Free and Slave Labor.:To the Editor of the Liberator
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Title
Free and Slave Labor.: To the Editor of the Liberator
Description
SIR--In your paper of the 19th of February, a correspondent gave a number of questions on the subject of free and slave labor. I had hoped that these inquiries would have been answered in your paper before this time, and I still hope that you or some of your correspondents who are better qualified than myself, will reply to them. Every suggestion as to the modes in which the abolition of slavery may be promoted deserves serious attention.
Your correspondent, among other questions when it is not my intention to consider at this time, asks --- 'What reasons are there for giving a preference to those articles which are produced by the labor of freemen in our own country, over articles of the same kind produced by the albor of slaves?'
In attempting to answer this question, I shall take it for granted that slavery is an evil, and that the emancipation of the slaves is a desirable object.--Both these positions I know are denied by individuals at the South, but I am writing only for persons who believe them; and to prove these assumptions would take more time than I can at present devote to the purpose.
Does, then, purchasing any article produced by the labor of freemen in preference to the same article produced by slaves, have any tendency to effect the emancipation of the slaves? I cannot doubt that it has. No one, I believe, will question that if all the inhabitants of the northern States were to purchase articles produced by slave labor, the effect which it would have in producing emancipation would be irresistible. The demand for the produce of free laborers, being very much increased, and that for the produce of slaves very much diminished, slaveholders in every part of the country would have the strongest inducement to liberate their negroes, in order to bring them into the preferred class of laborers. Indeed I have no doubt, that if all the inhabitants of the northern States were to agree to prefer the products of free labor in the manner supposed, and would act in strict conformity with the agreement, the result would be a general emancipation of the southern slaves.
On a smaller scale, the result would be similar. Suppose that only a few hundred persons in Philadelphia or Boston reslve to buy rice, the produc of free labor, whenever it can be obtained: Is not the tendency of this measure to lead some planters to cultivate that article by free negroes, in order to supply this demand?
But it may be said, what can one person do?--His buying the products of free, in preference to those of slave labor, can produce no perceptible effect. But this reasoning is not sound. The whole community is made up of individuals. If every individual should always take it for granted, that his own exertions in any cause could not produce any good effects, it is very clear that all works of benevolence, which required a general co-operation, would go on but slowly.
Besides, there is every prospect that so far from any person, who entered upon this cause, being alone, he would soon find himself united with many others. That this result may be confidently expected, will not be doubted by any on who recollects what numbers in Great Britain agreed to abstain from West India productions, when it was supposed that it would tend to put an end to the slave trade. At this very time, too, there are numerous associations in Great Britain of persons who abstain from slave produce with the hope that it will diminish slavery. Societies of the same kind have already been formed in Philadelphia and New York. I doubt not that there already numbers in this vicinity, who are prepared to adopt a similar course. I have, without making any inquiry, heard of several persons who now abstain altogether from articles produced by slave labor. If the whole community could be brought to think upon this subject, I am sure that large numbers would soon be found ready to prefer the produce of free labor wherever it could be procured.
I am inclined to believe that the establishment of a store in this city, which should vend only free groceries, would meet with a liberal patronage. I hope that some conscientious person will be found to attempt it.
If individuals giving a preference to free over slave produce have but little effect directly on slavery, by diminishing the market for its productions, the efforts made in this mode will not be unavailing.--They will, by directing public attention to the subject, tend to disperse the prevailing prejudices against the African race in this part of the country, and to put an end to slavery at the south, by showing to the planters the conscientious opinions of many persons here on the subject.
I am sensible that I have not done justice to my subject, which I consider one of great importance. I have confined myself to the question, whether the produce of free should be preferred to that of slave labor wherever it can be procured. I have not examined the other question, of equal importance, as to the duty of entire abstinence from all articles produced by slave labor. But I hope, as I remarked in the beginning, to see this quesetion, as well as the others connected with it which were proposed by your correspondent, answered in some of your papers.
To those who are doubting whether it is worth while to make any effort on this subject, I recommend the following remarks of the benevolent Clarkson, taken from his History of the Abolition of the Slave Trade:
'It cannot be otherwise than useful to us, to be impressivly reminded of the simple axiom, "that the greatest works must have a beginning;" because the fostering of such an idea in our minds cannot but encourage us to undertake the removal of evils, however vast they may appear in size, or however difficult to overcome. It cannot again be otherwise than useful to be assured (and this History will assure us of it) than in any work of righteousness, however small the beginnings may be, or however small the progress may be that we make in it, we ought never to despair; for that whatever checks and discouragements we may meet with, "no virtuous effort is ever ultimately lost."'
Your correspondent, among other questions when it is not my intention to consider at this time, asks --- 'What reasons are there for giving a preference to those articles which are produced by the labor of freemen in our own country, over articles of the same kind produced by the albor of slaves?'
In attempting to answer this question, I shall take it for granted that slavery is an evil, and that the emancipation of the slaves is a desirable object.--Both these positions I know are denied by individuals at the South, but I am writing only for persons who believe them; and to prove these assumptions would take more time than I can at present devote to the purpose.
Does, then, purchasing any article produced by the labor of freemen in preference to the same article produced by slaves, have any tendency to effect the emancipation of the slaves? I cannot doubt that it has. No one, I believe, will question that if all the inhabitants of the northern States were to purchase articles produced by slave labor, the effect which it would have in producing emancipation would be irresistible. The demand for the produce of free laborers, being very much increased, and that for the produce of slaves very much diminished, slaveholders in every part of the country would have the strongest inducement to liberate their negroes, in order to bring them into the preferred class of laborers. Indeed I have no doubt, that if all the inhabitants of the northern States were to agree to prefer the products of free labor in the manner supposed, and would act in strict conformity with the agreement, the result would be a general emancipation of the southern slaves.
On a smaller scale, the result would be similar. Suppose that only a few hundred persons in Philadelphia or Boston reslve to buy rice, the produc of free labor, whenever it can be obtained: Is not the tendency of this measure to lead some planters to cultivate that article by free negroes, in order to supply this demand?
But it may be said, what can one person do?--His buying the products of free, in preference to those of slave labor, can produce no perceptible effect. But this reasoning is not sound. The whole community is made up of individuals. If every individual should always take it for granted, that his own exertions in any cause could not produce any good effects, it is very clear that all works of benevolence, which required a general co-operation, would go on but slowly.
Besides, there is every prospect that so far from any person, who entered upon this cause, being alone, he would soon find himself united with many others. That this result may be confidently expected, will not be doubted by any on who recollects what numbers in Great Britain agreed to abstain from West India productions, when it was supposed that it would tend to put an end to the slave trade. At this very time, too, there are numerous associations in Great Britain of persons who abstain from slave produce with the hope that it will diminish slavery. Societies of the same kind have already been formed in Philadelphia and New York. I doubt not that there already numbers in this vicinity, who are prepared to adopt a similar course. I have, without making any inquiry, heard of several persons who now abstain altogether from articles produced by slave labor. If the whole community could be brought to think upon this subject, I am sure that large numbers would soon be found ready to prefer the produce of free labor wherever it could be procured.
I am inclined to believe that the establishment of a store in this city, which should vend only free groceries, would meet with a liberal patronage. I hope that some conscientious person will be found to attempt it.
If individuals giving a preference to free over slave produce have but little effect directly on slavery, by diminishing the market for its productions, the efforts made in this mode will not be unavailing.--They will, by directing public attention to the subject, tend to disperse the prevailing prejudices against the African race in this part of the country, and to put an end to slavery at the south, by showing to the planters the conscientious opinions of many persons here on the subject.
I am sensible that I have not done justice to my subject, which I consider one of great importance. I have confined myself to the question, whether the produce of free should be preferred to that of slave labor wherever it can be procured. I have not examined the other question, of equal importance, as to the duty of entire abstinence from all articles produced by slave labor. But I hope, as I remarked in the beginning, to see this quesetion, as well as the others connected with it which were proposed by your correspondent, answered in some of your papers.
To those who are doubting whether it is worth while to make any effort on this subject, I recommend the following remarks of the benevolent Clarkson, taken from his History of the Abolition of the Slave Trade:
'It cannot be otherwise than useful to us, to be impressivly reminded of the simple axiom, "that the greatest works must have a beginning;" because the fostering of such an idea in our minds cannot but encourage us to undertake the removal of evils, however vast they may appear in size, or however difficult to overcome. It cannot again be otherwise than useful to be assured (and this History will assure us of it) than in any work of righteousness, however small the beginnings may be, or however small the progress may be that we make in it, we ought never to despair; for that whatever checks and discouragements we may meet with, "no virtuous effort is ever ultimately lost."'
Source
Liberator 1:14, p. 54
Date
4.2.1831
Collection
Citation
“Free and Slave Labor.:To the Editor of the Liberator,” No Stain of Tears and Blood, accessed October 22, 2026, https://productsoffreelabor.com/items/show/115.
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