A class much despised in the South.
1836. The slave of a gentleman universally considers himself a superior being to ‘poor white folks.’—Letter from a gentleman in S. Virginia: J. K. Paulding, ‘Slavery in the U.S.,’ p. 205 (N.Y.). (Italics in the original.)
1853. His overseer, a lazy German, utterly unfitted for his situation, and far more of a companion than a master for the negroes, was in consequence cordially despised by them, as coming within the list of “poor white folks,” a class they think almost beneath contempt.—S. A. Hammett (‘Philip Paxton’), ‘A Stray Yankee in Texas,’ p. 279.
1857. Now jest look at that there slide. How many trees do you think these poor white trash have slid down there? Why, trees enough to buy this whole property.—Knick. Mag., xlix. 260 (March).
1861. From the planter owning six hundred negroes, down to the “white trash,” all [in South Carolina] seemed to feel the fire of enthusiasm in the cause of disunion—all alike were inspired with hatred of the North and contempt of the Federal compact.—O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ i. 48.
1862.
| They ’re all Stuart Millses, poor-white trash, an’ sneaks, | |
| Without no more chivverlry ’n Choctaws or Creeks. | |
Lowell, ‘Biglow Papers,’ Second S., No. 4. (Message of Jeff Davis.) |
1863. [The population was] composed largely of “poor white trash,” of pennyless politicians, of bankrupt spendthrifts, of gamblers and adventurers.—O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ ii. 63.
1888. The windows and doors were filled with the vacant faces of the filthy children of the poor white trash and negroes.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ p. 120.
1888. [The house] was like the cabins of the “poor white trash” in the forest, only larger.—Id., p. 192.
1901. The terms “sand-hiller,” “clay-eater,” or “poor white trash,” conveyed a terrible reproach, for even the negroes looked down upon them.—W. Pittenger, ‘The Great Locomotive Chase,’ p. 74.
