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Editorial
October 28, 1854
Thibodaux Minerva
Thibodaux, Lafourche County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
Editorial cites 1850 U.S. Census data to downplay the impact of the Underground Railroad and manumissions on slavery, noting only 1,011 escapes and 1,467 manumissions against a 28.81% population increase to over 3 million slaves.
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An ITEM. -The friends of the Abolitionists
and their boasted "Under Ground Railroad,"
are particularly referred to the following. In
the "Abstract of the Seventh Census" page
136, appears the following: "It appears from
the returns during the year ending on the 1st
of June, 1850, there escaped from their owners
1,011 slaves, and that during the same period
1,467 slaves were manumitted." Also on page
180, that the total number of slaves was 3,204,089,
and that the increase of slave population
from 1840, to 1850, was 28.81 per cent.
Now the total of both fugitives and manumitted
is 2,478, which stands to the total amount 3,204,089,
as three-fourths of one-tenth per cent,
while the natural increase is 28.81 per cent.
These figures do not show any great alarm that
the slave population would disappear by the
famous "Under Ground Railroad."
and their boasted "Under Ground Railroad,"
are particularly referred to the following. In
the "Abstract of the Seventh Census" page
136, appears the following: "It appears from
the returns during the year ending on the 1st
of June, 1850, there escaped from their owners
1,011 slaves, and that during the same period
1,467 slaves were manumitted." Also on page
180, that the total number of slaves was 3,204,089,
and that the increase of slave population
from 1840, to 1850, was 28.81 per cent.
Now the total of both fugitives and manumitted
is 2,478, which stands to the total amount 3,204,089,
as three-fourths of one-tenth per cent,
while the natural increase is 28.81 per cent.
These figures do not show any great alarm that
the slave population would disappear by the
famous "Under Ground Railroad."
What sub-type of article is it?
Slavery Abolition
What keywords are associated?
Underground Railroad
Slave Escapes
Manumission
Census Data
Slave Population
Abolitionists
What entities or persons were involved?
Abolitionists
Under Ground Railroad
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Minimal Impact Of Underground Railroad On Slave Population Per 1850 Census
Stance / Tone
Dismissive Of Abolitionist Efforts
Key Figures
Abolitionists
Under Ground Railroad
Key Arguments
1,011 Slaves Escaped From Owners In Year Ending June 1, 1850
1,467 Slaves Manumitted In Same Period
Total Slaves: 3,204,089
Slave Population Increase 1840 1850: 28.81%
Fugitives And Manumitted Total 2,478, Or About 0.075% Of Total Slaves
No Significant Threat To Slave Population From Underground Railroad