It would seem, therefore, as if it was inevitable that the question of emancipation is to be thrust upon us, and we must be prepared to meet it.  It is in this view, and irrespective of the question of right and wrong in slavery, that some considerations present themselves, which can not be ignored.

The difference of race between the white and the negro will ever keep them apart, and forbid their amalgamation.  One or the other must ultimately go to the wall, and it is worth our while to see what time is doing with the question:  ‘Which must it be in this country?’

Hence it is important to note the progress of both the races with us.

In the course of seventy years, that is, from the census of 1790 to that of 1860, the slave population has increased from 697,897 to 4,002,996.  So that our colored population is now six times as great as when our Government was formed.

During the same period the free population has increased from 3,231,975 to 27,280,070, or nearly nine times as great as in 1790.  Of this increase about 3,000,000 is the result of emigration; so that the native-born population has increased to about 24,000,000, or about eight times as many as in the beginning of our Government.  If due allowance be made for those born of emigrant parents,[A] it would seem that the two races have about kept pace with each other in their natural increase.

A more minute examination, however, will show that the natural increase of the colored race has been in a greater ratio than that of the whites, native-born to the soil.

The following tables will show how this is, both as to the colored and the white races.

Increase of slave population.

Years.  No. of Slaves.  Increase.  Per ct. of Increase.

1790,      697,897
1800,      893,041       195,144       28
1810,    1,191,364       298,323       32
1820,    1,538,064       346,700       29
1830,    2,009,031       470,967       29
1840,    2,487,855       478,324       24
1850,    3,204,313       716,958       29
1860,    4,002,996       798,683       25

The average increase in every ten years during the seventy years has been about 28 per cent.

Increase of whole population, including slaves
and emigrants

Years.  Population.  Increase.  Per ct. of
                                           Increase.
1790, 3,929,872 1,376,080 1800, 5,305,952 1,376,080 37 1810, 7,239,814 1,933,862 36 1820, 9,688,131 2,398,817 33 1830, 12,866,920 3,228,789 34 1840, 17,063,353 4,196,433 33 1850, 23,191,876 6,128,523 36 1860, 31,676,217 8,484,341 36

The average increase in every ten years would be about 35 per cent.