Year: 1864

The "POOr whites" of Rast Tennessee.


oBsTISAoY OF THE HAN-HoLDERs.


The following is an extract from 8 pri-
vate letter. written at MurfreesbOIo, May
Sd:


at is not always true, " eelum non an
inruna." doubt if any cne can cross the
Ohio river for the first time without being
very much changed in sll his views. For
myself, I find SO many things different,
and much worse than l had supposed, that
the evils sf Southern society no longer
hold the same relative position in my mind
OF interest.


GTbe condition Of the blacks is worse
than I had imagined; but I had never be-
gun to understand the condition Of the
whites. The generally low standard Of
knowledge; the intellectual stsgnation
among even the most advanced; the mar
row sphere Of thought and conversation
in which my associates move; the igno-
rance in the middle classes Of the ordi
nary democratic ideas of progress; the alb
sence of any thought of right to opportu-
nifty on the part of those who need il most;
the deplorsble darkness Of the lower whites
are ts me evils so new and sppalling
that no longer burn with indignation at
the wrongs Of the negro, without being
cslmed and sickened by the universal deg
radiation. My Northern blood boils oftener
ct the contemptuous tone Of the privileged
classes toward the unprivileged, than at
the unquestionsble domination Of color /;
and when 1 see white man without prop.
erty, education or hope, feel that if l
could but inspire him with a conviction of
mis- rights, should be kindling a FIRE
which would burn in him, perhaps, longer
than in me. No one who has not seen il
can understand the depth of debssement
in which the unprivileged whites are
,yteeped. Do not suppose that 1 am less
an ti-slsVery; theeVils Of slavery are more
apUarent and more horrible to me than
ever, but, believe, to. day the white man is
the greatest sufferer.


Fif you have any influence at Wash
ipRton use il 10 promote the amendment Of
the Notwithstanding else can save
this State. There is but little loyalty here
Regret for tine war because unsuccessful,
and a wish 70 returo TO former avoegtions
in peace, are the most favorable feelings
An earnest desire to Ietain their slaves, to
keep them together until peace returns,
and sn abiding faith that ths State will
never consent to the abolition Of slavery,
are the strongest incentives Of The masters
They will not hire their slave themselves;
they prefer to sit in solitary
destitution. They will not consent to 9TH
ers having them; they prefer to see gen
liersl embarrassment Of all parties, and
predict with pleasure the hOped-for failure
Of the new experiment. They will do
nothing recognising that the negr is en-
titled TO anything


1.-THE only chance for the state is in the
despair which sn mendment of the Con-
stitution would produce. Once let them
see that slavery is impossible that no pow
er within OF without can re establish
it-be their negroes ever so willing, OF
the system ever 90 benehcisl-and the
masters will give up the contest in de,
spsir. Their children and grandchildren
may then belong to industrious men, and
their posterity will raise the state to the
proper place to which its natural resources
entitle it--but from this generation moth
ing is to be expected.


Therefore, If yoC can do any thing t
promote the amendment Of the Constitu
ton, do so; and your success will, in my
opinion, accomplish more for mankind
without regard to color, than any effort il
| any other direction"