The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-11
THE V@IUN OLE EBBMD02Go
To the Manufacturers, Mechanics, and Labor
ers of the United States.
Fellow CITIZENS :

Fellow CITIZENS:
We solicit your attention to the consideration o
subject, which we believe to be of vital impor
lance; and ore in which, we trust, we shall be
able to show, yoatr interest and comfort are deeply
concerned.
That we may enter upon the discussion under
standngy, it may not be improper to state, briefly
some few self-evident truths, assumed by politca
economists, and such as your own reflection vii
readily recognize, deducing such conclusions az
we trust will commend themselves to the under
standing of those who think as we'll as toll
1s Wealth is said TO consist in an abundan
supply of food, clothing shelter, and whatever
else contributes to the comfort and enjoyment O
life. Money is not wealth, strictly speaking, be-
cause 1t is not adapted to the purposes of food
clothing, shelter, or any of those enjoyments. II
is the evidence that the community owes the hold
ers OF 1t. certain amount of wealth-a kind
of admission ticket if you please, that entities the
holder to enter upon and enjoy greater amount
of wealth, provided the hand of industry has pro-
duced it, for if there was no food or clothing, &C.
money could not procure them. The materials OF
wealth are IN the first instance furnished by the be-
nevolent hand of Creative intelligence these are
fertile soil, luxurant forests the infinite variety
OF plants and animals, that grow and feed upon
the surface of the EARTH as well as the exhaustless
IL.
oped fashioned and .variously combined by the
hand of man, constitute substantial wealth
1t follows then, that the farmer, mechanic and
laboring men who take these materials, as they
come from the hand of the Creator-mould and
change them into the thousands and tens of thou
sands of different forms, which render them not
only useful but IN many cases indispensable to
the existence and happiness of the human race
are its benefactors, its supporters. That their pro-
fession should not be esteemed the most honorable
is an essential element in the social system. In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread is the
indispensable law of mans physical nature, a con-
dition of his existence as sautary and beneficial to
his health and happiness, as it is unavoidable.
The man who produces nothing either by men
tai or corporeal labor, essential to his support re-
quires no less than he who abors, his food, his
clothing and his shelter and though he may by
the aid of fortuitous circumstances, or the exercise
of cunning, of fraud or of force, avail himself of
profuson of wealth seldom enjoyed by the produ-
of it he is still dependent upon Them not on
ly for the necessaries of life but his Injuries He
is still but splendid pauper fed at separate ia
BILE, prepared by the industrious classes, who clothe
feed and shelter the whole human family.
Society has set up a false standard of respecta-
bity fine coat and life of idleneSS, and we,
the producers of the wealth, have too much acqui-
esced in its unjust decision. Responsibility should
consist in a vrtuous and cultivated mind, and skill
full and industrious hands. Upon our own shout
ders rest, in great measure the responsibility of
having erected this false Standard and we are
destined at no very distant day to feel the effects
of its CALLING yoke, unless exercise the powers
yet left at our disposal to avert them.
I'd. Whatever causes operate to augment the
numbers of the idle, or diminish those of the in
dustrious classes, must necessarily increase their
burdens and degrade them in their own esti-
nation and that of the world. The means Of
mental cultivation must then be sacrificed to
the more pressing demands of their physical ma
ture and the education of their offspring neglect
ed until generation after generation, sinks deep
er and deeper in ignorance and degradation and
the squad wretchedness that presents itself among
the operatives of many parts of monarchial Eu-
rope, be released in this country, Notwithstanding
all the superior advantages of which we boast, in
the form of our government.
If the general diffusion of the means of procur-
ing the necessares and comforts of life character
ize a nation as prosperous and happy, and render
it pre-eminent in virtue and intelligence, it be-
hoves the friends of mantle well-wishers of
the race, to guard with unceasng vigilance the
liberties rights and interests of the producing cas
ses.
In an especial manner does it behove those clas-
ses themselves in whose hands are placed the des-
TIMES of unborn Millions not to abuse the sacred
trust-not to slumber at their post while causes,
obvious to their senses, and within their control,
continually at work, sapping the foundations of
their liberty, prosperity and happiness.
To awaken attention to point of the citadel,
now assailed by the enemy, is the object of the
present address.
3D. The successful prosecution of every branch
Of human industry, where the requisite assiduity
and skill are employed depends solely upon the ex-
listing demand for their respective products. These
being consumabe articles, more or less perishable|
in the using required only in proportion to the
number of persons placed in a condition to procure
enjoy and consume them.
So true is this in regard to the mechanical
branches that no man, be he ever so skilful and
industrious, could supply his own wants if no one
needed: or, needing, could not procure the prod
uct of his labor So intimately connected are de-
mand and supply, that the latter cannot exist with
out the former. It is the demand or market for a
certain commodity that Produces and continues its
production and thus enables the producer of it, by
various exchanges to avail himself of the products
OF Others needful to his comfoEt When this de-
mand is great, and is caused by increased yet pru-
dent consumption, business is said to be brisk, is
rood. the lahorer ic voll cd oroenoro,,e