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Wealthy Southerners

Slavery in the South made lots of people well off, with that in mind....

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The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Page 372 Series 3 - Volume 4

OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN FREEDMEN’S INQUIRY COMMISSION,
New York City, May 15, 1864.
To the Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

...In many free States colored immigrants are required by law to give bond that they will not become a county charge. There is no class of day laborers from whom, with equal justice, the same demand might not be made.

There came to the knowledge of the Commission in New Orleans a fact which, more strikingly perhaps than any other they have met with, bears testimony to the ability of the colored population, when emancipated, to take care of themselves.

The Commission ascertained that the free colored people of Louisiana, in the year 1860, paid taxes on an assessment of $13,000,000. But by the census of 1860 the free colored population of that State is put at 18,647. This would give an average for each person of about $700 of property.

It is probable, however, that the actual average is considerably less than this. Those best informed on the subject expressed to a member of the Commission who visited New Orleans the opinion that the census return was below the truth, and that in 1860 there were probably in Louisiana 25,000 free colored persons. Assuming this to be the actual number, then the average wealth of each is $520.

But the average amount of property to each person throughout the loyal free States is estimated at $484 only. It follows that the free colored people of Louisiana are, on the average, richer by 7 1/2 per cent. than the people of the Northern States.* And this occurs, it should be remembered, under many civil disabilities, which are a great pecuniary injury—seriously restricting the means of accumulating property....

All which is respectfully submitted.
ROBERT DALE OWEN,
J. McKAYE,
SAML. G. HOWE,
Commissioners.

* See, in connection with this subject, Supplementary Report of the Commission, B, by James McKaye. See also, for the above estimates of average wealth and population, National Almanac for 1863, pp. 147 and 309. The average wealth in Great Britain and Ireland is $707 for each person. (Same almanac, p. 146.)

________________________
David Upton

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