like any other com.
modify in the marIei-increase the demand for Il, and
YOU increase the price for it. Reduce the supply of
black labor, by coloniEing the black laborer out of the
country, and, by precisely 20 much, you increase the de-
mand for and wages of white labor.
But il il dreaded that the people will swarm forth and
cover the whole land. Are they not already IN the land,
Will liberation make them any more numerous! Equally
distributed among the whites of the whole country, aud
th,r. would be one colOred to seven whites. Could the
one in any way, greatly disturb the seven? There are
many communities now having more than one free color
ed narson to soven whites, and tbs without any apparent
consciousness OF evil from it.. The District OF Columbia
and tile States of MARYLAND and Delaware are oil IN this
condition. The District has more than one free eoIored
10 six whites; aud vet, in its frequent petitions TO Con-
,ress. | believe it has never presented the presence of
free colorci persons as one of its grievances. But why
should emancipation South send the freed people NORTH
People of any color seldom run, unless there be some
thing TO run from. Heretofore colored people, TO some
extent, have fed North from bondage and nOtc, per
hans. from both bondage and restitution. But II gradual
en,ancipation and deportation lie ad0p.ed they will have
81 -. A., C.,p, Tlair oil n.sfar. uil give them
wages At least until new laborers Gan be procured and
tbe freed men in turn will glad Y give their labor for the
wages ill new homes can be found for them, IN congo
NAL ciirnes, and with people of their owtblo)d and race.
This proposition eau be trusted on the mutual interests
involved. And, in any event, cannot the North decide
for itself whether TO receive thcms
Again, A. praci e proves more than theory, In any case, has
Their, been any Irrupilon OF colored people northw ard because Of
the a%bolishmcnt 81 slavny In the district last 'pins'
What 1 have said Of the p oPoriion OF nee col,t-i persons TO
the whites, In the District, II from III" census OF 1860, having no
reference to persons called coutrsbluds nor TO those made hee
by the act of Congrcs, ~aban-hing slavery here.
Tie plan consisting Of these articles i' ,ecommended, not hi
that n rtstotau' u Of the national authority womb te aceep'ri
Nor Nor viii the v ,E, nor proceeding. under the p OclamatIon of
ssui.ubsr -, 1862, be stayed because OF The recommendation "f
nj, plan. Its tim,y sdoptiOn, doubt uot, would bring restoration
An" And notSHha ,ndiug this plan, the recommendation that Con.
z ess provide by law ior compromising any State which may adopt
Emancipation before hi. plan shall have been acted upon, IS here,
tbe plan. and the same arghments apply 10 DON -,
additional to, ali others for restoring aud p ee wing the national
authority throughout the Union. The subject is presented eyela-
.s"nSs =" 'raer more speedily, ana MAINTAIN It more permanently,
than can be done by force alone; while all II would cost, consider,
irg auo1nts. and manner Of payment, and times Of payment, would
ins , s"iiT paid than will be thr additional cost OF The wa, 1--WE re-
IL solely upon force. 1t Is mueh-'ery much-that 1t would cost
The rian is proposed rs permanent constitutional law. 1t cannot
become such without he concurrence OF nrsi two. thirds OF congress,
ana afterwards, three fourth Of the $ ates. The'tequislte three
fourth o fthe States will necessarily include seven ofihe slave statet.
Their concurrence, u Oh aiaed' will dss assurance Of their sever,
constitutional terms This assurance would cad the struggle now