The Slave Trade, Domestic and Foreign | Page 7

cent.
Macpherson, treating of this period, says--
"That importation is not necessary for keeping up the stock is proved
by the example of North America--a country less congenial to the
constitution of the negro than the West Indies--where, notwithstanding
the destruction and desertion of the slaves occasioned by the war, the
number of negroes, though perhaps not of slaves, has greatly
increased--because, since the war they have imported very few, and of
late years none at all, except in the Southern States."--Annals, vol. iv.
150.
The number of vessels employed in the slave trade, in 1795, is stated to
have been twenty, all of them small; and the number of slaves to be
carried was limited to one for each ton of their capacity.
From 1800 to 1810, the increase was 378,374, of which nearly 30,000
were found in Louisiana at her incorporation into the Union, leaving
about 350,000 to come from other sources; being an increase of 35 per

cent. In this period the increase of Georgia and South Carolina, the two
importing States, was only 96,000, while that, of the white population
was 129,073, carrying with them perhaps 25,000. If to this be added the
natural increase at the rate of 25 per cent., we obtain about 75,000,
leaving only 21,000 for importation. It is probable, however, that it was
somewhat larger, and that it might be safe to estimate it at the same
amount as in the previous period, making a total of about 52,000 in the
twenty years. Deducting 26,000 from the 350,000, we obtain 324,000
as the addition from domestic sources, which would be about 32 per
cent. on the population of 1800. This may be too high; and yet the
growth of the following decennial period--one of war and great
commercial and agricultural distress--was almost thirty per cent. In
1810, the number had been 1,379,800.
In 1820 it was 1,779,885; increase 30 per cent. " 1830 " 2,328,642; "
30.8 " " " 1840 " 2,873,703; " 24 " " " 1850 " 3,591,000; " 25 " " [11]
Having thus ascertained, as far as possible, the ratio of increase
subsequent to the first census, we may now proceed to an examination
of the course of affairs in the period which had preceded it.
In 1714, the number of blacks was 58,850, and they were dispersed
throughout the provinces from New Hampshire to Carolina, engaged,
to a large extent, in labours similar to those in which were engaged the
whites by whom they were owned. One-half of them may have been
imported. Starting from this point, and taking the natural increase of
each decennial period at 25 per cent., as shown to have since been the
case, we should obtain, for 1750, about 130,000. The actual quantity
was 220,000; and the difference, 90,000, may be set down to
importation. Adding, now, 25 percent, to 220,000, we obtain, for 1760,
275,000; whereas the actual number was 310,000, which Would give
35,000 for importation. Pursuing the same course with the following
periods, we obtain the following results:--
Actual Natural Actual Years Number. Increase. Increase. Importation.
----- ------- --------- --------- ------------ 1760..... 310,000..... 77,500.....
152,000..... 74,500 1770..... 462,000..... 115,500..... 120,000..... }
1780..... 582,000..... 140,500..... 170,000..... } 34,000 1790..... 752,000,

number given by first census.
For a large portion of the period from 1770 to 1790, there must have
been a very small importation; for during nearly half the time the trade
with foreign countries was almost altogether suspended by the war of
the revolution.
If we add together the quantities thus obtained, we shall obtain a
tolerable approximation to the number of slaves imported into the
territory now constituting the Union, as follows:--
Prior to 1714..................................... 30,000 1715 to
1750...................................... 90,000 1751 to
1760...................................... 35,000 1761 to
1770...................................... 74,500 1771 to
1790...................................... 34,000 And if we now estimate the import
subsequent to 1790 at even........................ 70,000 ------- We obtain as
the total number................... 333,500 =======
The number now in the Union exceeds 3,800,000; and even if we
estimate the import as high as 380,000, we then have more than ten for
one; whereas in the British Islands we can find not more than two for
five, and perhaps even not more than one for three. Had the slaves of
the latter been as well fed, clothed, lodged, and otherwise cared for, as
were those of these provinces and States, their numbers would have
reached seventeen or twenty millions. Had the blacks among the people
of these States experienced the same treatment as did their fellows of
the islands, we should now have among us less than one hundred and
fifty thousand slaves.
The prices paid by the British Government averaged £25 per head. Had
the number in the colonies been allowed to increase as they increased
here, it would