bles,
to illustrate the fact, that the same law, by which slavery retarded the
progress of wealth in Virginia, as compared with New York, and of
Maryland and South Carolina, as compared with Massachusetts, rules the
relative advance in wealth of all the Slave States, as compared with
that of all the Free States. I have stated that the statistics of
commerce, omitted in these tables, would vastly increase the difference
in favor of the Free States as compared with the Slave States, and of
New York as contrasted with Virginia. I shall now resume the latter
inquiry, so as to complete the comparison between New York and Virginia.
By commerce is embraced, in this examination, all earnings not included
under the heads of agriculture, manufactures, the mines, or fisheries.

RAILROADS.--The number of miles of railroads in operation in
New York, in 1860, including city roads, was 2,842 miles,[3] costing
$138,395,055; and in Virginia, 1,771 miles, costing $64,958,807. (Census
Table of 1860, No. 38, pp. 230 and 233.) Now, by the same Census Report,
p. 105, the value of the freights of the New York roads for 1860 was as
follows: Product of the forest--tons carried, 373,424; value per ton,
$20; total value, $7,468,480. Of animals--895,519 tons; value per ton,
$200; total value, $179,103,800. Vegetable food--1,103,646 tons; value
per ton, $50; total value, $55,182,000. Other agricultural
products--143,219 tons; value per ton, $15; total value, $2,148,055.
Manufactures--511,916 tons; value per ton, $500; total value,
$391,905,500. Other articles--930,244 tons; value $10 per ton; total
value, $9,302,440. Grand total, 4,741,773 tons carried; value per ton,
$163. Total values, $773,089,275. Deducting one quarter for duplication,
makes 3,556,330 tons carried on the New York roads in 1860; and the
value, $579,681,790. The values of the freights on the Virginia roads,
as estimated, is $60,000,000, giving an excess to those of New York of
$519,681,790, on the value of railroad freights in 1860. The passenger
account, not given, would largely increase the disparity in favor of New
York.

CANALS.--The number of miles of canals in New York is 1,038,
and their cost $67,567,972. In Virginia, the number of miles is 178, and
the cost $7,817,000. (Census Table 39, p. 238.) The estimated value of
the freight on the New York canals is 19 times that of the freight on
the Virginia canals. (Census.)

TONNAGE.--The tonnage of vessels built in New York