1860_. The Homestead Law was the fit result of this
vast advance of free labor, and has sealed the destiny of every present
and future Territory of the Union.

Then contemplate the vast expansion of manufacturing industry, of which
nine tenths belong to the Free States. _In ten years from 1850 to 1860,
this branch of labor had increased eighty-six per cent._, reaching the
enormous sum of $2,000,000,000; $60 for every inhabitant of the Union. A
million and a half of people were engaged as operatives therein,
supporting nearly five millions--one sixth the whole population of the
Union; while fully one third our population may be said to directly and
indirectly live by manufactures.

The increase of iron manufactures in ten years was forty-four per cent.;
the coal mines reached a treble yield in ten years; $10,000,000, of
clothing were produced in 1860. The lumber trade had increased
sixty-four percent, in ten years, reaching $100,000,000. Flouring mills
showed sixty-five per cent, increase, reaching $225,000,000; spirits,
$24,000,000; cotton manufactures had increased seventy-six per cent, in
ten years, reaching $115,000,000; woollens had increased sixty-seven per
cent.; boots and shoes walked up to $76,000,000, and leather to
$63,000,000. The fishermen of New England increased mightily. The gold
of California, copper of the Northwest, the salt of New York and
Michigan had reached colossal proportions. Whoever studies the
manufacturing statistics of the North for the past ten years will be at
no loss to know why the manufacturers of Great Britain are willing to
sever the Slave States from the Union, to gain a customer it was thus
supplying in 1860.

Now add to this array of agriculture, manufactures, extent of territory,
and excess of population, the superiority of the Free States in
commerce. The tonnage of the Union was twenty-six millions in 1860, the
fourth of which was the growth of the ten years previous. Out of the one
thousand and seventy-one ships built in 1860, the 'nation' of South
Carolina produced one steamer and one schooner! Contemplate the money
power of the city of New York, the vast capital invested in trade, in
banks, insurance, and the like, in the North. The slave aristocracy was
becoming imprisoned in a vast web of financial dependence--a web that
war and wholesale repudiation of debts alone could break through.

In 1860 there were in the Union 30,- 600 miles of railroad, costing
$1,134,- 452,909