Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-04-26

This incessant recurrence to one topic Of
controversy, when nobody wants to contro-
vert, is one sign of the great characteristics,
in my eyes, Of Southern manners--the abb
sonce Of repose. am struck with this even
in the society of the most languid ladies
but find much more of it in my morning
walks with my brother-in- law. The citizens
arc always finding mares nests, it seems to
me. Wherever | go, see thom Tuning a
bout some conspiracy, some detection or in
suit at Washington, some wound to their self
love- or to the dignity of the Palmetto State.
On the wharves am questioned about the
intentions Of the North in regard TO the Abo-
litionists, and when the South may expect re-
dress from them. In the public library and
any reading-room, can never get through a
newspaper without hearing of the power Of
South Carolina 60 stand her ground against
the assaults Of hostile North. In the man
sons we enter, the books on the contre-table,
and the newspapers generally, show the cast
Of politics Of the household The minority,
who dread a severance from the Union and
civil war, seek me, and try TO learn how mat
tors really stand in my own State, and wheth-
or we really want to crush South Carolina
and they tell me more than they dare tell
their neghbors Of their longing for peace
and quiet, and for some freedom in reading
speaking and corresponding At other houses,
hear these loyalists denounced as disloyal.
II is chiefly on suspicion, for the minority arc
extremely cautious; but ! hear one man Of
business tell another that they must expect no
good Of A or b, who shows no loyalty to the
Palmetto flag, and none of the spirit which
should distinguish the ohivalry. After din
ner in the balcony, or among the ladies in
Il i 4
nications, or loud ccnsure of c or d. who is
suspected Of receiving letters from Washing
ton, or publications from the North, which
should never be carried in a southern mail
bag. The clergy and the ladies catch up such
hints, and incite one another to exaggeration.
till, at some unlucky moment, a citizen who
desires nothing but to follow his own bust
ness in peace and quiet, finds himself held up
to social eXecration for taking in abolition
papers which ought to be burnt by the hang
man. Then the postmaster is sure to have
call from some dozen Of the chief men Of the
place, who inquire about the correspondence
Of the suspected neighbor, and advise the
Jealous functonary to make known to the au-
thorites any remarkable phenomena that may
present themselves in the way of printed or
even written papers Some of the citizens
Northern States and find myself question
ed by their acquaintance about the supposed
opinions of this or that college, and the pro-
bable effect on the mind of youth. even
sec the parents themselves scrutinizing their
sons letters, watching for traces Of " bad
opinions" and for evidence whether they are,
or not, upholding on all occasions the insti-
tutions of their own State. If feel the wear
and tear Of this kind of chropc agitation du-
ring a visit of two or three weeks in ordinary
times-caled quiet--I cannot but be sensible
Of the evil Of perpetual residence in so trou-
bed social atmosphere
When the children are at play with me.
pulling me about at their pleasure, one or 9TH
er of them is sure to want to know why
don't come and live with them. Then they
tell me they wonder how | can bear TO live
among those terrible people by whom am
surrounded. On inquiry, find that ,hese
terrible people are the working class, who are,
am now informed, all dirty. all starving,
all desperate, and so degraded that they can
only hide themselves in dcns, and die like
heathens. Like other children, these enjoy
hearing stories so / tell them the real story
Of the working men and their families in my
neig hborhood. tell &c ,tvir syh;su ftarrv
cottages, with green venetian blinds; their
shelves of books and evening studies the
church they have built; the lecture-room in
which they hear lectures from some Of the
first men Of the country, whom they have en-
gagged to give them course. Amidst FREE
qucnt interruptions, to know whether Uncle
is in earnest, whether Uncle means really SO,
| give a sketch of the workingday and Sunday
of the fisherman, the shoemaker, the cotton
spinner, the cultivator, etc, and II is all very
surprising, considering the general belief that
all white laborers arc furnishing paupers.-
Still, the children prefer their own papa
can mrke them do what he likes. Perceying
that rather doubted this, little Lizzy tells me
that they can all do what they like with the
servants and that she got "a boy" logged
last week for not doing what sh9 babe him.
My sister caught my eye at this moment, and
explained that Carlo Ia man Of hvc-and-thir-
ty) had been insoent, and that it was neces-
sary to bring him to a sense of his duty. 1t
did not seem to occur to the mother that the
lesson would do more harm to the child than
it could--in the most visionary sense--do
good to the boy las negro men are called
to their latest day.
With the quick instinct of childhood my
nieces OWNED, without word said, that
was displeased and they FASTENED to tell me
what "a fine boy" papa had in the country
meaning capital fellow who could do any
thing. This is story one hears in almost
every house. Every family has, or has pos
sessed, singularly able negro, who is boast
ed Of by his owners and by himself as non
paroil. In such case | believe the thing is
true but it is not fact fertile in consequent
ces. Nobody perceives that it has any bear
ing on the question of negro capacity. In
each case, it is phenomenon to boast Of, and
yet an appeal to magnanimity to admit that q
negro can be so clever. My sister smiles
while Lizzy and Emma talk, and, as soon as
we are alone, sounds me as to my admiration
of their appreciation of the virtues of depend
ents, and of the fine feeling they showed
when they spoke OF passasionate neighbor
as ungentlemanly for having manned a
hoy" who had displeased him. She hoped
| should admit that her children had at least
not suffered morally from the circumstances
amidst which they were reared
Our drives are pleasant at the spring sea
son have described. ! never grow tired o
the woods, or the mansions, framed in theii
evergreen background, or the hedges of Cher
okee roses, or the distant sea view. The hea
is great enough to make one wish that thes,