y three white inhabitants
own twenty negroes, the land is more than three times as valuable as in
the parishes, where every forty-three of the white population possess
only fifteen negroes.

LESSON NO. 4.--In the last lesson the truth was brought out that
forty-three white men and fifteen negroes are worth no more to the
State, financially considered, than three white men and twenty negroes.
Let this lesson examine the question: "_Whether forty-three white men in
command of fifteen negroes are worth AS MUCH to the State,
agriculturally and commercially considered, as three white men in
command of twenty negroes?_" This is a bold question and requires some
calculations. In making the calculations to base the comparisons upon,
sugar will be estimated at $60 per hogshead; molasses at $7 per barrel;
corn at $1 per bushel, and cotton at $40 dollars per bale. At these
rates the value of the agricultural productions in the five parishes,
where the white population is nearly three times as great as the negro,
amounts to $446,550, in a population of 17,524 whites, 6,038 negro
slaves, and 343 free negroes--the aggregate population 23,905, which
gives to each inhabitant $18 68.

The value of the agricultural productions in the five parishes, viz:
Carroll, Concordia, Madison, Tensas, and West Feliciana, where the negro
slaves are nearly seven times as numerous as the white population,
amounts to $8,854,770. In other words, 55,035 negroes under the command
of 8,326 whites, in an aggregate population of 63,768 (407 being added
for free negroes), produced $8,854,770 worth of agricultural products in
one year, estimating cotton at $40 per bale, sugar $60 per hogshead, and
corn at $1 a bushel; this amount divided by the aggregate population
gives each individual, black and white, old and young, $138 87. Three
whites in command of twenty negroes produce $3,194 worth of agricultral
products. This lesson was to solve the question whether forty-three
white men in command of fifteen negroes are worth as much to the State,
agriculturally and commercially considered, as three white men in
command of twenty negroes? It has been proved that in those five
parishes where the whites nearly treble the negroes, each inhabitant
only produces $18 68. This would give to forty-three white and fifteen
negroes only $1,081 70 as their share of the value of the agricultural
productions--whereas, the share of three whites and twenty negroes, in
those parish