, 1862-07-08
LABOR TBE GREAT WANT OF
AMERICA,

In new country, labor Is one OF the !
prime wants. Without it, in due supply, |
no progress and prosperity can be secured. |
To encourage the Introduction Of foreign
labor has been the policy Of the United
States from its foundation; and what would
have been our hitherto extraordinary de-
}clopment, IS a natlon. but for the tens Of
1housan5s from Europe, we may add: from
Africa, whose strong arms and persistent
toll have wrought the wonders Of civilized
improvements which have, in less than a
century, made the United States one Of the
chief powers Of the world:
One of the problems Of the present war
is the disposal Of one Of the sections Of the
grand army Of laborers to which we owe
our progress in wealth, civilization and
power. Strange 10 say, that in a country
where labor Is our first need, VIC are ready
to Danish the African, as an alien, an intru-
Ger, an enemy, when, for near one half the
country, his labor is yet indispensable, and
when, if VIC Danish him, We may long look
for q substitute to take his place. It is
striking Illustration Of American short
sightcdness, that at the instant We arc talk
ing Of the deportation Of the African race,
comes the earnest appeal Of the Danish
government to our own, to possess the very
labor we are so willing 10 discard.
Full time it is for us to ask, whether this
slort-siglted, malignant policy toward the
colored race is right, either in justice to
that race, OF to ourselves. Here is vast
land, surprising in extent entire Europe
embracing every form Of climate, aud de-
manding for each the labor Of every race.
The inhabitauts and citizens Of the United
States are in general natives Of more north,
erly and temperate zones In the absence
of the African, created and Injured to 8
hot climate, what race Is to take
bis place in tilling the soil under > burn
ing sun? Will the S -andinaylan, the Ger
man, the Irish, each born under northern
skies, do this? Suppose the entire Africa
race transported from our American terri
tories, as some advocate. What, in effec
would be the result, but to leave the teen
ing soil Of our southern territory vast
and wilderness Is this the end to wlic
political animosity and hatred 70 an limit
cent race would bring us?
The African is here God, in his mystt
rious Providence, has planted that untort'
nate race on our shores. The unwill1n
victim ofcupidity and avarice, be was tor
from his native land, and compelled to tt
unrequited and deep degradation Of asry
tude IN this our land Of liberty. We ha1
prospered BY his labors; and now that Il
Proyidential era has come in strife and n;
and blood, when humanity pleads for
wronged and oppressed race, we arc tol
{orsooth, that the African is not oprs TT
doom Of centuries Of injustice and wror
he has bone is as nothing to Us; and III
Hagar and Ishmael;'we are ready to dri
him forth, unheediug the wrong to him,
the wrong to ourselves.
But true, as is He who rules aud COVER
in human afairf, the added wrong Of ex
we now propose fer the long suffering Al
can, if inflicted, will recou upon oursely
The African is here by surely ss good
right as are We ourselves His labor is
dispensable to us. The day that witnes
his exile, will inaugurate, for our southt
territory, an era Of growing barbarism- /
oDe thing remains for us-:o give him
1ightfal fteedom-to reward his toiI-a
TO open thus the way for the ultimate ree
alton to all the rights Of humanity Of