Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-17
SLAVERY AND SLAVE LABOR.


Ject OF slavery and slave labor, considered as an
economic question, from the pen of HENRY B.
AUcHINoLoss, ESQ.
Inc article discusses the advantages and disad-
vantages OF the two kinds of labor, as experienced
IN the culture OF sugar. but the argument is equal
~ applicable to the cultivation of cotton and other
staples OF Southern production, and in Calculating
MS reasoning the writer exhibits in great detail
the practical operation and statistics of the system
OF each kind of labor as it exists in the foreign
sugar-growing countries of the ,rld--the Sand
wich Islands, Mauritius, Cuba, the West Indies,
&c.-on all Of which his article is repete with in
formation, and will amply reward an attentive pc
rusal by all candid inquirers after truth on the i'm
portant subjectmatter Of the essay indeed, if we
may venture the suggestion, it might be read by
President Lincoln himself with profit
The writer, discussing the subject, as we have
said on economic grounds alone, is an advocate for
free labor; but, entering somewha. into the ques-
tion OF emancipation, he presents views SO philoso
pho, humane, and practical, and 50 applicable to
the subject as now agitsted in our own country,
that we make brief extract from that portion Of
the article for the edfcstion of our Northern
readers.
But, before submitting the writer's views, in
the wisdom and humanity of which we entirely
concur, we will take the occasion to say, and feel
free to say, that in regard to the policy economi-
cally considered, and throwing out of view the
moral or political aspects Of the question, our own
Impressions in regard to the institution of slavery
In our Southern State. have undergone much
change. Although long fully imbued with the
sentiments on this subject which prevail in the
South, and which were implanted by those causes
birth, education, and association-which. mould
every where the opinions and sympathies men, we
have for many years regarded slavery amongst us
as deciduous institution and, brought by the
drift of recent events to look at the subject under
the revolution which has partially reached and
sui further menaces it, we much question whether
the abrogation of the system of negro slavery as it
exists in our Southern States, will be as preiudi-
cia to the interest and comfort of their present
owners as is amongst them universally believed
and deprecated. They cling most naturally to that
on which, with numerous exceptions, perhaps, they
are convinced that their prosperity and even their
subsistence depends; but we are persuaded that,
SO far as legalzed slavery is concerned, they are
mistaken We can imagine, indeed, that the ex-
tincton of this status of the servile race would re-
dound ulm otely, and soon to the advantage of the
whites as well as to that of the blacks Our reasons
for this view of the subject it is unnecessary as
1t would be obtrusive for to enter into; but
certainly where there is abundance of insured labor
in the presence of capital, 1t cannot be necessary
to the interest of the latter to ensave the former
The mode of effecting this great social revolution
in the South is all that now inspires us with
anxiety, and is that which gives value in our eyes
to the annexed remarks from the enlightened
writer in the Magazine:
There is an idea pretty generally received and credited
that slave labor especially Spanish slave labor as exists
in Cuba is the cheapest in the world and that no country
can compete with Cuba that account We believe it
to be an erroneous desj and moreover We believe that
intelligent Cubans, with their minds sharpened By the
course of events in the United States and the gradual
difficulties which are gathering around the slave trade,
snd which will eventually crush it, give thong than
we are disposed to believe they Themselves to confes
to the Disadvantages of their system its costaess and
danger
Let freely grant, what every intelligent man can
see that the sudden abolition of slavery in Cuba in the
present condition If the island would absolutely ruin it,
and that its industry would for generation to come
The story of Jamaica aud San Domingo would be repeat
ed the free negro of the tropics will not work except
under compuson of kind and half century would
be needed to get rid othe lazy worthless vagabonds who
for the trouble of planting banana patch would be indie
pendent of work. and to supply their place with aboring
1t is only within the last few years since England
has been supplying her colonies literally with coolies from
India and Chns that the unhappy colony Of Jamaica has
begun lift up ts head. little foresight quarter Of
century ago, would have saved many worthy men from
ruin and Jamaica would have kept the high rank among
the sugar countries of the world which she lost by the
blind philanthropy of English aboitioniss whose zeal
would not suffer them to wait until the negro was grsdu
ally prepared to support himself and the planter made in
dependent of his services by the free importation Of Asatc
laborers which at this late day. after much misery, has
been adopted the salvation of the colony The conse
quence of their zeal that they ruined both master and
slave The master has passed through bankruptcy or lost
his estate and the Jamaica negro of to day is worthless
creature gradual extinction Of slavery such as now
taking place in Brazil would have saved the land from the
of deness IT. the events Of the last three years
indicate of America to possess our land free Of
slavery it probable that thanks to tho energy Of
the white race, shall possess it free of negroes The
history of the West Iudies shows that free blacks either
outnumber and ruin the whites placing curse on the
most fertile countries Of the world else, when placed