The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-09-17
In,endant, Il. c. l..

Mr. EpiTor: 1t is not often that feel
disposed to trouble the public, or the press,
with my vague scribbling, and hope you
will excuse this intrusion
BY reference to the public journals Of the
North, | find that the opinion there prevails
10 n very great extent, that here ut the
South we are divided into two classes. viz
the slave holder and non slave holder (or TO
be shorD the rich and the poor; and consc-
Iucnily the opinions Of the Abohtionis:s
are that the rich are the only class who feel
any interest involved in the subject Of slave
ry. 1t is also their opinion that the poor
test which is going on between the North
and South, and stard perfectly indifferent,
awaiting the crisis, when direct issue will
be made, between the nbolitioHists of the
North and slave holders of the South, " hen
the poor class will be sure to take sides
with the aboitionists against slavery. and
against their neighbours, friends, and rela-
tivcs. Now n greater error could never
hive entered the Imagination Of those Gelu.
dcd aholiionistS and fanatics. Do they
suppose that The poor are so void Of intclIi-
gencc and so ignorant in relation to their
position and rights, rs not TO perceive that
the question Of abo'shng slavery is Of vital
importance 10 them' Do they not know,
that they will be the greatest sufferers both
socially and pccuniarly! Do they not also
know that they will be compelled to stand
the brunt not having the means Of escape
poor man not know that his domicile and
little farm is his all in supporting and pros
tecting his family, and does he not further
know that the negroes as slaves, acting in
suhordinntion to their owners, are perfectly
harmless. and that he (hc poor mani can
live a neighbour TO, and enjoy the society
Of the rich man in the neighbourhood of aii
his slaves, and be perfectly secure?
would now ask the abclitionists if IL is
possible for them to suppose that the poor
men OF the South have never mado them
So''tS "'iu''hfu WIN tue pIlhClpIcs OF lle
abolitionists Of the North, who have dcelar-
ed that they would never cease 10 npiiate
the question until every slave shall be freed
from bondage' Do they not declare tha,
all men (negroes and alp are born free and
equal! Have not the poor men long since
made themselves acquainted with these
facts' And docs not every poor man know
that If slavery is abolished and the negroes
set at liberty among the whites, that it would
be the ruin of all, the poor as we'll rs the
rich ! Do they not know that the greatest
calamity would befall them, and that the
desolaiing scenes If st. Domingo would be
re-enacted and felt alt over the land, and
that debauchery Of the blackest and foulcst
character would be daily practiccd! Abo-
litionsts, tell you, the poor men know
that such state of things can not exist
they know If you succeed in carrying out
your destructive principles and hellsh de-
signs that rapins and murder will be the or.
der Of the day, and that their wives and
daughters would be insulted, dishonored d
and brutally murdered. The abolitionists,
yea the Beechers, Grcelys and NIL their syc-
ophnn,c crew; who have profancd the sa-
cred desk ,msy russ assured, ths, they are