New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-27
NEGRO COLONIZATION.

Massachusetts, supports in comfort a pop.
ulation of 1877 persons to the square mile,
while the States south Of the Potomac
the Rebels hors dn Congrts-ayerage from
81 of one per cent, as in Texas, up to 20 souls
mostly lazy-as in Virginia. Maryland and
Delaware, north Of that quiet stream, always in
reality free labor States, mount up as high as
43 and SO respectively; while Kentucky, which
maintained doubtful position during our strug-
gle for national existence, supported 26 persons
to the square mile.
Taking all the late Slave States, we find that
they have fertile area Of 929, s94 square miles,
and that they do not average 10 persons to q
mile. Now, by ciphering little, the reader
will discover that, in order that the South
should have population equal in density to
that of Massachusetts-only that and nothing
more--it requires, in addition to her actual
population, white and black, an increase of one
hundred and eight millions eight hundred and
nine thousand three hundred aud hiny.tro per-
sons!
What madness and folly, then, to dream Of
driving ont any portion of her present productive
population 1t looks like lunacy condensed, when
we examine the relative proportion of the two
races. For, the colored race constitutes nearly
45 per cent of the population of Alabamai
nearly % per cent of Arkansas % per cent of
Delaware; 46 per cent of Florida; more than
az per cent of Georgia; over 90 per cent of Ken.
lucky; nearly 81 per cent Of Louisiana; more
than % per cent of Maryland; over 81 per cent
of Mississippi; Is per cent of Missouri; over 90
six per cent Of North Carolina; nearly So
per cent of South Caralina; over "a per cent
of Tennessee; over q per cent OF Texas; and
81 Der cent of the Old Dominion.
This is the relative proportion Of the negroes
and their descendants to the total population;
bat II should be borne in mind that, while they
average but 94i per cent Of the Southern
people, they constitute large majority Of the
producers and laborers. Carl Schurz mentioned
in his admirable report (Which should be dis
tributed broadcast everywhere) that the larger
portion Of the work was done by the colored
people, and every one who has travelled in the
South Is well aware Ol tntJ idct'
Thus, to attain to the Massachusetts, stand.
ard, the South needs to multiply its actual
population by -. And yet Mr.. Blair coolly
proposed TO Danish one-third Of her scanty,
scattered and wholly inadequate population Of
to-day!
Some people ore so constituted that like Mr..
Gradgrind, they constantly exclam: NOW,
what 1 want is facts" To our mind it is self.
evident truth that Mr.. Blair and his disciples
are wholly wrong, but some Of our readers may
want further figures before they can accept the
verify. Well, here they are. We presume that
it will need no figures beyond those on your last
tax bill to prove that our National Debt is
already large enough, and that we cannot afford
any unnecessary increase oft.
As producer of wealth, the freedman will
be more valuable than the slave. The slaves
were estimated at $500 per head. Multiplied
by a, 600, 600 this value reaches the enormous
sum of 81 200, OOO, 900! But it would be utterly
impossible to COLOMBO them for less-it would
cost far more-than $500 per head; for not
only would inland transportation have to be
counted, and clothing, rations, and medicines
supplied, and passage paid for, but the colo
MES would necessarily need tools and mainten-
ance until they could raise crop. This would
cost $500, 600, 900 more The annualinterest on
these amounts would figure up to the nice
little sum of $l2O, 100000.
sNor Is this all. Itwould be capital destroyed
capital and its increase forever. The cotton
crop, tho rice crop, nearly all the tobacco and
the hemp and the sugar crops of the United
States were raised by the negroes alone. Now,
the proposition to sxpatriate the blacks means
that we shall throw away tho vast income de-
rived from the sale Of those great staples.
That's all--or part oft, rather.
This exodus, therefore, would instantly de-
teriorate in value all the lands, lots, and houses
in every Southern State, and by its reaction on
the North II would destroy millions upon mil
lions of now most valuable property. 30 wide
spread would be the ruin that the measure
would create-if 1t could be carried through
that figures staggsr and refuse TO bear the heavy
load that would be laid upon them in trying to