Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-03-05
REMARKABLE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE
SLAVE STATES.

The white inhabitants Of Florida, as of all the
Slave States more or less, constitute but two class,
es-the planters, or rich class and the poor class,
variously denominated "crackers," "white trash"
poor whites" 'mean whites" IN. B.-"Mean'
is an Americanism for 'poor," Shabby" They
speak here of q "mean" hotel, a "mean" dinner;
&C., This social characteristic l consider the most
remarkable and important feature of Southern civ
~ilization. 1t is only by keeping this clearly and
constantly in mind that We can at all understand
the social and political organization of the South :;
and only thus can we duly appreciate the amazing
difference between Northern and Southern devel.
opmcnt. The essence of Northern, as of English
civilization, is the progressiceness of the laboring
class, and the consequent rapid rise of an easy,
afluent, well educated, and law.abiding class, re.
cruited from day to day, and from hour to bour'
from the ranks Of the lower class the individuals
raised being. from the nature of things, the most
remarkable for energy. foresight, aud self reliance.
Where men of industry, integrity, and intelligence
can easily rise to a condition of independence, q
nation is 10 good condition, even though the i'm.
p~rovident and sinful find their deserved portion of
miserJ On the contrary, where the laboring class
forms a stereotyped unprogressive caste, stagna.
ton is the necessary characteristic Of the commu'
nifty. The richer class may accumulate wealth,
but there can be no dissemination of comfortable
existence, no healthy growth Of an independent,
self'made, selfreliant class. Society is divided
into q wealthy, dominant clase, and a wretched, ig.
norant class, at once insubordinate and servile.-
such is essentially the social condition of the slave
States of this Union and the cause obviously is
| tho n snnuraUamant thrown mar craa labor b, tbo
institution of slavery. The white poor man dis.
dams to work like a Niger" he tries, instead, to
live by his rifle or his fishing rod. If these fail,
he plants q few sweet potatoes, or loafs about the
towns, doing odd jobs which have notshe restraint
Of regular laborer. He hates a trade he will not
be a smith or q carpenter, to compete with his rich
neighbours slaves, and probably be beaten by them.
How can such a man riser How can he ever es.
escape from his dependent and degraded position ?
How shall a man become a capitalist who will not
first be a labor? This is the secret Of the white
trash" of the Southern States. Hence the politi,
cal rowdyism of slave communities, where an igno'
rant and idle mob, accustomed to the use of dead
ly weapons, is constantly prowling about the coun-
try, and congregating in the cities. Hence, too,
the want of material progress there is neither ef'
fcient labor nor abundant capital. The very ele.
ments Of civilization are wanting.
And yet this very charge of harsh and immova.
bio social contrasts, the defenders of the faith in
slavery have the hardihool to bring against free
society. The very contrary is the fact. 1t is the
essence and the glory of free society that it gives
power to the citizen TO raise himself. There are
no stereotyped classes. no castles. in free society.
On the contrary its nnopA charaatariatio f.atn.n =
that blending Of cOnditiens, that gradual shading