Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-01

skirting or ndenting thor estates, are scattered
the cabins Of perhaps twenty poor white men, liv-
ling from hand 70 mouth, frequently ms ignorant
and vicious they are depressed in the social
s,ale. We do not believe that in any country in
the civilized world such wide. deep chasm divides
between class and class, as that which separates
the two parties occupying this plantation district
, in the Southern States. To call them community
would be as great misnomer as possible. They
are united by no common bond Of sympathy orin.
terest On the contrary, a sour, sullen suspicion
on the one side, and proud and naughty bearing
on the other likely to widen the gulf between
them. Now, add o population OF thousand slaves
to this district, and you have the plantation sys
tenn in the perfection Of its evils. In all tha per-
tains to domestic, social and educational economy,
each planter endeavors to make his establishment
an independent estate. As far Ms possible, Ire
prevents the underground and thrift of independ-
ent industries, trades, &c. lie has nothing in com
mon with those who would plant these elements of
civilized society in that district lie feels that his
establishment is wanting, If he is Obliged to give
ono of these outside tradesmen a job. Thus he
stocks his estate with assorted hands. lie has his
own blacksmith, carpenter, brckmaker, 81. lie
patronizes No small draper, groger, ironmonger,
uphoster or shoe dealer who may venture to set up
shop in the district. He buys his iron by the ton
his groceries by hogsheads and hundreds, his shoes
and hats by the case in some large seaport, where
he sells his cotton. There he buys his books, his
furniture, and all the elegancies Of his mansion
his slaves. lie frequently forbids their resorting
to the small dealer for the purpose of trading with
them. What has nc to do with common schools
for the education of the children of tho poor! lie
has none to educate, in the first stages, with
those Of the white "SqudAcrS," as he. is apt to re-
gard them. lie either employs tutor or gov.
arness in his family; sen1 his children to some
distant b0ardngschool to be educated at ex-
pense far beyond the reach of common MEANS
Such as he are his nine fellow planters. They
may constitute social circle or arstocrats, and
maintain. a congenial Intercourse among Them
selves; but SO far as all the rest of the white pop
ulation of that district concerned, they are
worse than a6Seatees they may patronze aud en-
rich trades and occupations in large towns on the
seaboard or at a distance; but they improverish
all independent industries within the compass of
their estates.
| We do not believe that ono in ten Of the trades
men and mechanics of the Southern States would
dissent from this view of the plantation system.
We know that many Of them feel deeply on this
subject, and would express their conviction in re-
ference to its bearings far more impressiyely than
we have done, if they had fitting opportunity OF
doing it, This plantation system rs we have said,
is an institution produced by slavery and with
slavery, we earnestly hope, it will die out Of the
South entirely. For abolish slavery, and five
hundred farmers, each with his hundred acres.
might occupy and till the SO, 900 owned by these
ten large planters. What condition of soci-
ETY. would result from this change In the first
place the land itself would be brought under the
action Of five hundred individual minds, all think.
ing and planning, with all the ever-workng mpul-
ses and interests Of ownership, to develop its
pacity of production Conceive for a moment,
what an aggregate of cotton, corn, &c., five hun
dred free labor farmers would grow these so Q0C
acres, now held by ten planters How would
those wide wastes be brought into cultivation
How soon would the sunlight be let into those
Shiny. .bOttomed forests, and those fever breeding
!. and slnS Io R,,t L.
: the smallest result Of the change. A community
of five hundred farmers, with their families, would
embrace within itself ali the elements of prosper
GUS and progressive society. They would not only
stand on the snme social footing, with the 9th
er, but they would inevitably attract to their mids
aEd support class OF ira iesmen, mechanics &c.
equal to themselves in position and consideration
thus constituting New England, or northern
, community, in all the characteristics Of intelli
genco and prosperity. Where ten planters did no
support one draper or grocer, these farmers woulC
support village of stores and shops Instead O
schoolless district thousand children nigh
he brought under free instruction. Ministers
teachers editors and physicians would find scop,
for their services in such u community as this.
We are confident that the evils of the plantation
system are becoming more and more clearly seer
by the maj Jrity OF the people of the Southern
States; and that they ais" more fully ascrbe th
system to slavery There be no reason on eartl
why cotton cannot be grown as proftably on
farm plantation. In the production Of an.
article il is necessary to concentrate upon it as
much mind, as much of the interest of ownership
and its personal supervision as possible. Th
farming system Of the free States djes this in the
North and West. and we earnestly hope it may
ere long, do the same in the South. This consu
nation will doubtless follow the abolition of slave
ry and if this result could be realized it woul,
be worth in money to the Southern States tn
whole value of the slaves they now own