Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-02-24
"PERsEvERE."
BE CHARITABLE.

lne 'Dduy WdShtRyt0n UhtOe, winch u
friend handed to us for what use we might
make of it. Our first impulse was to
write all article under the feeling of, and
giving expression to, the natural indigna-
tion we felt on its perusal. Butt recured
To- us, "cuy 6ono?" Arguments with
those who control those papers are, of
course, useless for their only hope of sue
cess is in their ability, by their falsehood
and misrepresentation, to deceive the mass
of their readers, and thus use them for
their purposes. We have, therefore, con-
cluded by an appeal to those who have not
the same interest these leaders have in the
matter, and whom in charity we will as
sumo to be honest, try to induce them to
look at the subject in its true light. For
this,purpose we shall probably quote from
the "Union" before we close this article
To an impartial observer, the political
aspect of our country must present a
spectacle of deep wonder, if it does not
create even doubt Of the sagacity Of our
people. We have population of Co.
100000. OF these 100000 are nom
inally free, with unity of interest and a
common desire for the prosperity of them
selves ard their fellow citizens, and with
the ordinary exceptions to prove the rule,
must be allowed to be honest. These en-
brace the bone and muscle of the country
the great and preponderating class of
free laborers in all the varied departments
Of industry. Every impulse of their un-
biased judgments ought to be, and gcner-
ally is, to elevate, improve, and perfect
themselves and their children, not only in
their several special departments, but in all
the elements of education which will make
society more refined, and life more genial
and happy. The elective franchise is in
their hands, and they have the numerical
power to control the government, and
shape its action to the accomplishment Of
the benefcent ends for which it was Or
daned and established. With these data
from which to reason, the conclusion would
seem to follow inevitably that we must,
necessarily be united, harmonious and
flaternal people. But will the facts be
found 10 agree with this rational inference?
Alas the farthest possible from it Then
why not?
In addition to the 100000 of free
laborers, whose interests are one, we have
another element, consisting Of 100000
Shareholders, who own and work $780,
600 slaves, and whose interests are in d.
rect and necessary antagonsm to that of
the class first named We do not charge
these shareholders with being worse than
others would be in their circumstances.
Men are usually governed by their inter
ests, or what they suppose to be such;
and no one expects community to meas
urc its policy by any other Standard
Their position, then, gives them an inter-
est, vast and almost incalculable, in
opposition to the interests offree laborers
and they do but act on the acknowledged
principle of self-interest in the policy they
pursue. II is their interest to prevent all
mental culture in tho slaves, as the most
etiectual measures for keeping them in
subiection; and therefore. instead of such
training as would fit them for the enjoy
ment of life, their education isprohibited
under the most horrible penalties. The tes-
timony Of all history shows that an igno-
rant people are more easily controlled than
when intelligence is general; and rs the
shareholders, tomaintain their ascendancy,
must control other votes than their own,
il is their interest to prevent the enlight-
enmcnt of the free laborers; and therefore
they are the necessary enemies of common
schools, in which alone the whole people
can ever be educated There are no common
schools in the South. 1t is the interest of
the slave holder to degrade the laborer into
state Of abject abasement; and therefore
he brands the laborer every where with
the badge of servile inferiority, We
might demonstrate beyond the hope of
cavil, even, that the interests of slavery
and free labor can never be reconciled; but
We shall not pursue the subject further at
this time. 1t is their interest, of course,
TO be able to control the governments of the
States in which slavery exists, absolutely;
and the General Government as far as pos
sible. And the great mystery is, how
they manage to secure and retain that
control.
1t is manifest to every one, that with
the people instructed-the facts before
them in their true light, and the power in
theirown hands. they never would become
the consenting instruments OF their own de-
~ H. ILL A.: ...il