Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-07-24

NEGRO MEcHAN1cs--SLAvERY.-Thet teach
ing of negroes the mechanic arts is now be-
| ginning to attract some attention in the South
to its impolicy and inconsistency. No ma
| witE a reflective mind can deny the fact thu
| this practice has brought the mechanic arts
in the South into bad repute that intelligent
youths have been deferred from engaging il
| the mechanic arts for the simple reason thai
! they do not desire to place themselves at the
wor k-oench by tbs side O.: a negro, and thu.
! be forced, by virtue of avocation to compete
with such a competition. Such a course is
wei! calculated to inspire dlstrust and hatred
in the breast of the mechanic, and engendel
a dislike to to the institution of slavery.
A white lad desiring to learn the carpen-
ter's trade, it is necessary for him to inden-
ture himself to labor for a term of four OF
five years to learn the trade, for which he re-
ceives the trade and his board and clothing
while the masters of negro men are paid from
500 to $3.50 per annum, and they fed and
clothed. This is not right, and 1t should not
be so. A negro can never become a compe-
tent mechanic, because he is intellectually
and mentally incapable Of such elevation
He is unfit for anything save the plantation
and mental services, and it is wrong for him
to be placed in competition with intelligent
and proficient white mechanics; and, for the
reason that the negro can be employed cheaper
thus run the white mechanic out of employ
ment. In this way the mechanics arts i'll the
South have advanced but little, and been
brought into bad repute.
1t is time tine people of the South should
look into the matter with al eye singled to
their interest and institutions it is time the
mechanics themselves should think Of elevat-
ing the standard Of mechanic arts, and refuse
co teach negroes trades it is time public SELL
timent should be awakened to the enormity of
the wrong thus imposed upon mechanical gen.
ius by such a policy it is time that a reform
should be commenced in this matter, and 1T is
time we should begin to understand the ruin
which .must1result in the persistent policy of
learning negroes mechanical trades.
If we ever expect to be independent Of the
North,it is absolutely necessary that WI should
elevate the standary of the merchanics arts ;
and to do this, negro competition and negro
must be prohibited, and white
talent employed in promoting that verymuch-
wished for desideratum. We believe that the
of slavery is morally and divinely
right; we believe that the condition OF the
is elevated to a degree, by being held
in bondage and slavery, which he never could
attain in his native wllds, under any clrcum-
stances whatever and Tor his good and the
interest OF our people, we would see the IN
OF slavery perpetnated to the last day
and generation, and for that reason we would
urge the necessity Of lnstitutlng every precau'
hon to sustain it.
thus, in placing the negro iE competition
with white mechanics--a superior intellectual
drag the latter down to a level
with the former, and the consequence is, to
extent, and We are sorry to say it, re-
5arded by some as being no better than the
ormer. This is well calculated to breed a dis
content and hatred on the part Of the white
mechanic, and make him and enemy to an in
which should be the means of pro-
noting the interests of the vely pursuit in
he is engaged. This policy also creates
spirit Of %antagonism between the rich and
,oor, from the fact that the rich thus array
'apital Observation-Disclosures the negro at the
Expense of the poor white mechanic.
We say, in conclusion, that the condition of
he mechanic should be elevated, and the negro
'laced in the position tor which his mental ca
'acity alone fits him-and that is the plantation
nd the neniai duties of a household, ETC.
>y the adoption Of such a pei cy on the part Of
ne people OF the South the favorable and con-
nendable consequence would be, that the me-
hanics would be socially elevated, and the
tandard of the mechanic arts would be adj
in equal proposition to the social con-
ition OF those engaged in them. A closer
ond of union would exist between the various
lasses of our citizens, and thus they would be
lore strongly united in the support and de-
.nse of our Southern institutions. 1t would
OF require any vested in slave property to
rake such property secure at the South. 1t
'ould be secured by $ strong anf i~mpregnab!e
Mon Of sentiment pervading among all class
S and all threats of fanaticisn at the North.
r the teachings of Abolition preachers there,
ould never avail one mite in the revolution
ling or even raising any doubts of the cor
ectness and j~ustress of slavery as it exists
the South Lagrange (Geo.) Reporter.