The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-07
CORRESPONDENCE Of THE ERA.
NORTHERN LABORERs.
Extract of q letter dated


NELSON, Dec. Is, 1851
To the Editor Of the National Era:
Some of the leading papers of the South have
taken the ground that the laboring classes Of
the tree States are not fit for Freedom, that
the capitalist ought to own the laborer, and that
the experiment of free society in these States is
failure.
will give few facts concerning a small
Town IN the Granite State, believing that what
10 troe OF this town is substantially true of a
majority of other towns in New England.
Inc number of different weekly papers taken
IN the town OF Nelson is forty, and the number
OF copies OF these papers coming weekly into
tne town Is 239. The number of copies of mag.
azines, or monthly or semimonthly periodicals.
coming into the town. is IA number of copies
OF these coming every month or half month
is ll8. These different publications are
adapted to the tastes, wants, and capacities, of
the different readers of all ages, sexes. and oc.
equations; thus the men have their political.
secular, or religious papers, as they please the
ladies have their favoritemaeaz zines or weekIv ma.
pers; the children and youth also havethe publica
uons suited to their tastes and capacities. The
FARMERS have papers to instruct them in the
tneory and practice of farming, and so of all
other occupations or professions We have also
Sabbath School Library of some 200 volumes
or more, designed particularly for the youth and
children, besides numerous other books, bought
and read by individuals and families, when they
choose. The population of this town does not
exceed 700 at the present time, though by the
last census it was $50.
l think it will be evident to all, by the pre-
ceding facts, that this is a reading, and. of
course, thinking community. They know
what Is transporting in the religious, political,
secular, or scientific world around them. They
will not easily be persuaded that the system of
American Slavery is right, or that it ought TO
be extended to new States or Territories.
They are q community which think for them
ma which may be advanced, because great or
learned men say it is 80.
They will not be cheated into the belief that
the bred Scott decision or opinion of our Su.
preme Court is in accordance with right, Just
ice, or the Constitution of the United States.
L should like to ask some of these Southern
Journalists if they think such people as this
are unit for the precious boon of freedom. or
not able to appreciate and maintain it a. any
sacrihce or expense; or whether they suppose
such community can be made 10 believe they
would be better off on Southern plantation,
with a master over them, than on their own
free hills or valleys, with the right and Ehe-ty
vt diving as they please, and going where they
please. would like to invite these Southern
editors, who think 80 meanly of Northern labor
ers or factory operatives, to visit cur bleak
granite hills, and inhale the pure iuvigorating
breezes that sweep over our hills and through
our valleys. | would like to have them take a
survey OF our factories, our farms, and our
workshops, that they might see the perfection
OF our machinery, and the facility, ease, and
rapidity, with which the most diic cult operations
are performed; that they might behold the
strength and energy displayed in turning up
the soil, and bringing in the abundant harvest
from the comparatively sterile hills of New
England.
/ should like to see them seated in our
churches, that they might behold the stiffness,
order, and solemnity of the audience as they
listen to thoughts that live and words that
burn, as they flow from the lips of the living
preacher. | should like to have them enter
our school-houses and see where and how the
children and youth are taught the rudiments of
education, so that every man, woman, and
child, among US, of suitable age, is able to read
his native tongue and write his own name
perhaps an exception now and then may be
found, and these are mostly foreign born.) l
should like to have them hear the children and
youth readily answer difficult questions, and
solve intricate problems in arithmetic, gram
mar, geography, or algebra. 1 should like es-
pecially to have them listen to those pieces of
composition coming from the pupils of our
common schools, in which mind and thought
are brought out, sparkling genius discovered,
and a knowledge of men and things and of the
signs of the times is clearly discerned. Let
some of the Southern gentlemen have alluded
to see and witness all this, and their lips would
be forever closed in silence respecting the un--
fitness of Northern laborers for Freedom.