Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-10-21
From DR.. Channing's letter to Mr.. Clay.

|
oinal intention.
From DR.. Channing's letter to Mr.. Clay.
THE DIGNITY OF THE LADoRER.
Int report ofthe mail, recently offer
ed to the Senate Of the United States,
an effort was made 10 establish resem.
blance between Slavery and the condi-
ton offree laborers for the purpose Of
showing that the shades of difference
are not very strong. Is it possible tina,
such reasoning escaped from man that
has trod the soil of New England, and
was educated at one of her colleges
Whom did he meet at that college
The sons Of her laborers, young men
whose hands had been hardened at the
plough.-Does he not know that the
families oflaborers furnish every depart
ment in life among us with iIlustrious
men, have furnished our heroes in war,
our statesmen in council, our orators in
the pupi and at the bar, our merchants,
whose enterprise embraces the whole
earth What the laborcr Of free
state slave, and to be ranked with the
despised negro, whom the lash drives to
Toll, and whose dearest rights are at the
mercy of irresponsible power?
If there be firm, independent spirit on
earth, it is to be found in the man who
tills the fields of the free states. and
moistens them with the sweat of his
brow. | recently heard Of visitor
from the South, compassionating the op-
eratives OF our manufactures, as in
worse condition than the slave. Wha,
carries the young woman to the manu-
factory? Not generally for the want Of
a comfortable home, but sometimes with
the desire of supplying herself with
wardrobe, which ought to satisfy the af-
fluent, and oltener the desire of furnish
ing in more than decent style the home
where she is to sustain the nearest re.
.ations, and perform the most sacred
duties in life. Generally speaking, each
Of these young women has her plan of
life, her hopes, and bright dreams, her
spring Of action in her own free will
and amidst toll she contrires 10 find
season for intellectual culture.
1t is common in New England for the
sons Of farmers to repair to the large
towns, and there to establish themselves
as domesties in families, a condition
which the South will be disposed to
identify with slavery. But what brings
the youg man TO the city? The hope Of
earning in shorter time sum which
to purchase farm at home, or in the
West, perhaps to become a trader; and
in these vocations they not unfrequently
rise to consideration, and what in their
place OF residence is called wealth,
have in my thought an individual distin-
guished alike by vigor and elevation of
mind, who began life by hiring him
self as a laborer to farmer, and then
entered family as a domestic; and
now is the honored associate of the
most enlightened men, and devotes
the highest subjects Of human
thought. 1t is true that much remains
to be done for the laboring class in the
most favored regions; but the intelli-
gence already spread through this class,
is an earnest Of a brighter day, Of the
most glorious revolution in history, of
the elevation ofthe mass Of men to the
dignity Of human beings.
1t is the great mission Of this country
10 forward this revolution, and never
was sublimer work committed TO
nation. Our mission is to elevate socie-
Iy through all IFS conditions, to secure hu-
man beings the means ofprogress, to sub ,
,titute the government oflaws for that
ofirresponsible individuals, to prove that ;
under popular institutions, the people ,
nay be carried forward, that the multi
ude who toll are capable of the noblest
blessings Of the social estate. The pref. i
ldice, that labor is degradation, is one !
If the worst prejudices handed down /
rom barbarous ages, is TO receive here !
PRACTICAL refntation. The power Of lib. !