Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-11-02
The Dry RoRes LiveI

A mass meeting of Mechanics and Work
ing Men was held, pursuant to public no.
tioe, in Charleston, 8. O., on the 10th inst.
Though only whites we're allowed 70 par
ticipate, there was large attendance. No
shred of sympathy for or desire to elevate
the blacks was svinced by this meeting.
which, nevertheless, issued ~ address, which
says:
The mighty revolution that has just
passed over the whole Southern country has
prestrated and forever overthrown the old
system of labor; and although it has caused
ruin and devastation through the land, by
the suddenness OF the measure and the
want of due preparation for the great crisis,
| it has accomplished one great g0od-it has
| elevated. the workingman and made labor
respected. Labor has never been consider
ed degrading but in communities OF privil-
edged classes, or where Slavery existed as
| an institution. The existence OF priviledg-
ed cla8s in our community depended upoe
the continuation of Slavery, and by its ex-
tinstion this artificial state of society van
ished With it. The working classes of South
Carolina, from the earliest history of the
State, have Ia abored under many disadyan-
tagss and have had many difficulties to con-
tend against in the combination that existed
with Capital and Slavery. How would a
white laboring nan without capital compete,
as contractor, with master workman and
his ten, twenty OF more slaves7 He would
be so underworked in the labor market that
it would be impossible for him to attempt
the contest, and he would be compelled to
become ajourneyman to the slave capitalists
to perform the higher branches of work not
allotted to his slaves, or to choose some
other business for the support of himself
and family But this was not the only com
pstition that the white laboring man had
to contend against; the slave of the rich
man, who, himself not mechanic o. labor,
| was, as often as the master workman spoke
Of before, contractor alss; and, though
| by legislative enactment no slave could com
psts with the merchant, the doctor, the
lawyer or parson, ha could compete with
the mechanic and workingmsn. All these
| disadvantages and restrictions are now re-
moved. and the white workingman has no
longer to centsnd against capital and labor
| combined, and his advancement to honor,
responsibility and wealth will be certain
and sure. We sre satisfied that
the Abolition Of Slavery, although at pres,
out ioOASu upoh as Sioat Ooto"i'y' "A'
eventually prove great blessing to our be
levsd country in the increased and remuner
ative employment Of our children and the
free white man at home, in our own State
instead of being forced to emigrate to somt
o.her land to procure their bread. produc
ing that strength and prosperity that in tn,
future will be eur protection and safeguard
We ask the workingmsn of the Nortl
to ponder this testimony from the working
men of the South, and then consider b
what arts SO many of them have hithert
been held in vassalase to the Slave Power
They were tsld, and made to believe, tbs
the slavery of the black tended to sleva'
and ennobls white labor; hear what the'
Southern laborers-not "nigger-worshi
era" mind ysu Say on that point. Worl
ingmen of the North will you longer
duped by the demasogues who, for the
! own benefit, so long held you in vassalal
, to the Slave Power?