The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-29

attempt to overthrow the institutions and industry
of the section to which they belong.
The non-slaveholder of the South is assured
of this: That the remuneration afforded By his
labor over and above the expense of living, Is
larger than that which is afforded by the same
labor in the Free States. To be convinced of this
he has only to compare the value of labor in the
Southern cities with those of the North, and to
take note annually Of the large number of laborers
who are represented to be out Of employment
there and who migrate to our shores, we'll as
to other sections No white laborer, in return, in
times of ordinary prosperity, has been forced to
leave our midst, remain without employment.
Those who come among us are enabled soon 20 re-
turn to their homes with a handsome competency.
The statement is nearly true for the agricultural
as for other interests, the statistics will show.
The following table was recently compiled by
Senator Johnston, of Tennessee, from information
received in reply to a circular letter sent to the
points indicated:
Daily wages in N. Orleans Charleston and Nashville
Bricklayers, Carpenters. Laborers,
$3.50 to $50 S225 to2.75 81 90 to I.5o
Daily wages in Chicago Pittsburg and Lowell, Mass
$3.50 to 200 $3.50 to LIS 75c to $loo
The rates of board weekly for laborers as given
in the census of 1850, were in Louisiana S2.7O,
South Carolina Sl.75, Tennessee 81 30, in Illinois
81 10, Pennsylvania SIP, Massachusetts S2.l2.
The wages of the agricultural classes as given IN
Parliamentary reports are, in France S2O to S3O
per annum with board in Italy Sl2 to s2O per
annum. In the United States agricultural labor
is highest in the Southwest and lowest IN the
Northwest-the South aud North differing but
very little by the official returns.
The non-savehOlders, as class, are not reduced
By the necessity OF our condition, as is the case In
the free States, to fluid employment III crowded
cities and come into competition In close and sick
ly work shops and factories with remorseless and
untiring machinery. They have but to compare
their condition in this particular with the mining
and manufacturing operatives OF the North and
Europe to be thankful that God has reserved them
for better fate. Tender women, aged men, deli
cate children toll and labor there from earl dawn
until after candle-light, from year to another,
for miserable pittance, scarcely above the starva-
ton point, and without hope Of amelioration. The
records of British free labor have long exhibited
this, aud those of our own manufacturing States
would show the same thing but for the excessive
bounties which in the way of tariffs have been paid
to it, without equivalent by the slaveholdng
ard non-slaveholding laborer Of the South. Let
this tariff cease be paid for single year, and the
truth of what is stated will be abundantiy shown.
t. The Shareholder of the South preserves
the status of the white man, and is not regarded
as an inferior or dependant. He is not told that
the Declaration of independence. when it says
that all men born free and equal refers to the
negro equally with himself. 1t is not proposed to
him that the free negroes vote shall weigh equally
with his own at tie balot-box, and that the little
children of both coors shall be mixed in the classes
and benches of the school house, and embrace each
other ially in its outside sports 1t never occurs
to him that white man could be degraded enough
to boast in public assembly, as recently done
in New York, of having actually slept with ne
gro And lrpy VOul0 cruSh a
blow the free negro who would dare, in his pre-
sence as is done in the free States to characterize
the Father of the Country as ''scoundreL" No
white man at the South serves another body
servant to clean his boots, wait his table, and
perform the mental services of his household! His
blood revots against this, and his necessities never
drive him to it. He is companion and an equal
If distinction exists it is only that which eduea-
ton and refinement may give, and this is so courte
ously exhibited scarcely to strike attention.
The poor white laborer at the North is at the bot
tom of the social ladder, while his brother here has
assembled several steps, and can look down upon
those who are beneath him at an infinite remove
s. The non-slaveholder knows that as his
savings will admit he can become a Shareholder
This, with ordinary frugality can, in general, be
accomplished in few years, and is process con-
tinually going on. Perhaps twice the number of
poor men at the South own slave to what owned
slave ten years ago. The universal disposition is
to purchase 1t is the first for savings and the
negro purchased is the last possession to be parted
with If woman. her children become heirlooms
and make tie nucleus of an estate. 1t is within
the knowledge of the writer that plantation of
fifty or sixty persons has been established, from
the descendants of single female, in the course
of the lifetime of the original purchaser.
g. The large shareholders and proprietors of the
South begin life in great part as nonslavebolders.
1t is the nature of property to change hands.
Luxury lberality, extravaganza, deprecated land,
low prices, debt, distribution among children,
continually breaking up estates. All over the
new States of the Southwest enormous estates
in the hands of men who began life overseers or
city clerks traders and merchants.
Z. But should such fortune not be in reserve for
the Mons Shareholder, he will understand that by
honesty and industry it may be realized to his
children More than one generation ofpoverty in
family is scarcely to be expected at the South,
and is against the general experience. 1t is more
unusual here for poverty than wealth to be preserved
/ through several generations in tie same family
! s. The sns of the non-slavehoder are and have
always been among the leading and ruling spirits
of the South; in industry well as in politics
/ And nowhere else in the world have intelligence,
industry aud virtue, disconnected from ancestral
estates, the same opportunities for advancement, &
nowhere else is their triumph more speedy g. signal.
8. Without the institution Of slavery the great
staple products Of the South would cease to be
! grown and the immense annual results which are
distributed among every class of the Community,