Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-20
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
Education in EdgefiCid.

that of the North, which has the advantage over
the former, in no element of national greatness,
except as regards intelligence or education.
l had designed to argue this proposition close
ly and in all its details, but for the present, it
must suffice, simply to warn the farmers Of
Edgefe!d against some of the most powerful
causes, which are at work, in the South and in
South Carolina, to prevent the spread of educa-
ton.
The people Of this State are the largest slave
holders in the Southern country. BY the Cen
sus Returns Of 1850, we have over 1000
more slaves than whites in the State ut large
and 6,ll7 more blacks than whites in the Dis
trict of Edgcfeld alone. In Mississippi and
Louisiana also, the slaves have small majority,
but in all the other Southern States the whites
arc much the more numerous.
AS the South Caronan has more slaves than
any other farmer, so he must have larger farm
for them to work This is the cause Of our very
sparse white population, which has tendency
to become thinner every year, from various infu-
cnccs in regions where slave labor is most prof.
table. Abbeve, Laurcns, Newberry, Fairfield,
Union, Chester, York and other Districts have
lost largely in white population, since the Census
of 1910 snd gained immensely in slaves. In
the District Of Edgefcld during the period Of
ten years, between 1910 and 80, the gain in
white population, was only 1919, willie the in
crease in blacks, was 5,l07. A similar dispro-
portion in the increase Of the two races, occur
red in most of the middle and upper Districts,
while the lower part OF the State which has
heretofore been the seat Of wealth in South
Carolina, lost in blacks, but gained in white
population.
The thin settlement Of the country, afford.
but so many scholars, who live near enough, to
attend a given school, This alone makes it diff
cult to find even united ncighborhood, with
sufficient patronage to sustain a respectable Aca-
DENY.
The remedy for this evil is that our farmers
should begin to reclaim their hills and eulles
and cease to enlarge their landed property
which is becoming a sort of mania with them
The maxim that even poor land is good neigh.
Dor, has done fearful work, against education and
other interests, in South Carolina. The nsatiatt
propensity Of this condensed bad sense, is gradu.
ally driving our small land owners from the
country and the undue encouragement, whicl
is given to the half gentlemen, or negro me-
chanics, is also expelng the -slavehnl,line
artisan whom it is the true policy Of South Car
olina to concatc.
I'll fares the land, to fastening ills the prey.
Where wealth accumulatcs, and men decay"
Luxury, ignorance and dcgcncracy, all flour
ish in such country, as in their native hot bed
But thin population is not the worst foe o
education in the South. 1t is lordly pride ant
naughty disdain, which fosters ignorance anon!
the masters Of slave community, and not an,
inherent defect in the system itself. Slavery II
tie h,a77 fSrn,h sr u! 10 ia p pPnrhans
reuda system ill;ln any two institutions that eve
existed a Southern farmer with his Llac]
vassals, always reminds me of an old EnelsI
Baron, such rs met King John at Runninrmcdc
with sword in hand and cxactrd Magma Carfa
He learns to regard his slaves, as retaincrs o,
subjects, whom he treats as good King would
his people. lie looks out from his castle upon ;
plantation, or small kingdom, within the circum.
ference of which, he is monarch of all lie sur.
vcys. This solitary reign makes him desire ,c
govern still, when 'he crosses his ncishbor'
boundary, or minglcs in the world. He is ical.
Gus of his rights, and has too much confidence
in his own judgment, however erroneous it may
be, to suffer either dic,ation, or difference OF
opinion. lie is opposed to all compromises, be-
cause they imply mutual concession, or surrcn-
der Of something, that each party claims
And as this is necessary TO establish or sup
port schools, hence the absence Of them in the
proud District of Edgefcld, which is filled with
the descendants of Virginia gentleman and
English Cavaliers. Our people are noted for
their pride SO much so, that a stranger passing
through Edgciicld and Abbcvi!lc, can tell when
he crosses the line of the latter, by the faces that
he meets. The social smile, and cordial salu,a-
tion of .Abbevillc, give place almost Immediately,
to the scowling brow and stern individuality of
Elscfcld.
But this is making local application of Il
general principal The excessive pride of the
Southern people, prevents them from having
associative action, in any measure of public, or
private importance. 1t is next to impossible, for
us to have long pull, a strong pull and pull
altogether. in cooperation of any kind.
Each one stands upon his own dignity, and il
he cannot get things exactly to an io,a as he
wants them, he will not have them at all. In
respect to schools, he will not compromise and
cooperate, in good faith as to where the school
house should be located, what sort of a building
greeted, what teacher employed, what discipline
adopted, or what Text books used. Each one
must be leader and sole dictator, in all these
difficult and delicate questions, OF else lie will
growl and show his teeth, like snarling Cur
and then sccedc to having no school, employing
a private Tutor or sending his child to distance
Mt quadruplc the expense. This last is too often
done, in obedience, to this same morbid PRIDE
hncausn II sounds hirrnr nc &c supnn.oJ IN eo,