Southern Slavery versus Northern Hireling

Southern Slavery versus Northern Hireling.

For thirty years, Northern Fanaticism, hacked up by a kindred spirits in England, has been waging a ceaseless and unscrupulous warfare against the South and Southern slavery.  The pulpit, the press, and the hustings, have vied with each other in decrying the institution of slavery, and exaggerating its supposed evils, while unprincipled demagogues have nursed and fanned the excitement, as a means of reaching positions they had not the merit and ability otherwise to obtain.  The stranger to our institutions has been constrained, by the clamor of Northern fanaticism, to believe the institution of slavery the greatest curse that mars the face of civilization.

The present sudden and unexpected financial crisis, says the Columbus (Ga.) Times, forces before the eyes of the world in striking contrast the condition of Southern slaves and the hireling classes of North.  We have just returned from a tour through sever of the Southern States, to wit: Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, a distance of over four thousand miles, including in the route the populous cities of New Orleans, Mobile, Galveston, Houston, Memphis, and many other smaller towns and cities, and did not during the whole journey see a half dozen beggars; and the sight of a slave in the Southern States begging bread is a novelty unheard of.   Indeed the slave who has grown old, infirm, decrepit, or otherwise has become unable to render his owner profitable labor, is usually the best provided for and the best taken care of.

How is it with the Northern hireling?  The moment he becomes unable by sickness or accident to render his employer efficient services, his wages cease; the moment he becomes permanently disabled from old age or otherwise, he is discharged; the moment affairs or depression in business, he is turned loose - thrown out upon the cold charities of the world to beg or starve; and, at this time, while our Northern cities have to be protected by an armed police and soldiery against the violence of the hungry, starving multitude, who have been thrown out upon the public, our Southern slave is not even aware that anything has occurred to disturb the financial affairs of the country, but rejoice in the knowledge of the fact that while in his master's barn remains a peck of corn, it will be equally divided with him.  Yes, he knows that while in his master's pocket remains a dollar, with which to purchase things, that he will not be permitted to suffer with want.  While the cries of the hungry starving freedom shriekers North, make night hideouts with their wailing and lamentations, our slave population was never more contented and happy, and waste enough of their daily supplies to feed the starving multitudes of New York.

What a glorious liberty is now being enjoyed by our Northern philanthropists.  The Liberty of begging their bread from door to door.  The liberty of starving with hunger and freezing with cold.
Ye, freedom shrieking Beechers and Greeleys, Gerritt Smiths and Theodore Parkers, listen to the voice of true philanthropy - hearken to the cries of suffering humanity.  Draw from the coffers, of your Kansas aid societies, your misspent contributions and stop the mouths of the starving multitude that howl at your gates. - Mississippi