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

O-I ,
being in New Castle, slave to 10 free; Kent, l
slave to l3l free, and Sussex slave to 81 free and
IN the aggregate, slave to 6l free persons in the
State
This calculation is based upon the enumera-
ton, m which the slaves are counted as for life, |
whereas in fact large portion are manumtted, to
whom, under the laws Of this State, the right to free
dom, according to the act of manumssion, attaches
and who ought therefore, for the purpose of this dis
cussion, to be considered free-thc question now
being, whether the State shall be declared free by |
an emancipation policy, present prospective-im-
mediate or gradual There no means of ascertain
ing with certainty how many are held manumitted
servants, but do not think that oneh third would be
estimate, and the above figures should be
respOndingly reduced
By statute the children of manumtted slaves
born after the act Of manumssion, not slaves for
life, but for limited period only and. therefore, the
aggregate is subject to another abatement
Of the residue, considerable number are children
and decrepit persons, unable to work and in an in
quiry as to their productive value also to be de-
Quoted.
1t appears, then, that very small proportion of
the labor Of the State is dependent upon the slave
population.
The kind Of labor they perform is merely agricul-
tural and domestic and whatever may he the question
as to the necessity Of slave labor in the cotton States
one will pretend that, in this State there is any
species of work that cannot be as well performed bv
freeman a slave-by white as negro
If it can be, the sole question remains, will it be
done as we'll This is solved bv determining whether
paid unpaid labor is best Observation-Disclosures wages
are any incentive to the laborer-whether will
work well without pay for it-and this respec-
tive of whether the laborer be white or black
| am not reduced to run parallel between free
negro and slave, but if | were, the general rule
would be amply vindicated.
But every slave does the work that white man can
perform and if he not slave. the white man
would have the chance to compete for the performance
of the labor and for the receipt of the money that it
requires TO keep the slave. Being superior to the
negro, he would be preferred, but the master being
compelled to maintain his slave. is forced to employ
him, Notwithstanding his labor is inferior The white
man Is detrauded. because the slave performs the labor
which he ought TO do and receives the pay. in his
subsistence, that ought go towards the comfortable
support Of him and his family.
Such is the necessary quality of slavery and where
1t most abOus, the lot of the laboring white man is
the most miserable
The white race constitutes the State and it is to
secure their interest that legislation should be pri-
mary directed 1t is not necessary to Cypress any
other race but surely is not proper specially to pro-
tect a class of laborers, that, to the extent to
which they Obtain efectually prevent the white man
from procuring work.
Legislation should also be directed to secure that
system which offers the greatest inducements to immi-
grafton and which, by comparative analysis has been
found to open up the resources of the State
What caused the immense wealth, increase and
material deveopement Of the free States? in what
except slavery, did New York differ from Virginia in
which the advantage not the side of the latter
Inferior III SOIL in climate in water power in minerals
IN harbors, in all the natural advantages that make
up the raw material for improvement why has the
one State advanced while the other has retrog1atIed
in relative developement?
What prevents rapid immigration into this
State and the consequent increase not only of popu-
latlon but OF general improvement attendant upon it
Nothing but the fact that in nsttution-in education
in name, it is a slave State There is a shrinking
on the part OF men, reared under free institutions from
contact with slavery. They unwilling to bring
up their children under its influence do not argue
whether tins sentiment be right wrong ! speak OF
1t as fact established and admitted, preventing men
coming from free States to settle among us If it be
desirable that they should come, to invest their cap
tal-to bring with them habits OF industry and frugal
ly-to enrich the State not only by their labor and
example, but by stimulating additional immigration
ensnng diversified employment and creating addition
al demand Tor the products of the soil and therefore
enhanced prices for the land, it would seem to be
desirable to do away with the impedment that hin
ders this consummation, and if the hndrance be found
IN the existence OF slavery to put ii in the course o.
definite extinction
turn loose upon society a large class of persons un
fitted for the enjoyment of freedom
This objection it will be perceived applies only /,
immediate emancipation, and in relation to that is IL
my mind. more specious than solid
We have. now, about 10000 free negroes in tb
State AS an element of society they are NOT desiro
bic, but submit, that their sudden removal from tb,
labor of the State would be highly inconvenent
Theirgradual displacement and colonization e;.etino
separation Of the races and supplying their place will
white labor. would be beneficial to both This 20 00l
free negro element is to the slave as / to ana tI