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Reform Movements: the Ultimate Controversy and Dispute Jane Allen, 16 Jan. 1851
Abolition, public education, women's rights and temperance are topics currently in the foreground of widespread controversy. American opinions differ by region, and our own Southern opinion is distinctly defined on each issue. This compilation of letters to the editor encompasses Southern views addressing a variety of topics, most prominently the distasteful abolition movement, and presents the wary viewpoint of many in dear Charleston.
Letter to the Editor:
Concerns of the Southern Gentry, 17 Jun. 1834 Blasphemous “reform” movements have taken the North and even the West by storm. (I would like to note my disappointment in our Western counterparts for becoming so absorbed in corrupt Northern affairs). These young radical thinkers have suddenly decided that the old ways of life are no longer satisfactory. They call for extreme change. These “modernizers” are attempting to create their ideals of a perfect world, an impossible and impractical task. They argue that slavery is a sin, that it is an evil institution. Codswallop I tell you! They say this from afar. They do not see our perspective, the Southern perspective. Only the members of the top sector of our society own a substantial number of slaves, and many middle-class farmers who own slaves work side by side these very slaves. They are treated well, though not quite as equals, but well nonetheless. Many even have the opportunity to work toward their freedom. Northerners argue that we treat our slaves inhumanely, but what is their rationale for saying so? Northerners, including free blacks, are inciting our slaves and encouraging revolts. This is hurting us and our slaves alike; to revolt is to force good Southern slaveowners to act maliciously against their own will to control the uprisings. The worst revolt to date resulted in many deaths, of both blacks and whites. This behavior of the slaves is uncalled for and unruly, and to think that it is promoted in the North! Abolitionists are a violent and turbulent people, one to not be trusted to lead a “movement.” Recently, these Northern antislavery societies have denounced and burned our dear Constitution with claims that it is a “pro-slavery” document. Our dear Constitution! I demand they recognize that they live in a pro-slavery nation, one established by our wisest forefathers, who owned slaves themselves. Had slavery been the evil the North claims it to be, it would have been abolished long ago or perhaps never established. Moreover, the institution has evolved to be the cornerstone of Southern economy. Northern and Western industries do not rely on slave labor, whereas Southern industry does. Our economy is dependent on the exports of farms worked by slaves. The North and the West depend on our crops as well. But these Northern yokels convince themselves that slavery is a backwards concept and they form their petty antislavery societies, but they have no real evidence backing their claims. Slavery is a necessary institution practiced by our forefathers for years. The call for abolition is ridiculous and unneeded. We, the South, must come together to stave off Northern involvement in our own affairs. They may dislike slavery, but they do not have the right to intervene and disrupt our well-functioning Southern economy. Slave labor is necessary, but these Northern radicals focus their foolhardy thinking too much on the individual to comprehend the larger picture. They do not realize how essential the institution is. These pretentious Northerners write newspapers and journals against our genteel way of life; they wish to disrupt our tradition. The time has come to stop ignoring their words and to take action in self-defense. To all slaveowners and otherwise, all Southern men, I implore you to recognize the preposterous views supported by the North and the West and to do all in your power to undermine their attempts to make poor our successful economy and defunct our traditional way of life. Signed, Mister Charles Lowry |
Letter to the Editor:
On Horace Mann’s Conception of Public Schooling, 4 Feb. 1848 Horace Mann has established the idea of “public schooling,” yet another Northern strike against the Southern way of life. We are used to the aristocratic education available here; it is the backbone of our society. It allows a hierarchical society to retain its proper function. A man of humble background has the tools to achieve success but is not simply handed them. Instead he must prove his merit to become of the upper class. A man of a wealthy family is raised for success and is destined to strive provided a good education. Our Southern education system is just fine the way it is. Massachusetts, by the advise of Mann, has proposed a new system designed to give every child an equal chance at an education and property gain. That is fine and well—in Massachusetts. Imagine the application of such an abstract idea in South Carolina. It would disrupt every facet of our society. If every child had a high-level education, the entire generation would embark in search of “skilled” work. However there is plenty of skilled work that does not require such an education. Farming, for example, requires skills not provided by a classroom education. It also happens to be the most significant industry in all of the South. If public education were to be instituted in the South, the entirety of our industry, our society, our long-standing way of life would be ruined. Along with the development of public schooling comes the development of higher education and colleges as well as a redefined way of thought. I do not hold much against college education, but I find much of this new thought erroneous. Mann and others such as William Holmes McGuffey intend to teach “morality” in these schools, rather than the skills one is expected to teach. By teaching morality and virtues, especially those as prescribed by a single religion, Mann and McGuffey are effectively forcing children to adopt beliefs rather than develop their own thoughts and opinions. America is known for its freedom and its freedom of speech and press especially. These schools and their material cut down on this freedom by controlling thoughts and confining young brains to certain opinions. It can only be seen as a variant of unconstitutional action. Mann has spoken of the greatness of this new Massachusetts system. The system has been proposed as if it is a remedy to all that had gone awry in the country. However, I wish to note that any form of application of this concept in South Carolina will simply cause more to go awry here. Dear politicians, heed my words. Be wary of the public education system and understand the negative effects it would have in our precious South. Northerners claim that we are slow to support the reforms when we are in fact honoring the traditions and customary way of life in an agrarian and socially stratified society. Our cherished culture must be preserved rather than destroyed by new ideas. W. L. McCauley Letter to the Editor:
The Voice of a Woman American South, 21 Aug. 1849 The age of reform has given way to a movement for women’s rights, a movement born in the North that had originally branched from the antislavery movement. This is a hard time for the outspoken women of the South. I myself longed to be present at the Seneca Falls Convention, held in July last year in New York. I wanted to hear the leaders of similar determined women speak with fervor. I wish to have a voice similar to those of my Northern counterparts. However, I cannot. I am a Southern woman, wife to an upper class landowner. I am subordinate. I have little opportunity like that of Northern women to speak my opinions. I cannot join the movement; reform, antislavery societies and the North are the most hated things in the South, and the movement for women is connected with each of the three. I am in no position to speak out, to join the movement. I am even writing this letter anonymously. Dear Chronicle, publish my thoughts. Allow similar women to feel confidently that they are not trapped alone. Perhaps if there are others like me, other Southern women who search for their voice in society and politics, we can come together to form our own “women’s society.” I hope, for me and for them, that they truly hear my message. Signed, Anonymous |
Jackson's Bank Veto:
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The Benefits of Technology in an Old Fashioned World
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Special: The Art of the Duel Milton Huckelbee, 30 Nov 1806
Duels have always been a fair and exciting way to resolve disputes. The combination of the chance of death and the one on one competition is a show that goes unparalleled. Duels are the perfect way to solve a dispute away from the grip of judge and a jury. Nobody can dispute the outcome of a duel because you’re either dead or you’re not.
There have been two notable duels in the past couple of years. Two years ago, in 1804, the legendary duel between the powerful political leaders of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. These two had had a long withstanding rivalry after Hamilton essentially fixed the election to keep Burr from becoming president. That and they hated everything about each other. Well on that fateful July day, one of our founding fathers fell as Aaron Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton. While Hamilton did a lot for the development of the United States, nobody can argue with a gentleman’s duel and Burr was just a bit faster and more accurate than Hamilton.
Then Just two years later, on May 30, 1806, young military star Andrew Jackson dueled lawyer Charles Dickenson. Dickenson fired first and slightly wounded Jackson but Jackson was unfazed and fatally wounded Dickenson just seconds later. It seems apparent that Andrew Jackson has a bright future in the United States.
Duels epitomize the honor and fairness of the American South. They serve as a foolproof and entertaining way to resolve conflicts without the pollution outside parties; just man on man. I look forward to writing about many more duels to come.
Andrew Jackson's picture
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/1-andrew-jackson-1767-1845-7th-us-everett.jpg
South Carolina picture
https://www.google.com/search?q=south+carolina+map&espv=2&biw=1070&bih=783&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=RxVdVPyTEompgwTe7oKoAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#facrc=_&imgdii=MAlt-Dh41iyypM%3A%3BmzCNbf8TRJWs2M%3BMAlt-Dh41iyypM%3A&imgrc=MAlt-Dh41iyypM%253A%3BjGV_Xb6A8ya_nM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Farchives.sc.gov%252Frecordsheld%252FPublishingImages%252F1814scSM.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Farchives.sc.gov%252Fsccountymaps%252FPages%252Fdefault.aspx%3B407%3B307
There have been two notable duels in the past couple of years. Two years ago, in 1804, the legendary duel between the powerful political leaders of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. These two had had a long withstanding rivalry after Hamilton essentially fixed the election to keep Burr from becoming president. That and they hated everything about each other. Well on that fateful July day, one of our founding fathers fell as Aaron Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton. While Hamilton did a lot for the development of the United States, nobody can argue with a gentleman’s duel and Burr was just a bit faster and more accurate than Hamilton.
Then Just two years later, on May 30, 1806, young military star Andrew Jackson dueled lawyer Charles Dickenson. Dickenson fired first and slightly wounded Jackson but Jackson was unfazed and fatally wounded Dickenson just seconds later. It seems apparent that Andrew Jackson has a bright future in the United States.
Duels epitomize the honor and fairness of the American South. They serve as a foolproof and entertaining way to resolve conflicts without the pollution outside parties; just man on man. I look forward to writing about many more duels to come.
Andrew Jackson's picture
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/1-andrew-jackson-1767-1845-7th-us-everett.jpg
South Carolina picture
https://www.google.com/search?q=south+carolina+map&espv=2&biw=1070&bih=783&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=RxVdVPyTEompgwTe7oKoAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#facrc=_&imgdii=MAlt-Dh41iyypM%3A%3BmzCNbf8TRJWs2M%3BMAlt-Dh41iyypM%3A&imgrc=MAlt-Dh41iyypM%253A%3BjGV_Xb6A8ya_nM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Farchives.sc.gov%252Frecordsheld%252FPublishingImages%252F1814scSM.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Farchives.sc.gov%252Fsccountymaps%252FPages%252Fdefault.aspx%3B407%3B307