University of Virginia Library

I. THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER I.

TERRITORY.

As the basis for future comparisons, in this work, the following
table is introduced, showing the area of the several States,
together with that of the two great sections, the North and the
South:

TABLE I.
Showing the Area of the Slave and the Free States.

                                   

SLAVE STATES.	Area in Sq. Miles.	FREE STATES.	Area in Sq. Miles.
Alabama	50,722	California	155,980
Arkansas	52,198	Connecticut	4,674
Delaware	2,120	Illinois	55,405
Florida	59,268	Indiana	33,809
Georgia	58,000	Iowa	50,914
Kentucky	37,680	Maine	31,766
Louisiana	41,255	Massachusetts	7,800
Maryland	11,124	Michigan	56,243
Mississippi	47,156	New Hampshire	9,280
Missouri	67,380	New York	47,000
North Carolina	50,704	New Jersey	8,320
South Carolina	29,385	Ohio	39,964
Tennessee	45,600	Pennsylvania	46,000
Texas	237,504	Rhode Island	1,306
Virginia	61,352	Vermont	10,212
		Wisconsin	53,924
Total	851,448	Total	612,597

It will be seen by the above table that the area of the fifteen
slaveholding States is 851,448 square miles; and that of the
sixteen non-slaveholding States 612,597 square miles; a difference
of more than 238,000 square miles in favor of the Slave
States.[1] Let it be remembered, therefore, that the area of the
Free States is considerably less than three-fourths that of the
Slave States.

By the purchase of Louisiana, in 1803, and of Florida, in
1819, were added to the national domain 966,479 square miles;
an area greater than the entire area of the United States at
the time of gaining their independence.[2] By the annexation
of Texas, in 1846, were added 318,000 miles more, and by a
treaty with Mexico at the close of the war, 522,955 square
miles; making an aggregate of 1,807,434 square miles. This,
of course, is exclusive of the 308,052 square miles to which
our title was "confirmed" by treaty with Great Britain in 1846.

The expense of these purchases and conquests cannot be
exactly determined. The territory of Louisiana, purchased of
France, cost $15,000,000; that of Florida, purchased of Spain,
$5,000,000; amount paid Texas, about $27,000,000; expenses
of Mexican war, $217,175,575; paid for New Mexico, by
treaty, $15,000,000. Making an aggregate of more than
$270,000,000, which, together with interest on the same, the
expense of the Florida war, about $100,000,000, and nearly
the same amount paid for the extinguishment of Indian titles,
etc., etc., make a sum, little if any short of $1,000,000,000.

The manner in which this territory has been apportioned to
the two sections is given by Mr. Clay, in his speech in the
Senate in 1850. (See Appendix to Congress. Globe, vol. 22,
part 1, page 126.)

He says: "What have been the territorial acquisitions made
by this country, and to what interests have they conduced?
Florida, where slavery exists, has been introduced. All the
most valuable parts of Louisiana have also added to the extent
and consideration of the slaveholding portion of the Union."
...."All Louisiana, with the exception of what lies north of 36°
30′;"...."All Texas, all the territories which have been acquired
by the Government of the United States during sixty years
of the operation of that Government, have been slave territories
—theatres of slavery—with the exception I have mentioned
lying north of the line of 36° 30′."

California has since been admitted a Free State. The other
States, formed from territory thus obtained, and admitted into
the Union, are Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and
Texas—five Slave States.

The area of California is 155,980 square miles; that of the
five Slave States named, 457,605; being 302,625 square miles
more, and very nearly in the ratio of three to one. Indeed,
the area of these five purchased Slave States is greater than
that of all the Free States, if we except California. It will be
seen by tables VII and VIII, that the number of Representatives
in Congress from California is two, which, together with two
Senators, entitle that State to four electoral votes. The number
of Representatives from the five Slave States is sixteen, which,
together with ten Senators, make twenty-six electoral votes,
being in the ratio of six and one-third to one, and a majority of
twenty-two.

There is (of territory inhabited and uninhabited) north of
the old Missouri Compromise line an area of 1,970,077 square
miles, and 966,089 south of it.

It will be noticed, in passing, that the area of Virginia is not
quite four thousand miles less than that of all New England,
and is larger than that entire section if we except Connecticut.
It is also larger than the four States of New York, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Maryland contains over

three thousand square miles more than Massachusetts, and is
considerably larger than either New Hampshire or Vermont;
Pennsylvania and New York are each smaller than either
North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, or Alabama;
while Ohio and Indiana are still smaller. Ohio has but two
thousand two hundred and eighty-four square miles more than
Kentucky, to which it is very similar in surface, soil, and productions.
South Carolina is almost four times as large as
Massachusetts, and three-fourths as large as Ohio.