The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-19
Slavery in Delaware.

I In 1851, of the fifteen slave states eleven,
were in open armed rebellion against the Fed
eral Government. In these eleven, with small
local exceptions, the Proclamation of Eman-
cipation put the veto of national authority
and Of the highest law upon the institution of
slavery. The four states, untouched by the
proclamation were Maryland, Delaware, Mis-.
souri, and Kentucky. OF these, one-Mary-
land-has already rid herself of the incubus,
and since New Years day, another-Missou-
'ri-has taken the Constitutional steps to wipe
out the curse within her borders. The Gov
enor OF Kentucky has recommended inmedis
ate emancipation in that State, and no one
believes or can believe that the ball will stop
there till not slave shall exist in her borders.
J And amid this great political and armed
revolution how stands the little "Pea Patch"
State--the State OF Delaware? Though she
gave her vote for Mcclellan and therefore,
against progress, by a very small majority, the
leaven is at work in her midst. Gov. Cam
non in his late annual message, dealt faithful
IL with rebellion and slavery, and touching the
latter topic we make the following extract:
By the emancipation of Maryland, we be-
come surrounded by Tree territory inviting on
all sides the escape of our slaves. Precarious
as property In persons of will and free.agency
always il, that species OF property is now rem
dered doubly fnsecure.-There is no law of
the land requiring the rendition of fugitives
from labor. Once escaped TO the neighboring
border OF free territory, the slave Is subject to
no claim of his former master. In addition to
this there is now neither market nor demand
for this species OF property. A citizen of Della
ware cannot lawfully, either import or export
a slave. He who holds slave within the
State cannot sell here, because he who does
not hold slave does not wish to buy.
believe that state the conviction ofcandid
men OF all parties, when say, that slavery In
Della ware does not exist as source ofprofit
that we have all its disadvantages without its
vantages, iii 1t has any, and that ifit could be
at once abolished, the value Ofproperty would
be largely increased Our land naturally fer
tile and now very cheap, would attract hun
dreds of energetic men, who are kept away
only by the nominal existence of slavery.
All that our State wants is an infusion OF the
energy of entirely free labor, and the utter de-
struction of the deadenlng and disloyal infuss
ence of slavery. There Is no explanation 9TH
er than the influence of this institution, of the
rapid progress of many OF the States, and the
stationary condition OF others. A comparison
between any two States, the one free, the
other slave, starting at the foundation of the
Government under otherwise equal circum-
stances, will demonstrate the fact, that there
is not one instance where free labor has not
excelled slave labor. In the development OF
the resources of the country, in the improve
ment of mind, in the energy of body, in the
strength of moral principle, In the dignity OF
Ii ~, 4ha ;y,fo a. inf
cultivationof the soil, in the neatness aud hap
| piness of homes, and In general thrift and pro-
gress, the free States have made wonderful
advances. doubt whether any country can
furnish such evidences ofrapid and substantial
| growth.
In community where slaves are held as
| property, the white race is always placed I'M
der great disadvantages Slave labor Is I'M
compensated, white labor is compensated. -
When the two are brought into competition,
| white labor Is crowded out. Besides, the re.
suit OF slave labor is to destroy the dignity OF
labor altogether, so that while at first the eff.
| feet is to make free labor unprofitsble, unre-
munerative, it now becomes unworthy. II In
addition to this, capital absolutely owns its la
Dor, the avenues to honest livelihood are for
| ever closed to the white. This is the cause of
much poverty ignorance and crime. To avoid
such result there is but one course that is
to make labor honorable, to make intelligence
general, and to establish a Government that
shall protect and advance the interests and
welfare of the very humblest citizen. qnlSo0,
There has been but one objection urged TO
the emancipation OF slaves, and that / think,
is addressed more to the prejudices than to
the reason OF men. When this just step is
advocated, the partizan deciaims loudly
against equality. No man need be deceived
by any such fallacy. 1t is not just or manly
to withhold rights from any one; much less
is it just or manly to withhold them on the
ground that the giving of them might amel-
iorate the condition of any class of people.
There Is no ground for the fear that with fair
competition, free white labor win not demon
strate Its superiority. fit should not, then il
is the fault of our race and we cannot CON-
piaiu, But think that all the questions per
tanning to the relations of the races are In the
hands Of an All-wise Providence, who will
ultimately vindicate His purposes, in spite Of
any human efforts to thwart them. 49, 5s.