The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-04-17


portion was sent abroad. And yet we hear daily,
sir, of the amassng + aristocratic wealth, by the
progress Of manufacturers, and the operations Of
the credit sy stem Arisocracy, it said, is steal
ing upon us, and in the form of aggregate wealth is
watching to seize political power from the hands
of the people
We have been more than once gravely admon-
ished that in order to improve the times and restore
a metallic currency for the benefit of the poor the
rich ought to melt down their plate Whatev-
such a melting process might find to act
upon elsewhere, Mr. President, assure you that in
Massachusetts it would discover little. few spoons
candlestcks, and other similar articles, some old
family pitchers and tankards, and silver porrengers
of our nurseries, would be about the whole.
Sir, if there be any aristocrats in Massachusetts,
the people are all aristocrats. because do not be-
lieve there is on earth in highly civilized society,
4 greater equality in the condition of men than
there exists. If there be man in the State who
maintains what is called an equpage, or drives four
horses IN hls coach, am not acquainted with him.
On tho other hand, there are few who not able
TO carry their wives & daughters to church in
decent conveyance. 1t is matter of regreto
sorrow TO us that few very rich /; but it is
pride and glory that few are very poor. 1t is
still higher PRIDE, and our just boast, think,
that all her citizens possess of intelligence
and education and that all of her productions,
she reckons, among the very chiefest, those which
spring from the culture Of the mind and the heart
Mr. President one ofthe most striking character
iscs ofthis age is the extraordinary progress which
it has witnessed in popular know ledge. new and
powerful impulse has been acting in the social sys
lem of late, producing this effect in striking de-
gree.
In morals, in politics, in literature, there is a vast
accession to the number ofreaders, and to the
Der of profcients. The present state of popular
knowledge is not the result of a slow and uniform
progress, proceeding through lapse of years, with
the same regular degree of motion. 1t is evidently
the result of some new causes brought into power
fu action, and producing their consequences rapid
ly and strikingly.
is air for n
question at length: allow me to say however, that
the improved state of popular knowledge is but the
necessary result Of the improved condition of the
great mass of the people. knowledge is not one of
our merely physical wants, Life may be sustained
without it. But, In order to live, men must be fed,
md clothed, and sheltered; and in state of things
in which ones whole labor can do no more than
procure clothes, food, and shelter, he have
time nor means for mental Improvement. Knowl-
edge therefore, is not attained, and cannot be at
tanned, TIL there is degree of respite from dali
iy manual toll, and never-ending drudgery. But
Whenever less degree of labor will produce tho
absolute necessaries Of life, then there come leisure
and means, both TO teach and learn.
But If this great and wonderful extension of pop
ular knowledge be the result of an improved con-
diton, it may in the next place, well be asked,
what are the causes which have thus suddenly pro-
duced that great Improvement? How Is it that tho
means Of food, clothing, and shelter, are now so
much more oheapy and abundantly procured than
formerly? Sir the main cause take to be the pro-
gress OF scientific art, q extern: of the ap-
plicaon of science to This it is, which has so
much distinguished the last half century in Europe
and American and its effects are every where visible,
and especially among Man has found new AL
lies and auXilaries, in the powers of NATURE and In
the inventions of mechanism.
The general doctrine OF political economy is, that
wealth consists in whatever is useful or convenient
man, and that labor is the producing cause of all
this wealth This is very true. But, them what
is labor? In the sense of political writers, and in
common language, it means human industry; but,
n philosophical view, it may receive much more
comprehensive meaning Ii is not. in that view,
human toll only--the mere action of thews and
muscles; but it is any active agency which, work
ny upon the materials with which the world is sup
1lied, brings forth products useful convenient to
nan. The materials OF wealth are in the earth, in
he seas, and In their natural and unaided produce
ions Labor obtains them, works upon them, and
Ashions them to human use. Now, it has been
he object Of scientific art of the application of
science to art, to increase this active agency, to
ugment its power, by creating millions of laborers
n the form of automatic machines, all to be dill
,enty employed and kept at work by The force OF
latura powers To this end these natural powers,
those Of steam and falling water, are
uhsi6ized and taken into human employment
spinning mac hines, powor-looms, and all the me-
hanical devices actipg among other operatIves,ln
he factories and workshops, are but so many la
orers They are usually denomiuated labor-sdD-
nc machines but it would be more just TO call them
ahor-doing machines. They made to be active
gents TO have motion, and to produce effect and
avs of science, which are exact and perfect, and
hey produce results, therefore, in general, more ac-
urate than the human hand is capable of produce
10. When we look upon one of these, we behold
mute eIlow-laborer of immense power, Of math
matical exactness, and of ever-during and unwea-
led effort. And while he is thus most skillful
nd productive laborer he is non-consumer--at
east beyond the wants of his mechanical being
10 is not clamorous for food, ramant, or shelter,
nd makes no demands for the expenses of educa-
on The eating and drinking, the reading and
,riting and clothes wearing world, are benefited
Y the abors of these co-operatives, in the
'ay as if Providence had provided for weir service
llions of beings like ourselves in e. ernal APP
oaranee able to labor and to toll, aEj vet requir
g little or nothing for their own consumption or
lbsistence, rather, if Providence had created
race of giants, each of whom demanding no more
n his support aud consumption than common
borer, should yetbe able to perform the work of
hundred.
Now sir, turn back to the ~ ssachnsetts tables
productions and you will see that it is these auto
otic allies and co-operators, and these powers of