The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-03-19
JACKSON G. H, OHIO, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1868.

from whom the higher class claims de-
scent. 1t would seem impossible that
the few generations which we can count
on American soil can have created so
wide gulfas now exists between these
classes.
The causes which have widened and
deepened this gulf, by constantly ele-
vating the one class and persistently de-
pressing the other, are evident enough.
The introduction of slavery at once
created monopoly in hands of the
wealthy. The poor man could not en-
ter the field at all in competition. His
poverty prevented him from owning
slaves, while the existence of slavery
not only entirely superseded the de-
mand for his services, but, by degrad-
ing labor, created strong antipathy
against it, and engendered a love of
idIeness and sloth. So the poor whites
were from the first not only debarred
from the privilege of labor, but predis-
posed to reject it with scorn had it been
offered
1t will be readily seen that no career
was opened for this class. Life had no
purpose beyond the qualification of the
mere animals wants. Having no chance
to rise out of their debased condition,
and unable to sustain themselves even
on the low plane on which they stood
on their introduction into the country,
they sunk gradually lower and lower,
till they reached depth of degrade
ton almost incredible; while the caus-
es which led to their decadency, was
elevating to the loftiest heights of op-
ulence and culture the dominant or
planter class
Here and there an individual of the
lower class, endowed with a better Or
ganization than his fellows, rose above
the general level and, becoming me-
chanic "a very poor one, in most cases.
or small trader, laid the foundation OF
social responsibility for his descend
ants; but cases like this were rare.
Such class as l have described could
exist only in a mild climates but here,
where the absolute necessaries of life,
with such people at least, are few, their
acquisition involves very little exertion
either of body or mind
Being generally squatters on the vast
estates of the planters, and paying no
rent, there is little call for cash outlay.
A small patch Of corn, few rows of
sweet potatoes, and little garden,
given up mainly to "cOllards' and tur-
nips, and cultivated by the women and
children, supply their bread-stuff and
vegetables. In most cases they own 4
few hogs and piney-woods COW Or
two, which it costs nothing to keep; or
if they do not, their richer neighbors
do, which often serves their purpose
quite as well. For the rest, a little
hunting and fishing, which their lazi-
ness sometimes permits, helps them to
keep soul and body together
A late magazine writer, an intelligent
and trustworthy gentleman ofthe plant
er class, who is familiar with the con-
dition and habits of the poor whites,
after dwelling on the causes which have
led to the existence, perpetuation, and
continual retrOgressiOn of the class,
continues:
''NO statement of causes, however
potent, nor any mere general descrip-
tien, could prepare the mind Of one un-
accustomed to the South for the reality
of the condition of this people, as it
was exhibited in those sections where
this state of things existed in its fullest
development. y y Their habita-
tions were uncomfortable structures
built principally of logs, not at all su-
periOr, in many cases, to the wretched
huts of the poorer class Of peasantry of
Ireland. Many of these tene-
ments we're SO small as to contain but
single room, within the narrow lin
its of whose crazy walls whole families,
men, women and children, indiscrimi-
nately, were to be found crowded to-
gether.
"The appearance of these people ac-
corded with their miserable condition.
Ignorance and vice stamped their fea-
lures with brutal and forbidding as
pect. The poverty and insufficiency
of their food and their uncomfortable
mode of life, added to the effects of an
unhealthy climate, rendered them, with
hardly an exception, lean in person and
pallid in complexion while proverb-
ial uncleanness and raggedness of at
tire completed the revolving traits Of
the unhappy picture,
The ignorance of these people is pro-
found and almost past belief To say
that few of them can write or even read
conveys no adequate idea of their lack
of education. In the language of the
writer just quoted, "They are all SC
utterly devoid of the simplest elements
of information, that they have no def
mite idea as to what portion ofthe eartf
they occupy" But, further than this
they have no desire to learn anything
believing firmly that all education ii
utterly useless.
Of the moral character ofthis degrad
ed class, it is painful to speak or ever
think. The former / will not trust my
self to do, but will quote again fron
Mr.. Seabrook, merely expressing
hope that his picture is rather too dark
ly colored. He admits that there ar