We, of the South, are emphatically surrounded by a dangerous class of beings--degraded and stupid savages, who, if they could but once entertain the idea, that immediate and unconditional death would not be their portion, would re-act the St.
Tappan describes the dehumanizing view slaveholders have of enslaved people, portraying them as a dangerous class.
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Education elevates the inferior classes of society, teaches them their rights, and points out the means of enforcing them.
Hence with them slavery is the INSTITUTION of the SOUTH, while it is in fact the institution of only a portion of the people of the south.
It has been the policy of the slaveholders to keep entirely out of sight their own numerical inferiority, and to speak and act as if their interests were those of the whole community.
In 1837, Governor Clarke, in his message to the Kentucky Legislature, remarked, "By the computation of those most familiar with the subject, ONE THIRD OF THE ADULT POPULATION OF THE STATE ARE UNABLE TO WRITE THEIR NAMES.