52 Progress of Population and Wealth 



If we compare the increase of numbers shown by this census 

 with that shown by the census of 1830, by adding to the last the 

 proportional increase for two months, we find that the ratio of 

 increase had diminished in the last ten years from 33.92 to 32.67= 

 1.25 per cent. But as the ratio of increase in the largest class (the 

 whites) had, at the same time, experienced an increase, (equal to 

 0.14 per cent,) the diminution was proportionally enhanced in the 

 two smaller classes, constituting the coloured part of the population. 

 Thus the increase of the free coloured persons had fallen off from 

 34.85 to 20.88, or 13.97 per cent, and the slaves from 30.75 to 

 23.81, or 6.94 per cent. 



These differences are so great, compared with any before ex- 

 perienced, as to cast a shade of suspicion over the accuracy of the 

 last enumeration, if they were not capable of explanation. 



First, As to the greater rate of increase of the whites. This 

 class has experienced a small advance in its decennial increase 

 since 1820, as, by the census of that year, it was 34.30 per cent, 

 by the fifth census 34.52 per cent, and by the sixth 34.66 per cent. 

 The progressive increase of ratio thus shown is to be ascribed to 

 the known increase of immigration, which, as will be subsequently 

 shown, has augmented at a rate beyond our indigenous multiplica- 

 tion, and which would have manifested itself much more sensibly 

 in the two last enumerations, if there had not been a decline of the 

 natural increase in the old settled States, and if the settlement of 

 Texas had not furnished, for the first time, an instance of emigra- 

 tion of whites from the United States. We have no data for esti- 

 mating the number of whites who have thus emigrated, but they 

 probably have not been short of 50,000 since 1830, and may have 

 reached to double that number ; that is, the loss from this source 

 may be from one half to one per cent of the white population in 

 1830. 



Secondly, The smaller rate of increase of the coloured population. 

 This race has also lost by emigration. Slaves have been carried 

 to Texas ; some have escaped to the British dominions on this con- 

 tinent ; and many free negroes are known to have migrated thither. 

 This class has probably also received fewer accessions than formerly 

 by emancipation. The zeal of abolitionists, by a natural reaction, 

 has had the effect not only of making the holders of slaves less 

 disposed to liberate them, but has also influenced the policy of 

 some of the State legislatures, and created new difficulties in the 

 way of manumission. These circumstances have had the greater 



