The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-13
IMPRESSIONS OF SOUTHERN SOCIETY

tho Son,l. Western States. During his visit he
has contributed to his journal, the Southern Citi-
sen, published in Knoxville Tennessee, u series
of graphically written letters upon Southern In
stitutions &C. lilo closes the series with the
following:
First, then, Southern society, wherever its
elements are tn equilibrie, or nearly-that is,
where the slaves are numerous enough to occupy
the field Of TOLL or nearly-is tho most perfect
form Of social polity now existing anywhere IN
the world. Those conditions are attained only IN
some extensive rural planting districts, aud,
among States. only in South Carolina, where the
negroes much more numerous than the
whites When these States concurred III prohlb.
itipg the slave trade from Africa they did II not
from sentin,.ntaity, but because they then had
slaves enough for the strip of land they occupied,
and never dreamed Of tho b"undless capabilities
of the Mississippi valley. Since then great
influx of white immigrants, and none of negro
slaves, have resulted in population of G,Uu0,-
600 whites to 8, 500 900 slaves, aud this with the
high price Of negros, has made it impossible to il-
tcrcst enough of the people in the actual work
ing Of the system though they all, in fact derive
oil their means Of support from that system. The
tendency, owever, Of this want Of equilibrium, is
to accumulate great estates in few hands, and To
leave on the outskirts Of society considerable
rural population, not artisans, not Traders aud
hardly farmers who are of no use to themselves or
70 the State This once rccti.d. or put in progress
of recti(ica,ion, and of all Republics and M"nar.
chies on the earth. ancient OF modern, l shall
choose the Southern States
"Ihird. l noted, during my tour.-and, in
deed, had often noted il briure-a peculiar gen.
tleness Of demeanor and quiet courtesy. which,
rs l said was attributable to the institution oi
slavery. 1t is because the unqucstioned possession
of great power, involving great responsibilities
which responsibilities are fully recognized by pub.
lie opinion trains to habits of sell eli-rcstruin,.
IF u man be brute. yet hr has strong interest
in hahitually controlling his violent passions; if
he be gentleman, he will control them because
he is gentleman; If something Intermediates he
will find himslf acted upon by the public opinion
of his negibors and equals. The established
custom is to speak gently 10 servants: and so
much Of the intercourse of the people s with
their servants, that tins has created throughout
society softness of manner and tone, which. in
educated people, being united with dignity and
self. possession, gives Inc the ideal of u we bred
person. have seen the effect Of this uro, boys.
You know it is Il fivoritc saying OF the Northern
people and the English, that one evil of slavery is
10 MAZE boys iInperious and cruel. The Oppo-
site is true. Recollcci, we are i'll IL land Of ra-
tional and accountable bcngs-a Christian land,
If you like, were certain maxims of kindness,
and brotherly love- and charity, and mercy, have
not failed TO pcncraie-and If boy has young
negro or two Of his own to govern, he does it un-
der the eye Of parents and nciy yhbors. Over and
above the appeal which stnSc of his power
over the young niegers must make to the heart
of every generous boy, he too, finds himself
nmcnabe to the force Of public opinion, and will
defy it at his peril. While he is training and
governing his young negro, he is also training and
governing himself. Ee the theory CORRECT no,
Iake it for fact, tha, the of Southern slave
holders are quiet and courteous in their manners
both, towards slaves AMI every one else. Of
course, however, severe measures sometimes
needful in subduing II youn. negro. " hat then? !?
IL colt not to be broken because he is vicious!
4 "Fourth. You have heard it. s;riL-Norhcrn
writers admt-lhat the true Southeincr who is
of Of Souhcrncrs. stands in the
very front rank of manhood, is brave nd .cncr
GUS, mirror of truth and honor, candid, I"vnl
and courteous 1t is true. The hg -souled no.
bility OF Europe, willie there was true mobility
(Which there is not n0w,) grew from subsoiI of
feudnl serfdom and vi"nagc, aud could no, have
grown without it. Slavery is that snhsoil here.
DO You npprehend how il feeds the roots and rad
icals of the virtues? Whythls-lying and steal.
ing are negro tricks. TO be coward is unwor-
thy Of a white man.
"Of course it is not meant to deny that there
is plenty Of mcanncsS, lying. and scoundrelisn,
in the Southern States. AS elsewhere. The devil
shall not be left without n to witness for him
upon the earth. But attempt to describe The
favorable tendency OF the slavery sys,cn in for
ming indiv dual and national character, were
that system once un,rammcllcd and fairly devcl
oped.
"With this admirable institution in full bloom
with the bound!ess resources, agricultural and
mineral, in her possession, we'll worked by about
twenty million negros-wl her matchl.sss eli
mate and other advantages too mum rr0us TO men
ton, what does the South wautl y higher
standard of education and, some begin IL
say, speedy, peaceful, and equitable separation
from the North for
''Fifth. Many of the most int elligrnt South
srnefs met So id to ME distinctly, that the I'm
son is really and actually now dssolv ved-tha
tho two sections Two nations standing to
gether not by cohesion, but by us inertia b.
cause there has yet been no shock sufficient,
violent TO shake them n>under. I begin to br
lieve it. though reluctantly, inasmuch rs ! l,av
declared my intention to be citizen OF I'll!
United States, and when my citizenship rpcn.
how shall feel if there be United States I.
he citizen of? Nevertheless, two nations nov
stand upon til soil, becoming fast even loslil
aatoIs. The point where they come into mme
diate contact, namely, Wasng,on-what is
: but sore und angry ulcer? Northern an
Southern men meet there now almost mort,
enemies When the two nations come casual,
face to face. as they 0ock in to settle new cpuI
try namely, Kansas. ii is Us if war party L
Chocthws met n cloud Of Cnlmuck Tariar.-
seems as though they must fight it out hcfo,
either can rest in peace.
Good News from, the Iad;nns.-Bv the arriv:
of the steamer from Key West, Tampa dc. Il
Thursday, We are placed in possession Of the gra
flying intelligence, through General Carter, VIII
came on as passenger, that ~ Indians wei
IN at Fort Myers ready to cniigratc! This nIr,
Der IS composed OF ~ warriors and "a wOiIic
and children, and constitute the bands of Bow
legs and Assinwah. Both Of these chiefs al
present, with all their "punder," ready to mo,
xt any time. The rest of the hostcs consists
Sam Jones band, numbering 80 warriors, l3
the "Markoe" tribe und Talahassees. A pa
of the Arkansas delegation had gone in quest
these. with prospect Of securing tho emgrnlic
Of the most, If not all Of them. Sam Jones
helpless and nearly blind, and avcrse to movin
but the most of his warriors are willing to &
and asked q few days in which TO operate npt
the balance. On the whole. the prospect of e.
ting the Indians off is most tlattering thanks
the efforts of our noble volunteers. Tho India
AT, represented as being ALMOST without c'oi'
ment Agent having charge of ,l.e cmigruto
will pay them nothing until they are aboard
the steamer and properly registered. This pr
caution seems to be satisfactory. The numb
of Warriors returned is unly f6-cansd eraLlv |.