Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-06-14

be under the proposed one Wnici
would treat them as not much better
than outcastsand outlaws? All writers
of note, from the earliest to tho
latest, who have treated upon the ell
ements and component parts, OF
members of communities and States.
have pointed this out as source oi
real danger-that is, having a large
number of the same race, not only
aliens by birth, but aliens in heart
and feeling in the bosom of society
Such was, to a great extent, the
condition of the Helots in Greece
men Of the same race placed in an
inferior position, and forming within
themselves degraded class. IWish
to see no such state Of things IN
this country. With us at the South
it is true we have "degraded caste,
but it is of race fitted by nature
for their subordinate position. The
negro, with us, fills that place in So
ciety, and under our system OF CIV
ilization for which he was designed
by nature. No training can fit him
for either social or political equality
with his superiors; at least history
furnishes us with no instance of the
kind; nor does the negro with US
feel any degradation in his position,
because it is his natural place. But
such would not be the case with men
of the same race and coming from
the same State with ourselves. And
what appears not a little strange and
singular to me in considering this
late movement, is. that if it did not
originate with, yet it is now so gener-
ally and zealously favored by SO ma
ny of those men at the North who
have expended so much Of their mis-
guided philanthropy in behalf of our
slaves. They have been endeavor-
ing for years to elevate the African
to an equality, socially and political
ly. with the white man. And now,
they are moving heaven and earth to
degrade the white man to condition
lower than that hold by the negro IN
the South. The Massachusetts, Know
Nothing Legislature passed a bill
lately to amend their Constitution,
so as to exclude from the polls in that
State, hereafter, all naturalized citi-
zens, from whatever nation they may
come; and they will allow a run
away negro slave from the South the
same right to vote that they give to
their own native bora sons! They
thus exhibit the strange parodox OF
warning against their own 'kith and
kim" it may be, while they are vainly
and fanatically endeavoIing to re-
verse the order Of nature, by making
the black man equal to the white
Shall we second them in any such
such movement? Shall we even
countenance them SO far as to bear
the same name-to say nothing OF
the same pledges, passwords, signs
and symbols? Shall we affiliate and
unite ourselves under the same ban
ner. with men whose acts show them
to be governed by such principles,
and to be bent upon such q purpose.
This is a question for Southern men
to consider. Others may do it ii
they choose; but, | tell you, | never
shall; that you may set down as a a
"fxed fact''-one Of the fixedest OF
the fixed. lam not at all astonished
at the rapid spread of this new senti-
ment at the North, or rather new
way of giving embodiment and life
to an old sentiment, long cherished
by large class Of the Northern peo-
pie, Notwithstanding the paradox
tits true, "know nothingism" did not
originate as I understand its origin,
with the class allude to. It COM
menced with the laborers and men
dependent upon capital for work and
employment. 1t sprang from the an
tagonism of their interests to for
eiguers seeking like employments,
Who we're undertaking them in the
amount Of wages. But many capt.
talists of that section, the men who
hold the land aud property in their
own hands, wishing to dispense with
laborers and employees, whose votes
at the polls are equal to their own,
seized upon this new way OF elect
ing their old. long cherished desire
And the more eagerly, as they saw
that many Of the very men whom
thay have ever dreaded as the insu-