Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-18

MInanri Free.

VIII come next Ahs 4uesttOu II uVt
prompted by curiosity; the order in
which the border States extirpate slavery
will be the order of their growth in popu.
larion, wealth, intelligence and general
prosperity for half century to come.
We have noticed, on frequent occasions.
lately, the migration of farmers and others
to Maryland from States further North.
The Maryland journals are constantly re.
cording such accessions to the capital and
labor Of their State. Farming lands, be-
fore low-priced. as they must be in State
where slavery prevails, and where the
chief outlay Of the farmer or planter is for
workingmen whom he has to buy. have
already risen in value, though the period
since the passage of the Emancipation Act
il so short that no one could hope to see
much change.
As to Missouri. as we read in the st.
Louis journals, the mere promise Of free
dom was enough to excite general hope.
and to attract towards the State the attn
ron Of capitalists, farmers and mechanics
from distance. So rich is Missouri in
all the elements of natural wealth, that
She needs only freedom and peace to Sc
cure her the most rapid growth. ......
We have heard the question asked:
why should farmers and capitalists keep
away from a slave State, such as Mary
land, but readily remove into it as soon as
slavery is abolished in it," There are, of
course, a number of reasons, and to an
swer such a question fully, would involve
the discussion Of the entire difference be-
tween free and slave labor. But perhaps
the circumstance which first repels an en-
terprising man of small or great capital
from slave State is, that there he binds
himself compelled to purchase, not only
his land if he is farmer, or his machin-
cry if he is manufacturer, but also his
laborers. Take the case of two farmers,
each with $4,000, and let one settle him.
self in free and the other in a slave State,
giving TO each thousand acres of land.
The farmer in the slave State needs at
least six able bodied laborers, and he has
10 buy them; he must lay out not less
than $6,000-probably $S,000-for this
purpose, and thus at once pays out the
greater part of his capital. The free
State farmer has no such expense; he
hires free workmen. advertises for them in
the papers if there happen to be none dis
engaged in his neighborhood, and pays
out only their wages. He has, therefore,
money to spare to effect tirst-rate improve
ments; his $4,000 are laid out in COM
Portable house. convenient and substantial
stables and barns, good fences and the
most improved tools; and he has proba-
bly enough left to contribute to the build
ing of church and school house in his
township. The slave State farmer, on the
contrary, setting out with the same CAPT
tai. must spend at least three-quarters OF
il at once. to buy his workmen. He has
bat $4,000 left, with which to build
house. barn, stables, fences, and buy
stock and tools. He is poor man from
the start. While the free State man has
capital to spare. he is compelled to live
poorly, to use the cheapest tools, and to
own the cheapest cattle, for great num-
Der Of years.
Now, what is true Of the two farmers is
true also of manufacturers. 1t requires
more than twice as great capital to set
on foot any enterprise in slave State as
in a free State; the slave State farmer
would not have been as forehanded in the
case we have supposed with $4,000, as
the free State man with half the sum.
Of course, no sensible man who is about
10 invest five, or ten. or fifty, or hundred
thousand dollars in an enterprise of any
kind, does so without examining the con-
ditions and chances Of success. But
very slight examination would show to
farmer or manufacturer that he can not
afford to plant himself in slave State I'M
less the natural advantages of the Sitaa-
ton are uncommonly great, Thus we
find manufacturers established at Wheel
ing. ST. Louis, and only a few other points
in slave States and wherever they are
permanent, they gathered about them at
once q population of free workingmen,
often drawn thither BY the temptation Of
greatly increased wages and cheaper living.
All this is only to say that slave labor
is too costly an investment to any capitalist
who has even a slight knowledge Of BUSH
ness; and that, as capital is sure to be
drawn to that point where it reaps the
highest returns with proper security. and
away from all regions where its invest
ments necessarily less profitable. 80 it was
that farmers and manufacturers
seeking to better themselves, or to estab-
lish themselves in more favorable locah-
ties. should in general avoid slave States,
no matter how great the natural .advant-
ages of climate. soil. or minerals they pre-
sented. But remove slavery, establish the
free labor system, and you remove the only
obstacle to the rapid settlement and in
crease in wealth Of Maryland, Missouri,
Kentucky and Virglnia-of all the South
ern States.
The vote by which the Emancipation act
was passed in the Missouri Convention
will itself be of advantage to the State.
The fact that. Of "a delegates, but four
voted against it. shows such a preponder-
ancs in favor of free labor as will encour-
age free workmen and capitalists to turn
their attention to Missouri, as State
where the love Of slavery has actually be-
come very nearly extinct.-N. Y. EceHiHg