Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-01-13
political.

Mr.. HELPERS IMPENDING CRISIS.
The Eoenipg Post thus fairly and sensiby
sums up the facts in the case which has given
so much trouble to the Pro-Slayery section of
the unorganized House:
uELriNu HELLER.
Mr.. Helper is young gentleman Of the
State OF North Carolina, who, born in the
midst Of Slavery, and knowing the influences
OF It upon his native State. and upon the whole
couatry. has not conceived so high an opinion
Of its worth as seems to be entertained by
many who live by its proceeds. Concoiying
himself a disinterested witness Of its effects
10 wrote book about IL, Addressed chiefly to
the minds Of those Of his own class, the whites
Of the South who are not shareholders In
many respects his book is an admirable book; /;
not equal, doubtless, as a literary perfor-
nance. to Bacon's Advancement of Learning,
nor SO interesting Uncle Iom Cabin, but
a plain. sensible, intelligent and convincing
argument against Slavery.
His first chapter is comparison between
the results of Slave Labor and Free Labor,
drawn mainly from the statistics of the last
census, and showing conclusively the superb
ority Of freedom The author takes the States
one by one, contrasts their physical and COM
mercial condition, compares their productive
resources. their commerce, their wealth, their
educational establishments, their newspapers
and churches, and the rapid,ty of their pro-
gress in all the elements of civilization, and
the conclusion he demonstrates is, that in
everything that contributes to the welfare and
happiness of man. the Free States are i'm
measurably in advance of the slave States.
Slavery, he proves has retarded the prosper
"a. = 4 1
populating the cities, laying the country under
tribute to the North, degrading the free white
meu. aud corrupting the slayeowners. Not
with feeling Of triumph, as he conlesses, but
with profound modification and regret, Mr.
Helper records the resuts of his patient and
comprehensive investigations. They were SO
humiliating to the South, and such reproaeh
upon the intelligence. independence, and en-
ergy of his felow-countrymen, that he was
forced to cry out against the abuses inflicted
upon fertile and beautiful region by the self |
ishncss Of small class among its inhabitants.
In his second chapter Mr. Helper proceeds 1
to inquire how the cause OF all this stagnaton
and wrong may DO removed, or, in other
words, how Slavery, monstrous mother Of the
horde Of evils he has uncovered, may be abol-
ished And in his answer he touches upon
the sorest point Of the system. irritating it in
such a way that the defenders of Slavery, in
and out of Congress, are bowling with pain.
Seyen-eghths Of the people of the South, says
our author, are non-slaveholders. having no
interest in the affair, and only oppressed and
degraded by its existence. They have been
robbed by it of that prosperity which they
might have otherwise attained the industry
Of their free arms has been paralyzed by il /
. b1Vf tton l., b,ts 4 u,I
hey are practically, through its effects, de-
prived of the better part Of their political and
social rights The Shareholders control the
political machinery of the South they enjoy
he proftable ofiicea; they determine the con-
iideraton aud rank OF men in society and, in
all their private and public conduct, deport
.hemsel YES exclusively with reference to their
'wn predominant interests. Though num-
oering. all told. not more than three hundred
md fifty thousand persons, while the other
rec whites number six millions at least, they
assume to themselves peculiarly the name Of
he South, and always talk as if Slavery were 4
he only fact in Southern life. The six mill Z
ons OF non-slaveholders are as much ignored s
by them as if they we're only so many cattle {
)r so many beasts of burden. :
Now. this is a degrading position for the G
rec whites according to Mr.. Helper, and the t
remedy he proposes for it is one growing di- a
ectly out of the evil. Ho counsels the nom r
ilaveholding frecmou to set up little for !
themselves, TO protest against the despo,ism
# their oligarchy, and manage their political a
md social affairs in view Of the larger interests
If the whole people. and not for the benefit Of ?
single class. We are strong. he observes, t
o his brother freemen; we havs rights. and Q
We ought TO maintain them. He advises,
herefore, as means Of practical effect, the b
doption of the following principles; c
- i--~-S Se"t .