Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-20


crease of the whites and free negroes of Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
careful survey of the table appended, will show
that Pennsylvania has increased most rapidly in
white, and Maryland in free negro population.
The result is attained, despite the fact, that the
Southern boundary of Pennsylvania through its en-
tire extent, forms the division line between freedom
and slavery and the common belief that New Jersey
is the receptacle for large proportion of the runaway
slaves of Delaware and Maryland.
The further gratifying result is shewn, that the re-
latve increase Of the white population is rapidly and
steadily augmenting.
The negro is not a migratory being. He WILL some
times, run from bondage. Like other men, he has
aspirations for freedom With no inducement to em-
CRATE the free negro rarely leaves the place where he
was reared His love OF locality is proverbia Where
he born, he dies. Those who leave their native
vicinity, for the most part, congregate in neighboring
cities Philadelphia contains nearly half the free
negroes of Pennsylvania.
pass by, as unworthy of notice. the suggestion of
the probable establishment of the social and political
equality Of the consequence of freedom Such
suggestion may be toerable in political canvass in
which the aspirant for popular favor plays upon the
prejudice of the citizen to influence his vote but it is
unworthy Of observation in serious inquiry after
truth.
The negro is and so long as he is among us, ought
to remain, inferior being, under tuelage, and as
the whole matter Of his status depends on the will off
vatc him to equality, do but cast discredt upon
their own understanding and insult upon the people
Of the State He cannot be equal until the majority
decide, and when they shall have arrived at the
point at which equality would be tolerated. the eman
cpaton of 1900 slaves when there are already 600
free negroes could make it none the more or less
probable.
Were the discussion of such question admissible
upon an occasion like the present conceive that it
would not be difficult to shew that the evil to be APP
pretended is not from the prevalence of the doctrine
OF emancipation and separation but that. if it ever
shall come, ii will be the result of the teaching and
practice OF those who. in defiance of the ordination of
Providence in the dispersion of mankind, will con-
tnue distinct races in uXtaposition and communca-
ton with one another until the choice between eXter
minaon and absorption shall be the only alternative
pass now to the consideration of the rights of the
master. Under the usage of this State confirmed by
positive enactments he has to his slave right not
absolute, but qualified only and therefore, even more
than in things by nature the subject of dominion he
holds his right subordinate to the requirements of the
public good.
That this right is conditional is sufficiently attested
by the statutory provisions regulating the relation
The master is prohibited from dealing with him as
an absolute article of merchandise He cannot alien
him beyond the jurisdiction Of the State, which, re-
gardmg hn as man, extends over him the protec-
tion Of the law, and by prohibtory enactments re-
gulatng his SALE restricts his value to the limit of the
]
from being subjected to the policy of slave propaga-
ton for expectation and removing the inducement to
an indefinite extension of the system.
Tins restriction .alenation-the judicial denial
of the right Of the free negro to hold his fellow in
bondase-the criminal responsibility of the slave-all
shew that under our laws he is regarded as something
different from a mere chattel and that the nature Of
the right is modified by the attribute of humanity
In the pure sense OF the term, he is not property
His condition is the legal determination of the status
OF person, and in this sense, emancipation is no
destruction Of right Of property, but the abrogaton
of municipal custom, upon the sanction of which
alone the right Of the master depended
/ But still there Is right, in the nature of right
OF property and to the extent to which it is recog-
nised by our laws, is sacred and nvioable as his
right to any article absolutely proprietary. He can
not be deprived of it without compensation.
need not argue concerning the value of the labor
to the owner. The considerations already presented
in reference to tile interest of the State are appli
cable to that OF the master.
only offer to each STAKEHOLDER for solution. the
question. whether economically considered it is not
cheaper to hlre labor than to support his family of
slaves subject to the risk Of sickness and other casu-
alties and liabilities incident to ownership
Most OF the slave owners in this State are land
owners also, and if it be true that the abrogaon of
the institution will increase the material prosperity
OF the State, submit to him, whether the value Of
his land may not be augmented to an extent much
greater than the price of his slaves
will not dwell upon the interest of the master as
Affected by the fugitive nature of the property
Against destruction by fire. insurance offices provide
-agoinst the straying of CATTLE good fences are suC
cient security but there is insurance or safeguard
against the loss of slave determined to assert his
right to freedom.
There are but two modes by which the extinction
of slavery can be accomplished. By direct emanc
patton or by the enactment of a law operative ON
alter born issue leaving the present property of the