Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-11
From the New York Watchman.
INTELLIGENCE- IGNORANCE

Labor rules the world. Societies prosper
and governments endure only as they ac-
knowledge this fact. Wealth is but the ac-
emulation of labor, intelligently directed,
and the conflicts that arise with an elevated
civilization are its efforts to secure recogni-
ton. Man labors to better his condition,
and where intelligent, makes nature and
his ignorant neighbor work for him, return
ing an equivalent to each. Labor is enti-
tied to reward in proportion to the intelli-
gence involved. The lower the degree, the
fewer the wants and the simpler the voca-
ton. a mutual benefit arises from the in
PRODUCTION of intelligence into an igno-
rant community, or of ignorance into an in
telligent one-intelligence in both cases di-
rectlng ignorance, receiving and imparting
benefits. Both movements have the same
cause-a desire to improve their condition
and a result in a mere exchange of COM
modities. Agriculture offers the readiest
means of applying ignorant labor upon
large scale, and for all parties the happiest
results have followed union of intelligence
and ignorance in its pursuits. Where mat
ter invites the expenditure of labor, intel
igence accepts such as offers.
This was the state of the British colonies
in NOrth-America, when the first Africans
were brought to these shores, initiating a
system of labor that has achieved unparal-
leled results-the most successful combina-
world has ever seen. The African was in
troduced into all the colonies, but gravita-
ted toward the most fertile lands and the
longest summers, where ignorance did not
entirely hinder usefulness. Slavery, with
all its faults, has achieved every thing for
the subject race, and more for the cause of
civilization at large, and for Americans in
particular, than it will ever receive credit
for Necessity established it, without dis
appreciation from any source, whatever the
opinions of the world now, or how we'll
founded. The importance of cheap and re-
liable labor was recognized then, and the
question, always pertinent, is now of much
greater moment.
Most of the solicitude in behalf of the
late slave was based upon the hope that,
existing relations being disturbed, his labor
might fall under the direction of the phil
anthropist and the hope was not vain
At home, philanthropy has only been de-
sire to better itself, regardless of the rights
of Others and SO the freedman understands
it, after one years experience. Abroad it
was based upon jealousy of a rival, and it's
acts were to supply each belligerent with
munitions of war, and take all the money
it could from both. In parting with the
slave, We cheerfully accord him the credit
due for helping America to attain her proud
position, and for the benefit to the cause of
civilization. Another laborer might have
learned more rapidly, but none would have
been more faithful and affectionate. Dur
ing the late war, knowing what success or
defeat meant, there was not the slightest
movement toward insurrection. Probably
without his muscle, that which has been to
us tower of strength, to which the world
has bowed, would not have been produced |
Slavery has been the means of his reaching
the highest point in civilization he has
ever attained, and if he can advance from
the point at which he was taken from the
charge of his late master, the will of the
latter will not be withheld. Throughout
this land the universal want is labor
Every interest demands its increase
We cannot direct, proftably an annual
addition to it, equal to ten per cent. of the
present entire population nor can our
wonderful resources be developed with the
speed the wants of the world seem to de-
mand, without material augmentation of
it. Where it shall be obtained, what is to
be the future of America without slavery,
and of the freedman, are questions of great
The ready acceptance of physical labor
by those in the South who have formerly
only directed the labor of others, supplies |
but small part of the labor lost to the
country by emancipation. We still use
the African as far as we can, both as me-
chanic and an agriculturalist but so far,
since the change in his condition, we have
found he can be relied upon for but very
little, and millions of acres that have once
had culture are fastening back to the do
minion of nature, while the whole country,
from ocean to ocean, is calling for the hus-
bandman, who, being supplied, all the ap-
pliances of civilization soon follow Both
and ignorance can here find
home; but simple labor is what we most
need. Wherever it may come from, let us
accept it. The world has millions who
would esteem it a privilege to work for the
wages we can pay, and the supply is as en-
Turing as time itself; fer when there are
40 longer those who gladly yield to the ex-
actions of the more intelligent, we may
nope man will have so advanced in virtue
hat the sentence, SIN the sweat of thy
orow shalt thou eat bread" will be rel