Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-02-15

Its OF ldleness and become the almost pas
sivc subjects of all its consequences
And lament to say that have observ-
cd of late years that an evident deterio-
ration is taking place in this part Of the
population, the younger portion of it be-
ing less educated, less industrious, and
in every point Of view less respectable
than their ancestors
This picture is distressing and discour-
aging distressing, in that it cxhibites
three fourtbs of the whites Of The South
substantially destitute Of property. driv-
en- upon soils so sterile that only scan
ty subsistence is obtanablc from them.
depressed in moral energies, finding the
pathway to responsibility so difficult that
they decline the hopeless pursuit, ceasing
to struggle, and becoming the almost pas
sivc subjects of the consequences of idle
ness discouraging. in that it exhibits
this great bulk Of the white population
growing worse instead of better, evident
ly dcteriorating. and its younger portion
less educated. less Industrious. and in cv-
cry point of view less respectable than
thc..,r .ncastors
FROM an address upon the subject of
manufactures in South Carolina, deliver
cd in 1851, fore the South Carolina In
sti,ute. by VIM. Gregg, Esq, make the
following extracts
I'm all other countries. and particular
" manufacturing States. labor and capt.
tai are assuming an antagonistlcal posi-
lion. Here it cannot be the case CAPT
tai will be able 10 control labor. even IN
manufactures with whites, .or blacks can
always b, rasor:ed 70 n case of need
From tac pest es.im tie.
tt.tt Hayc been ab.c II make. and who
i t, ~ @ho are 50 employed as to be
wholly lnproductive to the State. at l2j.
900. BY this it appears that
but onc-titth of the present poor whites
OF our :, tie would be necessary to opcr-
ate 900 900 spindlcs. The APP
prapriation annually made by our Lesis-
la;ire for our School Fund, every one
must be aware. so far as the country is
concerned, has been little better than a
waste Of money. While we
are aware that the Northern and Eastern
States find no difficulty in educating their
poor. We are ready to despair of success
in the ml,ter, for even penal laws against
: the neglect Of education would fail to
bring many of our country people to send
I their children to school. have
long been under the impression, and ev-
cry days experience has strengthed my
: convictions. that the evils exist in the
i. wholly neglected condition Of this class
Of persons. Any man who is an observer
Of things could hardly pass through our
country without being struck by the fact
that all the capital, enterprise and intel
lisence is employed in directing slave la
Dor; and the consequence is, that large
portion ofour poor white people are Who'll
ly neglected, and are suffered TO while
away an existence in state but one step
J in advance of the Indian of the forest.
q We have collected at Graniteville abou,
Z 500 people. and as likely looking sci
Of country girls as may be found-indus.
5 trious and orderly people, but deplorably
i ignorant, three fourths of the adults MOI
: being able to read. or to write their names
c The whole white population of South
5 Carolina, by the census of 1855, bein.
: only 274.563, nearly one half, accordin,
: to Mr.. Grcgg's estimate, are substantial
= ly IDLE and unproductive, and woult. seen
e to have sunk into condition but littl,
IS removed from ba-barism.
Gov. Hammond, in an address befor
the SOutn carolina institute III iSOD, uc
q scribes these poor whites as follows:
&c They obtain prccarious subsistence
by occasional jobs, by hunting, by fish
y ing. by plunderins fields or folds. an
: too often by what is in its effects for wors
m trading with slaves, and seducing thcr
81 to plumber for their benefit.
r Elsewhere Mr.. Gregg speaks as follows
'ls is only necessary to build man
featuring village Of shant.es. in health
,oo,, ion in any part Of the State. to hav
ooxas of these people around you, seek
ing emplo, " ~ ''''' ~ :,
,,,vo, - ono, Stives at the North. 1t
;ndocd r,,ns,, . be brought in contle
with such ignoranc, : and degradation"
! Isit really true tn " .0u'a CAi0in
means to dissolve this I "o"'" ORG @"i
not be permitted to exten. -
, stitntions nnder which one "" VI LII