The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1858-08-21
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man with q reflective mind can dsssny the
that this practice has brought the mechanic
arts III the South into bad re-. that inteili-
gent youths have been deteysy rom engaging
"a the mechanic arts To-, ~ ,afHssp DE reason that
they do not desire tos. ~. themselves at the
workbench by thsessids ;;asgro, and thus
be- forced, BY virtue Of III lion to compete
with such q composition. sAk&h q course 10
well calculated to inspire = and hatred in
the breast OF The meckat engender q
dislike 10 the institution ofAx ~.
"a while lad desiring TO lei Me carpenters
EESSH2fade, it is necessary for hidSS sqre him
| self to labor Tor i term Of fuIiAs ears "
learn the trade. &swhich recefS he tra1s
and his board ap EElothi5 while the mastest
Of negro men aKa9H9said fri 400 to $40 m
annnm, and they fed and lied. "
right, and it should mott 20. A.
never become q coinpetf mechaS
he is intellectually and snially ~
such elevation. He Isl lit forsuIn Ne
the plantation and md il sersSfia snu II is
wrong for him to be- H iced in conn petition with
intelligent and KEesss6osSht white mechanics; md
for the reason f6s y negro can be employed
cheaper thus run 4 white mechanic out Of
employment. In III Away the mechanics arts
in the South have sanced but little; and
been brought iDtob 1epute.
IT is time the pks sof the South should
look into the mattel. With an eye single TO
their interest and Institutions it is time the
mechanics themselves should think Of elevating
the standard Of mechanic arts, and ref sc to
teach negroes trades it is time public gsii.
ment should be awakened to the eng ty Of
the wrong thus imposed upon mechaiIral gen.
i,,s BY such a policy ; it IS time Thai a reform
should be commenced in this matter. aud it Is
time we should begin to- understand the ruin
Gus consequence to the Institution Of slavery
which must result in the persistent policy of
learning negroes mechanical trades.
IT we ever expect to be independent Of the
North, it is Nhsolutely necessary that we should
elevate the Standard of the merchanic arts;
and TO do this, negro competition and negro
ascendency must be prohibited, and white
talent employed in promoting that verymuch-
wish-for desideratnIn. We believe that the in
~stitutioD Of slavery is morally and divinely
right ; we believe that the condition of the
negro is elevated TO u degree, by being held in
bondage aud slavery, which he never could at
tain IN his native wilds, under any circamstan-
ces whatever and for his good aud the interest
OF our people, we would see the institution of
slavery perpetuated to The last day aud gener-
alton, and for that reason we would urge the
necessity of instituting every precaution to
il. III
Thus. in placing the negro III competition
witt white mechanics superior intellectual
power-we drug the latter down to a level
with the former, and the consequence is, to
extent, and we are sorry to say il, regar-
ded BY some as being no better than the former.
This Is well CALCULATED to breed a discomfort
and hatred on the part of the white mechanic,
and make him and enemy TO an institution
which should be the means Of promoting the
OF the very pursuit in which he is en-
gagged. This policy also creates a spirit Of an
tagonisln between the rich and poor, from the
that the rich thus array capital against
labor-elevate the negro at The expense II the
poor white mechanic.
we say, in CONCLUSION, that the condition Of
he mechanic should be elevated, and the negro.
placed in the position for VIII oh his mental ca.
paclty alone hts hitl-and that is the plantation
and the menial-dnties of a household. etc. Byt
ne adoption OF such a policy on the part of
be people 81 the Soulb. The favorable and com.
nendab.e consequence would be, that tile MT
would be socially elevated, and the
standard of The mechanic arts would be adj
.anced ~ equal proportion to the social con-
lItlon Of those engaged in them, A closer
oqnd OF union would exist between the various
;asses OF our citizens, and thus they wonId be
more strongly united in the support and de-
ense OF our Southern institutions. 1t would
lot require any vested right in slave property
Q make snclf property secure at the South. Ii
would he secured by strong and impregmble
mon OF sentiment pervnding among all class.
$ ; and all threats Of fanalicisnn at the North
" The teachings Of Abolition preachers there
ould never avail one mite in the reynlutioniz.
ng or even raising any doubts Of The correct.
ess and business Of slavery as it exists in the
south. Lagrange (Geol Reporter.