The Charleston Mercury, which was crying for the revival of the slave trade a few weeks ago, is now equally desirous for the importation of coolies into the United States. It says:
‘The labor of a coolie is to be obtained at the cost of $48 annually. We feed, clothe, house and take care of one coolie. If he dies or becomes useless, we lose nothing. We risk neither our principle; nor interest; we make no investment beyond the weekly remuneration for his labor, and if from any casualty the labor ceases, so does the remuneration. … A negro’s labor would cost about $93 annually, the interest upon about $1,335 – which would be near the cost per hand. We feed, clothe, house, and take care of, within a fraction, two negroes for the use of one; if he dies, we lose principal and interest; if he becomes useless, he is an actual burden. … There is no present prospect of cheap labor from African importation. The slave trade is closed; negro labor is expensive and scarce; white labor will not answer for the cultivation of the soil in Southern latitudes. Where can cheap labor be obtained? …There are no laws forbidding the importation of Chinese laborers. Coolie labor has a three-fold merit; it is cheap, effective, and suited to warm climates. They can labor like the negro on Southern plantations, with as little risk to their health.’ (Liberator, April 17, 1857, pg1)
