Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-02-02
The Non-Slayeholders of the South


James ID. b. DeBow, Editor of DeBow's
Review, writes letter on this subject to Mr..
r. n. Gourdin of Charleston, in which he
proves his position most satisfactorily. We
can only give our readers some of his points
lie informs us that the poor men of the
South are the holders of one to five slaves.
and it would be equally consistent with truth
and justice to say that they represent, in real
ity, its sIaveholding interest
The following are the propositions which
he establishes
[. The non-slavcholder of the South is as
surcd 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 i'll the free States.
2. The non-Slavcholdcrs, as a class. are
not reduced by the necessity of our condition,
as is the case in the free States to find en-
ploymcnt in crowded cities, and come into
competition in close and sicily workshops and
factories with rcmorsclcss and untirinp ma
chinery.
3. The non-slavcholder is not subjected to
that competition with foreign paupcr labor
which has degraded the free labor of the
North, and dcmoralizcd it to an extent which
perhaps can never be estimated.
4. The non slavcholdcr of the South prc.
serves the status of the white man and is not
regarded as an inferior or a dependent.
D. The non-slavcholder knows that as soon
as his savings will admit; he can become
stakeholder, and thus relieve his wife from the
necessities of the kitchen and the laundry,
and his children from the labors of the field.
q, The large Shareholders and proprictors
of the South begin life in great part as non
shareholders.
Z. But should fortune not be in reserve for
the non savehodcr he will understand that
by honesty and industry it may be realized to
his children
8. The sons Of the non.slaveholdcr arc and
have always been among the leading and ru-
ling spirits of the South, in industry as we'll
rs i'll politics. He instances McDuffic,
Cheves, Jackson, Clay, Rusk, Hammond,
Ianccy Orr, Mcmmingcr, Benjamin, Ste
phcns, Soulc, the Browns, Smms, Porter,
Magrath Akin and Whites.
8. Without the institution of slavery, the
great staple products, of the South would
cease to be grown, and the immense annual re-
suits which are distributed among every class
OF the community, and which give life to cv-
cry branch of industry would cease.
10. If emancipation be brought about as
will undoubtedly be the case, unless the en-
roachments of the fanatcal maioritics of the
North arc resisted now, the Shareholders i'm
the main, will escape the degrading equality
which must result, by emigration, for which
they lave the means, by disposing of their
personal chattels: while the non-slavchodors,
without these resources, would be compelled
to remain and endure the degradation
Mr.. DeBow concludes by apologizing to
non-slaveholdcrs of the South, of which class
he was until very recently a member, 4" for
having designed to notice at all the infamous
libels which the common enemies of the South
have circulated against them, and which our
every day experience relutes, but the occa-
sion seemed II fitting one to place them truly
and rightly before the world. They fully un-
dcStand the momcntous questions, which
now agitatcs the land, in ali their rcations-
They perceive the inevitable drift of North
ern aggression, and know that if necessity
impcl to it, as [ verify believe it does at this
moment, the establishment of a Southern
Confederation will be a sure refuge from the
storm. In such a confederation our rights
and possessions would be secure. and the
wealth being retained at home, to build up
our towns and cities, to extend our railroads
and increase our shipping, which now goes in
tariffs or other involuntary or voluntary trb-
utcs to other sections, opucnce would be
diifused throughout all classes, and we should
become the frecst, the happicst and the most
prosperous and powerful nation upon earth"
*"The annual drain in profits which is 90
ing on from the South to tile North is thus
set down by Mr.. Kottell of New York:
Bonnties to fisheries, $4,000
Customs, dlSburscd at the North, 10000 900.
Profits of manufacturers, 30,000,00O.
" Z" importers, . 10000. 900.
e" " shipping, importsand cx., 40, 900 600.
" " travellers, 10000 900.
+" 4" teachers and others at
the South sent North, 100000.
" " agents, brokers, com
missions, etc, 100000.
" capital drawn from
the South, ! 3o,ooo,ooo.
Total. 1921 800, 900.
This from the beginning of the govern
mcnt, making all proper deduction from year
to year, has given to the North, over 50 800,
600, 900 Of Southern wealth Are her accu-
mutations then surprising, and can one be
surprised if accumulation should appear to be
less in the South -?
South CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS TO TIE
PREsrDENT.-Col IIaync, of South Carolina,
communicated his letter to the President,
Saturday, says a dispatch from here 20 the
New York Herald. 1t is not in the shape of
a demand, as at first presented; but it is
couchod in moderate and temperate language.
He has been induced tn thia moderation nf