Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-19
WHAT Is TO BE THE FATE OF THE
NEGRO RACEP

NEGRO RACE?
The St. Louis Republican says: Il The
total colored population of The United
States in 1870, according TO the last census,
was 4,SS0,00O; in 1860 it was AL, $50; in
1850 1t was S,63S, ScS, and in 1910 it was
2,S79,64S. The increase during the decade
ending With 1870 was 43s, 179, or less than
1Oper cent. The increase for the decade
ending with 1860 was 800, 022, or % per
cent; and the increase for the decade end
ing with 1850 was 765, 100, or 81 per rent.
There is something surprising in these f.
CURES. They show that the colored popula-
ton increased less than half as much from
1860 to 1870, as from 1850 to 1860; and
that it increased five per cent faster from
1910 TO 1850 than from 1850 to 1850. The
increase for the decade ending with 1870
was less than 1 per cent per year; for the
decade ending with 1850 it was % per cent
year; and for the decade ending with
1850 it was 81 per cent year. What is
is more strange still the actual increase
from 1850 to 1860 (sO3, OPP was nearly
twice as great SIS the actual increase from
1860 to 1870 (43S,179). 1t is true there
was war during the last decade; but it is
not easy to see bow that can account for
the low rate Of incresse, for the period,
as its ravages were almost exclusively
among the whites, the negroes having
comparatively little to do with the fighting
on either side. If an explanation is to be
found in the unsettled condition of the COL
ored people after the war from 1866 to 1870,
the paralyziDg effects of that transition state
upon them were far more serious than has
been copjectured."
In considering this subject it should be
borne in mind that during the first half of
tie last decade, or from 1860 to 1866, the
negroes had the same thoughtful care for
their health and we.l-being manifested by
their owners that had been exhibited pre-
vious to 1860. They were well fed and
clothed, and their hsalth looked after with
the same anxiety as of old. Under this
treatment the increase of the negro
population probably continued in
about the same ratio as previous
to the war. 1t is commended by all author
tiles on the subject that the increase in
mortality of the negroes which has been in
much greater ratio than among the whites
dates from about 1865, when the care of
their owners for their health was relaxed
by their entire freedom. Statistics of NOR
tally in many of the cisies of the South
show much larger per centage of deaths
among the negroes than the whites In the
years succeeding the close of the war.
These statistics have led many to believe
that there has been no actual increase of
the negro population since about 1865, and
the increase of less than ten per cent. be-
tween 1860 and 1875, should properly be
credited to the first half of that decade, for
the reason which we have previously stated.
It will be noticed that the increase in the
negro population between 1860 and 1870, is
less than half that which marks the decade
of between 1850 and 1860; a fact that war
rants the claim that the increase of the last
decade is mainly cue TO the thoughtful care
with which their health vas guarded dur
ing the first half of that period.
Left alone TO their own Instincts
and to their own care after 1866, they have
fallen victims TO diseases brought on in
many instances by imprudence and neglect
ofthe simplestlsws OF health, and the mortali-
ty among them has been so great in locali-
ties where statistics have been preserved as
to induce a strong belief among some of
our most intelligent citizens that the race
has already entered the downward plane.
The marked contrast in the re.a'iye in
crease of the white and black races is well
calculated, in connection with the facts to
which we have just referred, to strengthen
that belief. The white population, exclud.
ing the foreign born, in 1870 was 2S,022,-
AS; in 1860 it was 22,7SS,84O, and in 1850
it was II, 908, 466. The increase during the
decade ending with 1870 was 5,236, sos, or
% per cent; the increase during the, decade
ending with 1860 was 5,4T5,374, or 80 per
cent; and the increase during the
decade ending with 1850 was g.
102, &C.,, or p per cent. The increase
from 1860 to 1870 was al the rate of % per
cent year; from 1850 TO 1860 it was at the
rate of 80 per cert year, and from 1S40
to 1850 it was atsthe rte of 2.2 per cent a
year. Notwithstanding the ravages of
destructive war whose direct effec.s were
confined almost exclusively to the whites,
they increased at a rate more than double
that of the blacks. The hslcyon decade of
the whites was from 1850 to 1860, when
they increased 80 per cent; and that of the
black was from 1910 to 1850, when they in
creased 27 per cent. The returns of the
next census will be looked for with great
deal of interest, for they will develop the
fact whether the negro race will increase, or
whether it is destined, like the Indian, to
become extinct on this continent. The
census Of 1850 will unquestionably elucidate
this problem.
In the meantime it is interesting to study
the drift of the negro population as eluci-
dated in the following tabulated statement
copied from the New Orleans Picdylule:
ave beg leave to lay before our readers q
table compiled from the census of 1870,
showing the increase or decrease Of the col
ored population in thirteen Southern States.
To elucidate it, we have presented rough
estimate of the per centage of increase or
decrease, which our readers can easily veri
fy by the table itself. We think that the
Ia lie explodes a great mary errors, and
elucidates many important truths:
CoLORED POPULATION AT EACH CENSUS PROM
1910 TO 1910.
1910. 1850. 1860. 1870.
Alabama. 255,571 345,lO9 437,77O 475,51O
Arkansas. % 4770S 11,259 122,169
Florida. 1854 4O,2i2 62,677 9l,6s9
Georoia 2S3 6q7 3S4 6l3 465 SOS 545 l42