Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-05-15
CONTINUED FROM LAST MOI
MIR. WEBSTER's
SECOND SPEECH ON THE
UB-TREkSURY BILL. -
DELIVERED MARCH IL, 1888.


It is not, in that view, human toll only
the mere action of thews and muscles !;
but it is any active agency which, work.
ing upon the materials with which the
world is supplied, brings forth products
useful or convenient to man. The mate
rails Of wealth are in the earth, in the
seas, and in their natural and unaided
productions. Labor obtains them, works
upon them, and fashions them to human
use. Now, it has been the object of sci
entific art or of the application of sci
ence to art, to increase this active agency,
to augment its power, by creating millions
of laborers in the folm Of automatic ma
machines, all to be diligently employed,
and kept at work by the force of natural
powers. To this end these natural powers,
principally those of steam and falling wa.
ter, are subsidized and taken into human
employment. Spinning machines, power
looms, and all the mechanical devices, &C.
ting, among other operatives, in the facto-
ries and workshops, are but so many la
borers. They arc usually denominated la
bor-SaUing machines, but it would be more
Just to call them labor-dOing machines.
They are made to be active agents to
have motion, and to produce effect; and
though without intelligence, they are gui-
ded by those laws of science, which are
exact and perfect, and they produce re-
suits, therefore, in general, more accurate
than the human hand is capable of produ.
cling. When we look upon one of these,
we behold mute fellow-laborer; of i'm
mcnse power, of mathematical exactness,
and of cver-during and unwearied effort.
And while he is thus a most skilful and
productive laborer, he is a non-consumcr
at least, beyond the wants Of his me.
chanical being. He is not clamorous for
food, ralment, or shelter, and makes no
demands for the expenses of education.
The eating and drinking, the reading and
writing and clothe- wearing world, are ben
Gifted by the labors of these co-operativcs,
in the same way as if Providence had
provided for their service millions of be-
ings, like ourselves in external appearance,
able to labor and to toll, and yet requiring
little or nothing for their own consumption
or subsistence; or rather as if Providence
had created a race Of giants, each of
whom, demanding no more for his support
and consumption than common labOrer,
should yet be able to perform the work of
hundred.
Now, sir, turn back to the Massachu.
sets table Of production, and you will sec
that it is these automatic allies and co-ope-
rators, ard these powers of Nature, thus
employed and placed under human direc-
ton which have come, with such prodi-
gious effect, to mans aid, in the great bu-
siness Of procuring the means of living,
of comfort, and Of wealth, and which have
so swollen the products of her skilful in
dustry. Look at these tables once more,
sir, and you will see the effects of labor,
united with an acting upon capital. Look
We again and you will see that credit, mu-
tual trust, prompt and punctual dealings,
and commercial confidence, are all mixed
up as indispensable elements in the gener-
al system.
! ask you to look yet once more, sir, and
you will perceive that general competence,
great equality in human condition, de-
gree of popular knowledge and intelli-
gence, nowhere surpassed, if anywhere
cqualled, and the prevalence of good NOR
al sentiment, and extraordinary general
prosperity, is the result of the whole. Sir,
have done with Massachusetts. ! dc
not praise the old "Bay State" of the
Revolution; only present her as she
is.
Mr.. President, such is the state o.
things actually existing in the country, and
of which ] have now given you sample
And yet there are persons who constantly
clamor against this state of things. They
call it aristocracy. They beseech the
poor to make war upon the rich, while il
truth, they know not who are either rict
or poor. They complain of oppression
speculation, and the pernicious influence o
accumulated wealth. They cry out loud
w against all banks and corporations, ant
all the means by which small capitals be
come united, in order to produce imPor
tant and beneficial results. They carry
on a mad hostility against all establishes
institutions. They would choak up tn
fountains Of industry, and dry all il
streams. In a country of unbounded lib
erty, they clamor against oppression. i
a country, Of perfect equality, they wonl
move heaven and earth against privlleg
and monopoly. In country where prop
! eFty is more equally divided than any
where else, they rend the air with the shot
/ ting of agrarian doctrines. In countr
where the wages Of labor are high beyon
all parallel, and where lands are cheal
7 and .he means Of living low, they woul
7 teach the laborer that he is but an 81
pressed slave. Sir, what can such me
; want What do they mean? They ca
want nothing, sir, but to enjoy the fruits I
other mems labor. They can mean mott
! ing but disturbance and disorder: the di
, fusiono Of corrupt principles, and the III
Ill traction of the moral sentiments and mo
. al habits Of society. Al RIGHTEOUSNESS
n feeling and or action is sometimes pr
I duced bv prosperity itself Men cam
3 always resist the temptation 70 which the
are exposed BY the very abundance Of Z
Z bounties Of Providence and the very ha
piness Of their own condition; Is Z
! steed, full Of the pasture, will, sonetlms
throw himself against its enclosures, bres
i away from Bis confinement, and, feeliI
dnow free from needless restraint, beial
q himself to the moors and haFrens, Wha
= want, ere long, brings him to his sens.
4a s.te - a 4.