EVIL EFFECTS OF SLAVERY. 353 



rapid progress of the three States I have mentioned, 

 is to be ascribed to their position in the direct line 

 between Europe and the north-western States, and to 

 the tide of emigration and commerce which flows through 

 them, enriching and increasing all interests as it rushes 

 along. But the main and most really influential cause 

 of the difference in the present relative position of Vir 

 ginia, is ascribed to the existence of slavery, the gradual 

 exhaustion of its virgin soils, and the consequent unpro 

 fitableness of slave-labour. 



In proof of the evils ascribed to slavery by the com 

 mittee of the New York State Legislature &quot; that it 

 degrades labour, paralyses industry, represses enterprise, 

 exhausts the soil, perpetuates ignorance, and impover 

 ishes the people,&quot; it is stated by them 



First That in 1790 the population of Virginia 

 (748,000) was double that of New York State, 

 (340,000;) while, in 1840, the population of New York 

 State (2,500,000) was double that of Virginia. 



Second That in 1800 the population of Virginia was 

 in the proportion of 11.9, and in New York of 11.7 per 

 sons per square mile, while in 1840 there were in the 

 latter 49^, and in the former only 18.6 persons to the 

 square mile. 



Third That the annual products of New York 

 amounted in 1840 to the value of 79 dollars for each 

 individual, while in Virginia they were estimated only 

 at 62 dollars, and 



Fourth That, in the primary schools of New York, 

 there were 500,000 pupils, and in those of Virginia 

 only 35,000 ; while of persons who could neither read nor 

 write, there were less than 70,000 in New York, but 

 upwards of 500,000 in Virginia. 



These facts prove that in the one of these States, 

 compared with the other, population has been restrained, 



VOL. II. Z 



