Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-04-12
~ From the New York Journal of Commerce.
Lettersifrom an Honest Stakeholder to an Honest

AboIltiOnist-No. I2.
Dear Sir I'm your denuncation of Slavery Won fire
uuenty speak OF its dire effects the white man as wei
as the slave, and sometimes quote passage from MIR
Jefersons Notes on Virginia to prove that YOU arr
right Well it is rather difficult position for nae t.
try to prove to you that just as clever as Won are
but have no doubt that believe it, and am honest al
least in that opinion will try to show Won that We
not yet savages-if we are shareholders Now. No
cunarly, slavery has not damaged the whites of the
South, as from the census we taking all SHAREHOLDERS
and non-sayeholders) will compare favorably in the
matter OF average wealth. with any community in the
world And again, from the same certain evidence you
VIII discover that wealth is equally distributed at
the South than among any other prosperous people
Inc world. Talk as you will about the SdUOcracu we
nave lever monaires and yet greater number of in
dependenty rich individuals than you show in any
equal population OF your free States So that by some
sort OF process 1.-THE philosophy of which shall not stop
to dscuss1 slavery keeps us all independent and vet
will not let any of us get too rich.
1t acts upon two classes among us, the STAKEHOLDER
and the non-slavehoder and very differently IF was
called to say under oath which class was benefited most
by the institution" l think l should be compelled to
say the non-slaVeholder. Why? l will tell you The
white man is elevated by the fact that the negro is
slave. The poorest Of the former race feels within him
that he is lmmeasureaby elevated above the whole ne
gro population and this very consciousness makes him
man. our poorest laborer is elevated above moth,
ng save the brutes If he is at the bottom of the lad
der OF his race he look down upon nobody beneath
Au WnereaS, WIN u.s. ne has four millions OF IabOrers
sui Tar beneath him. What is the effect? He is met
as an equal by the highest He is invited to any fire.
SIDE and sits at any table without feeling condescenson
In his host or the host feeling contamination in his
guest lie is recognized everywhere by all acquantan
ce and his hand presses many soft gloves How does
he fare with you Does your neighbours coachman ev
er sit at your table? How often has your own ever
eaten bread over which he heard you ask blessing p
Would you give your seat in church to your ady's
maid? Come and see how Southern men act towards
the poorest clad white female.
Labor is not honorable among you" you will say.
great mistake, my friend Now will tell you Ger
tain kinds OF labor considered beneath white mans
aUtenon because slaves perform them entirely mean
mental labor, and will tell you fact about you, also,
which u.s. that native born Americans consider such Off
ces beneath them Hence your dependence upon for
eigners and hence also the strong native American feel
ing, which made the touchstone of great party
within few years past Don't be ashamed of the truth
boots, and grooms your horse and bows at your bid
ding. I GU think it is because he is Irishman but
1t is great mistake, my friend. If he had seen light
hrst IN Connecticut valley, amid the Green Noun
tans 1t would be Just the You feel that he is
not your equa and the truth is that he not so LONG
as ne occupies this relative position. Constitutions NAV
say tC the contrary laws may declare politicians may
harangue So but your heart tells you it is not So
And hence the strong effort to disranchise them No
such feeling exists at the South because the white man.
American or Irishman-is a free man indeed | /
could elaborate this dea but mark what say-the non
Shareholder the South is the strongest friend of slavery
Yours, GEORGIA."