The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-01

lelb NJ lOnScr any TOOnu lOr ~ bhS
impartial, nay even to the partial and preju-
diced traveller who journeys along the banks
of that majestic river, the widest and most
striking distinction is observable, and has
been for more than one generation, in every
thing that characterizes the progressive spirit
of the age. The valley which is watered by
the Ohio is perhaps one of the most fertile
upon the face of the globe. If there be any
difference in the fertility of the soil and other
natural advantages on either bank of that
river tho superiority in thezv respects Va on
the side of the people who inhabt that por-
ton of this magnificent valley lying on the
south of the river. To say that it is "as rich
as Kentucky" is the highest praise that can
be spoken of the fertility Of any soil. The
State Of Kentucky lying upon the left bank
of the Ohio was admitted as State into the
Union several years before the State of Ohio,
which lies upon the right bank. The area
of the two States is nearly equal. Kentucky
wars admitted into the Union almost before
the sound of the axe of the white man had
ever disturbed the idle dreams of the native
children of the forest. In less than thirty
years, however, from the admission of Ohio
into the Union her population had exceeded
that of Kentucky by more than quarter OF
a million. In forty years that excess was
over three-quarters Of million in ten years
more it was about one million, and the census
of 1860 shows that the population of Ohio
is now more than double that of Kentucky.
Ohio now contains 2,339599 and Kentucky
only l, 1878 people.
The difference is equally marked in the
comparative wealth of the two States, not
less so in their works of public improvement
and in the advancement and diffusion of ed
ucation and general intelligence among the
people,
If similar comparison of the progress of
any one of the old free States with any one
of the old slave States be instituted, as New
York with Virginia, or Massachusetts with
South Carolina, it will be seen that while the
slave States enjoy a superiority in almost all
the natural advantages of soil, climate, mine
raj and forest products, the free States have
themselves superiority in almost everything
that can tend to elevate State or community
in the scale of progressive civilization. 0rif
the investigation should be narrowed to the
limits of even the very smallest of all the
slave States in the Union, the State of Della
ware and an exhibit made as to the compara-
tive wealth, progress and thrift of the several
counties, it will appear that in the upper
county, bordering on the free State of Penn
sylvana and where there is but one slave
for every two hundred freemon, with less
than one-half the extent of territory embraced
in the lower county, where there are ten
times the number of slaves in proportion to
the free people, or one slave for every score OF
free persons, has far outstrippcd tho latter
county in the increase of population, and in
that wealth and material prosperity which
are the sure rewards of labor and industry
In New Castle, the upper county, the popula-
ton is nearly 60000 in Sussex, the lower
county, it is less than 10000. In New Castle
the population has doubled in the last thirty
years in Sussex it has increased less, about
10 per cent in the last thirty years. In New
Castle the aggregate assessed value of the
real estate is SlS 900, 900; in Sussex it is only
about $4,000,000. In New Castle the aggre-
gate of both real and personal estate is $685.
100000 in Sussex it is less than Sc, ,000, 900.
In New Castle there is one inhabitant for
every five acres of land in Sussex there is
only one inhabitant for every % acres. In
New Castle the average assessed value o
land is S67 per acre in Sussex it is Sc pei
acre. In New Castle the white farm hant
commands for his services an average of 81;
per month and board in Sussex he cal
scarcely command 50. In New Castle tn
average product of the farm land per acre
at least SO bushels of Indian corn and
: : bushels of wheat per acre; in Sussex tn
average is not exceeding II bushels of cor
and six bushels of wheat per acre.
II If we make the most liberal allowance fo
l. the supposed advantages of position, works {
d public improvement, and other and ever
other conceivable advantage that can b
. thrown into the account in favor of the uppe
# or non slaveholding county, and attribute t
"a them one-haf its superiority over the lowe
or slaveholdng county, the disparity betweel
,r them is so startling that it cannot fail to en-
q list the attention of every onewho is candidl
q searching after the truth in reference to tn
paralyzing effects of the institution of SLAYER
Il upon the growth and prosperity of the com
6 munity in which it is tolerated. The gain
a be derived from its removal is equally aT
n pareHt and wonderful. Let us suppose tha
IT by the actiox of the legislature of Delawar
r the slaves could all be liberated by som
,e gradual system of emancipation, and that
N should have no other effect than to increas
If the value of the land in the slaveholdin
ID county of Sussex from its present value, s.
Ii to Sl2 per acre, and then estimate the diffe
nc ence between the loss occasioned by reason
n. emancipation, supposing that the owners we
m not compensated at all, or were compensate
I'd out of the treasury of the State. The estima
he is a short and simple one.
he There are now in Sussex county less th'
an | 600 slaves hut taking the mum her at 90