The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-12-07
Southern South Car0lina-its S0cia!
and Political Character.


1t is very common figure of speech,
to say that in striking a blow at South
Carolina, we strike at the heart of the
rebellion. The figure is both apt and
true. If Slavery be the lifc-spring of
this revolt, here is the largest proper
tion of slaves if anti-republicanism,
here is the most conccited and swagger-
ing of all aristocracies if hatred of the
North and the Union, here it is pushed
to madness if lust of power, in South
Carolina that passion is as wild as it is
ungovernable. And that immediate
section of the State where our forces now
are, in the cor cordium, the very heart
of hearts in which all these vile peculiar
tiles have their most intensified existence
The black element there attains its max
lmum ratlo-rcaching in Beaufort Dis
trlct to 50 per cent. of the entire iuhab-
itants, and in other of the seaboard Dis
trlcts to still higher figure while the
passions. of the naughty nabobs who own
these swarming slaves, uncurbed as they
are either by law or public opinion,
attain an almost uncomfortable develop
ment. by divine right they rule their
slaves by prescriptivo right they con-
troll the Legislation of the State and
their voice, through their deputies in the
councils of the nation, has always here
tofore been supreme. They know no
restraint either upon their VIII or their
power.
lu the State itself, these great plan
ters Of the Southern section, by means OF
their immense landed and slave property,
by their consequent social power, and by
their unvarying unity Of action, aided
also by ali old rotton borough, Or rather
rotton parochial, apportionment of men,
bers to the Legislature, have been able
to maintain an absolute domination over
the central and upper sections, where the
slaves are i'll much smaller ratio, where
the social status of the people is more
nearly equalzed, and where the noun
tain breezes have produced more cqua-
bic temper and character. So CALLING
has this yoke been, however, that for
twenty years past an irresistible conflict
has ragged between the lower parishes
and the rest of the State. These parish
legislators, who are elected to their seats
by the votes of dozen or two of thcil
own white dependents, have pcrsistently
voted down every scheme of reform
every plan of education and popular
enfranchisement, every project for ele-
waiting the unutterably degraded poor
whites of the State; while they it is who
have blackcned the statute-book will
acts of cruel and retrogressive legisla
ton, such as are disgrace even to
sem-civilized people.
Not long ago, a white legislator from
one of these negro districts argued, in ;
speech delivered at the capital of tn
State, that the mechanics and workin!
classes (e0hite men he was speaking of
mind you) had no right to any education
that they were better off without it
that it disorganizcd them and made then
unhappy that they ought to be prohib
tied from acquiring it THAT the.
should be taught the various necessar.
crafts which cannot be proftably practi
ced by negroes, such as carpentry, shoe
making and tailoring, as well as slav'
overseeing and police duty, and tina
thereafter they should be compelled tt
stick to their lasts. He showed by tn
example of the experimentation thu
South Caro]rnians are very fond Of claim
ing resemblance to, both politically
, socially, personally, and in taeir helotr.
that education and enfranchisemen
were gifts properly belonging only tt
the oligarchy who guided the destnie
of the Commonwealth. In all this, Mr.
. Taber was the genuine exponent Of tn
ruling sentiment of the low country, ant
: did but give expression to policy whicl
the parish oligarchy have always tried t.
, reduce to action-and with eminent sue
| cess. Against this atrocious, paga
} policy, the yeomanry of the up-countr
) fought long and bitterly, under the lea
, dership of Mr.. Perry and Mr.. Orr, unit
| five years ago, these gallant democrat
were forced to silence and finally t.
: acquiescence with the Sea Island lords
, by an organized howl from the ruling
, class all over the State, that they wer'
7 innovators, agrarians and dlsorganizcrs
| not, indeed, secret Abolitionists an
traitors to Sonth Carolina.