Free Labour Products (Article)

Free Labour Products (Article)

FREE LABOUR PRODUCTS.--At the suggestion of our correspondent, D.I., we may state, that so far no difficulty, other than some extra labour, care and expense, has been encountered by the Free Produce Association of Friends of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, in procuring cotton, the product of free labour exclusively, in the newly settled districts, where the planter, though owning the land, has no capital to invest in slaves. The Association has rendered some assistance to such in furnishing gins to be paid for in cotton. Sugar and coffee are obtained from the British West Indies and from the Northern Republics of South America. It is hoped that increased facilities will ere long be added for obtaining those articles and some others from other places. Molasses can be had from the British West Indies, though not without an advance on the price over a similar article of slave produce. The supply of rice raised by free labour is quite limited, as to any channels yet opened for procuring it. Small quantities are raised by the poorer people in North Carolina. There are ample rice lands in South Eastern Virginia, we are informed by a Friend who recently visited those parts, from whence a full supply may be obtained for our Free Produce Store, should any free persons be found willing to cultivate it. Of this, however, we entertain some doubts, since corresponding with several Friends residing there. We may say, once for all, to all friends of the Free Produce cause, that they may rely on the goods of whatever kind kept at the Free Produce Store, N.W. corner of 5th and Cherry streets, in this city, as being uncontaminated with slave labour.

8.1.1847