The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-04-10

.E..9
snsa.1aavesv aeAtlnsat n RussDs.
he anti.slavsry ssnsiusnt which 10 % an.
veresl throushout Europe has been mannfAe-
tured in great part by ,hsir NV governments,
for the purpose OF divevsine the attention cf
;heiv own white slaves from their iatclenabls
hnndaga II Is fact winch no one dispute,,
shat the physical condition of tho great mass
of the laboring population Of the Old World
is fsr inferior TO that Of the slaves Of the
southern Ssasss The amount Of work 70
qairsd from them 70 support existence 10
nearly double, and, more sxhausting than their
toll, u the fearful solicitads which psrpstu-
silly hauuss them Of tboes many contingencies
OF life, and that certain event Of old age or
death, which will leave their families entirely
uoprovided for. Ia the days of villsnage, no
suoh evils - these haunted any mans imagi-
na.ion. The labor was not as great, and there
was no anxiety whatever for the future--
Sush thing a. alms-h onses was aimost ur.
known, and anxiety for the future tcrtnsnted
40 one IL thst condition, like al others Of
humanity, had ito drawbacks and evils, it was
not without certain alleviations unknown to
the present state of nominal freedom In
plenty to eat and drink, iu sufficient clothing,
and in certain provision for tho future, 1t
sbounded Aud, having food aid raimen',
men might well dford to be content In this
abort life; while, ~ to the next, the ssrf re-
ceived as much attention from the Church ss
the lord; the peer and tbs peasant enjoyed
equal privileges in the minist rations Of re-
iiaion, aud 10 ali those consultations and hopes
which belong to an existence OF which the
present 10 but az grain Of sand compared with
sli the atoms which, make up the infinite num-
Der Of the Almighsy's works.
From motives Of the most sordid self inter
est, from q cold b.ooded calculation of dollars
ard cents, whereby it was demonstrated that
the mobiles and landed proprietors of Europe
would tind it cheaper to liberate their serfs
and set the whole helpless multitude to COM
peting for employment in order to save them
selves from starvation, serfdom came to an
end nominally in the old world. Really, it
continued to exist in its worst form. There is
scarce an evil of 1t which has not been aggrx-
waited by the change, whilst all its advantages
have been loet. The serf 10 still the serf,
aud although he bears no mark of bondage
upon his garments, his very body often bent and
deformsd by toll, testifss to his condition
Labor Is not only necessity, but harder labor
than ever before the military duty is inovi-
t.ble, 20 that in peace and war he IL As
much q slave IS aay Of his forefAthsrs were
slaves in the middle ages. The only differ
ence 10 that he is a slave whom nobody cares
for. Whether he lives or dies is matter of
concern only to his wits and children. His
labor 10 the only interest his present master
hs# in him, and when no longer able to per
form that, there are plenty Of others to take
hie place. Politically, he is as much noh
entity as whsn he was q ssrf, and socially,
he has, if possible, even less consideration.
In many portions of Europe not only the
men, but the women, labor in the fields, per.
forming tho.e heavy agricultural duties which
are here performed BY male slaves. and III .
w orked co hard and fed so poorly that they
become the victims of physical diseases snd
deformities which are transmitted from gent
ration TO generation. IL some portions they
IA Q A1oS Psi uittOU Cscu ~ iASKty WltHOEs TIE
consent Of tie proprietor Of the estates On
which they labor, for fear Of increasing the
dense population beyond the msans of sut-
sistsnee. Ia Great Britain, where there is SO
much wealth, civilization, aud liberty, tie
of the manufacturing and mining
Glasses, and Of the muitisudidous poor in tie
great cities, is worse than that in any other
portion Of the world Let any man read
Mayhsw's account of the London poor. Of
Inc awful dsstisution, misery, and crime in
which they exist, aud examine tiie Paslia-
nentsry reports OF the condition Of the mining
md manufacturing people OF the kingdom
lad then wonder IL. tbs ssif-deiusion which.
with such beam in it's own eye, can Concern
Itself about the mote III the eyes of o.!.ers--
Whilst the Duchess Of Sutherland is sore:y
exercised upon the subject of African slavery,
she coolly depopulstes her estates in Scot.
and, thai sheep may live thsre instead of
men and what Lord John Russell waxes
in his antipathy to negro slavery,
he bsholds withou: concern millions OF
multitudos of whom, from tho
tender age Of six years, arc chained to the
most exhausting manufacturing and mining
labor, and many Of whom never SO much as
heard Of God.
What, then, ought we to care for the anti.
slavery sentiments Of the old world? There is
nothing in it Of sincerity or virtue; no moral
power that can in any way appeal to cur con-
science or our Judgment. We know what Afri-
IAN slavery IL, and that, whatever it may be, Eu-
rope planted it here, and would not remove it,
At the only period when it could have been
withou: Graduating with it the whole
framework Of soeiety. We know that those
very nations which profess to be most con.
serned about cur institutions, pursue without
remorse all the horrors and barbarities Of the
CooIie trade and that, for the benefit Of her
.rade aud revenue, England deliberately forces
opium upon the Chinese, enslaving them in
both soul and body to add money to her purse.
The an.i-slavery sentiment Of the old world
san have no effect upon men who understand it,
liter hollownsss and seiishusss. Its physical
,cwer 10 all We have to guard against, and
'ur sufficient security against that Ia its own |
interests, which 1t would never sacrifcs to |
init slavery, even if it believed all and more |
nan il says of the horrors and evils of servi. |
ude. |
Yexksswn.
There is yet nothing from Yorktown indi- |
'ating an immediate fight. The enemy, now |
believed to be under Mcclellan. had, instead |