Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-11-08
[BY q aquTHERN nan.

TEe 4ou44 ~ ~ 1Ss-s
- - aBY a Aou1HERN NAM * Is - .
s. Nh E6irol:- WIN YOU permit citizen Of South
Carolina though native of New Jersey, to occupy
. portion of your columns, not an discussing the
merits of the Presidential candidates, but in endea-
voring to vindicate the South from the false and
slanderous charges which have been 30 avishiy be-
slowed upon her r. .s L, 4 81 III 81 ty 4
Your orators charge upon the South that the Ia
boring man is degraded below the level Of the slave
and, consequently, has neither social nor political
influence. can speak for the State and city where
reside and do not hesitate to pronounce this al
legation to be absolutely untrue. Nowhere in the
United States has the working man q farer chance
for social and political distinction than in South
Carolina nowhere in the North has the working
mechanic higher position or greater political Inu'
ence than in the city Of Charleston; nowhere in our
great couederacy Of States do the people look with
more jealousy on those who would claim hereditary
distinction than in the State where reside.
To prove this letme cite toi yousome facts; your
CITY Council is composed Of sixteen members, and
may safely compare these gentlemen with any 9TH
er sixteen men in any other City Council on this
continent They arc all of them men OF character,
of intelligence, Of high and honorable sentiment, of
fair standing in point of property, and above sus-
picion in point Of integrity.
?, All of them are working men, who pursue some
occupation for their own benefit, and whose gratui-
tous devotion to the public must involve, to con-
siderable extent, their own private interests.
Six of these men are practical mechanics who, in
any company, would glory in taking rank among the
working classes. ,...@t
Ono Of them may be seen every day in the most
public street in Charleston, with his coat off, and
his sleeves rolled up, and his apron on, making or
mending boots and shoes for his customers with his
own hands. .. ..-...a
And yet this gentleman has standing in COM
munity, and an influence both social and political,
which, will compare favorably with that of any man
amongst us.
*. 1t would be folly for me to deny that there
those amongst u.s. who undervalue and look down
with contempt on the working man. Let me ask you,
Mr.. Editor, if such men not to be found every
where. Wealth and luxury operate at tho South
Just as they do at the North, and occasionally may
be found who lives life OF ldeness and looks
dow the working man.
But with us, with you, this class Of men is
small and perfectly powerless as regards their polit
ical influence.
With u.s. as with you, the industrious, frugal and
honest man attains that rank in the social scale to
which he is entitled, and which, If | were to make
any comparison between the two sections, he will
reach in a shorter time, and will meet with fewer
obstacles at the South than at the North.
claim, Mr.. Editor, to have better knowledge
on this point than those public speakers, who have
never visited the Southern States who have
merely passed through our country without taking
the time necessary to form correct opinion. have
resided in South Carolina thirty three years, and
claim to have better opportunities OF Knowing and
understanding the condition of the South than those
who have merely passed through it. Believe me,
you are deceived and cheated when you told that
the working man, at the South, occupies position,
in the least degree less reputable than he does any
where on the habitable globe.
But Mr.. Editor, there is another point to which
would call the attention of your readers Your ora
tors would have you believe that the South is steep
ed in poverty and crime necessary consequence
of having the institution of slavery.
You are called upon to institute comparisons be.
tween certain free States and certain slave States,
and to note the vast difference between them.
Permit me to ask you to institute the same sort of
comparison between certain free States and other
free States and you will observe the inequali.
ty. Compare New York with any of the old States,
and you will find she has outsripped them all. But
compare New York with Georgia, and the slave State
has greatly the advantage in the increase Of popuia
ton since 1890 while SOuthC Carolina has kept
xith New Jersey. and North Carolina with New
Hampshire, and Virginia is not far behind Massa-
chuSctts.
But why, Mr. Editor, arc these comparisons made?
Do your orators wish to make the North despisc the
South as weak, feeble imbecie and contemplate?
DO they wish to create i'll will and animosity? DO
they mean get up such state Of feeling between
the two sections will make the Union, under our
present Constitution, no longer desirable!
Can two opposite sections live in peace and har-
mony while they are hating each other, and dcspis-
ing each other?
Let me beg my friends and acquaintance in New
Jersey land | trust have manyl TO consult the
dictates of common sense, and laugh to scorn the
Efforts of demagogucs and protested politicians to
weaken the attachment between the slave holding
States.
We arc entitled to your respect ask nothing
but equal rights under the Constitution of our
fathers, and we would be unworthy OF IN associa.
ton with you if we to accept Of any inferior
position in this Confcdcracy.
Yours respectfully,
JAS. j. McCARTER
of Charleston, S. C.
[It is almost unnecessary for us to add that Mr..
McCarter, the writer of the above, is vel! known
throughout Sussex county, and held in high cstina.
,on here by men of all parties. We hope those who
have listened to the insane rawlings Of those twin
judges, Marsh and Waterman, will calmly read the
letter of Mr.. McCarter. al =.
Editor Neao szesaey Herald
The Democrats had fine time of it here last Tues
day. 1t being court week, large crowd was at
tracted, chiefly to listen to exposition of political
parties they exist the speakers being Hon.
Thomas Rufin and DR.. ard, of Green. The
Doctor led off in speech Of nearly two hours du-
ring which he listened to with the livecst in
terest He reviewed the whole political area in u
mastery anner:-appled his dissccting knife to
Sans carcass, laying open every joint and muscle
and artery from horn to hoof Of that interesting ami
mal-told his age-his origin which was Of British
prejudice against republcansm since the days of 76