s, and
leave no reason to believe that its own natural increase ever exceeded
121/4 per cent. in ten years; while the average increase of the slave
population is nearly 28 per cent. in ten years, and of the white
population 34 per cent. in ten years. Thus, beyond controversy, the
reproductive power of the colored population, always greatly inferior to
that of the white population, is yet not half so great in freedom as in
slavery. This difference is to be accounted for in great measure by the
wicked and beastly stimulus applied to the increase of slaves, that the
chattel market may be kept supplied.

There is no reason to suppose that the increase of the free colored
population would be in a greater ratio if all were emancipated; but, as
will appear from considerations yet to be presented, much for supposing
that it would be in a much smaller ratio. How then would the case stand
on that supposition? In 1860 there were about 27,000,000 of our white
population, increasing at the rate of 34 per cent. in ten years; and
less than 4,500,000 of colored population, increasing (on the
supposition of universal freedom) in a ratio not exceeding 121/4 per
cent. in ten years. Surely, that must be a very timid man who, in this
relation of the parties, fears anything from the increase of free
negroes. A war between these two races, so related to each other, is
simply absurd, and the fear of it childish and cowardly. Slavery may
multiply the colored population till its numbers shall become alarming;
but if we will give freedom to the black man, we have nothing to fear
from his increase.

But this certainly is not the full strength of the case. There is no
good reason to believe that the natural increase of the free colored
population is even 121/4 per cent. in ten years, but much for
suspecting that even this apparent increase is the result of
emancipation, either by the slave's own act, or by the consent of the
master. If we take our departure from Chicago, make the tour of the
lakes to the point where the boundary line of New York and Pennsylvania
intersects the shore of Lake Erie, thence pass along the southern
boundary of New York, till it intersects the Hudson river, thence along
that river and the Atlantic coast to the southern boundary of Virginia,
thence along the southern boundaries of Virginia and Kentucky to the
Mississippi, thence along that river to the point where the northern
boundary of Illinois intersects it, and the