The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-13
FOR THE MApIsosiAs.
WHO ARE THE FRIENDS or THE
WORKING MENt


WORKING MEM
Nh EDITOR: Having lately had some leisure time
on my hands, thought could not employ il better
than in a consideration ofthe Address TO the Work
ing men ofthe United States, lately put out by Lo
coioco committee of citizens ofths District Aware Of
the fact that the advocates Of Mr. Van Burens re-
election profess great friendship for the interests OF the
working men, presumed that might find in this adj
dress the grievances ofthe working fully set forth
and the remedy for them be effected by the reelec
ton Of Mr.. Van Buren,. Coming /, does, from the
highest authority known to us in the ranks Of the
party" we have a right TO judge fiom it what will be
the course pursued by the Admnis ration fre-eeced'
in relation to our interests. When who now en-
Joy the highest offices in the country ask support
and promise TO guard our interests with parental care,
in il becomes look upon their request
coming from persons prompted by the powerful motives
of elfinieres scrutnize the conduct and profess
sons Of such our best endeavors 10 ascer-
tain whether they sincere in their professions, and
whether it is likely they will keep their word, judging
from theirpast conduct. Being mysefa working man
feel il my duty to examine this subject for myself,
and express my doubts of the honesty Of pretend ed
friends, and give my reasons for them.
The address commences with a most exagge rated
picture of the oppression and bondage under which, y
is said crushed to the earth and this is said to
have been the condition Of the laboier in all ages.
With that we have nothing to do our present cond
ton and our future prospects, are the great consdera
tons with According to the address, slaves,
and do not enjoy the equality and rights TO which we
entitled the laws of our country said to be OPP
pressivc, and TO bear peculiarly hard upon Is this
true2 Are not the liberties common to every citizen
common TO the working also Does not the
working man enjoy the protection Of Government in
the possession Of his property Are not the same
means ofacquiring property to him to 9th
eis2 Is he not equally privileged" to use his capital
as he pleases Cannot he bank il he chooses Can
not he live in palace and wear silk gloves, /"
and ride in his coach, if he chooses In popular
tests there always who will appeal the low
est and most unworthy feelings Of the human breast
to advance their interest and make themselves
kings among men" and look upon this exaggera-
ted picture groundess precisely the language
Of such men They tell us we are the most aren't
slaves upon earth that country laws are unjust
and represent but little better than the brute
ation and modestly tell that the remedy for these
things is to put them in power 1t is insult to the
understanding of the working to tell him the laws
of his country give others more privileges than him
and they who thus perver truth not his friends,
but the seekers of "spoils" and power. We want no
man. who approaches US in this way to rule over US.
We want who has been feeding from the pub
c crib all his days tell what rights, and
dictate to political course. We not the
slaves of power they take to be think and
act for ourselves and shall rely upon ourselves
-Four pages on the subject of the British banking
system, follow this insulting picture of the condition
of American mechanics. The dreadful effects Of the
British credit system there portrayed in the true
Kendall style, and strong effort made to make us be-
ieye we are no better than the aborers of England
This is prolific theme with the writer of the address,
who would like to shift the contest from the
now before the people to some European monarch
He finds he has but little ground TO stand at home
and hence find him descanting at great length
the conuptions of the monarches of the old world
The writer of the address is constantly telling u.s.
through another channel, that more than half Of
people F." are bought with British gold = enemies of
their country, swinders gamblers, Sc. in his ad-
dress he says the British credit system" is de-
grading than the lahorers OF England and every
individual in country in any way connected with
banking is under its dominion does he stop here
but tells US that actually q on footing with
the Irish tenantry, who toll for landlords residing in
England and France while bare subsistence is all
that is left to them" Mechanics who now insults
your understanding the Wings, who tell you that
he highest state of prosperity in any country is that
condition of things which maintains permanency
the highest prices property and LABOR the tools
of Mr., Van Buren,, who place you level with the
slaves of foreign kings; who tell you you bought
] with British gold and who think to sway you by
appeals to the most degrading of human passions
Finding themselves unable to uphold the unrghteous
cause in which they engaged by arguments known
to us all, and relating to country they use
every mems to lug in the abuses Of the British
tion and endeavor to deceive by representing this
contest as between this country and our old enemy
We very little in the Administration papers rela
tive to the great questions before the people and
which well known to all of us. They are afraid
the light, and dread the inqunng spirit every where
manifest well knowing that an Interrogation Of their
title to the confidence the people will result in their
removal from office The truth has been driven home to
them with such power that they make but weak
defence and forced to 90 TO England for charges
to bring against the friends of reform But they will
be sgnaly disappointed in their estimate Of the intel
ligencc of American mechanics; should indeed be
ignorant and degraded" were we to allow princ-
pies to be shaken by this miserable subterfuge.
Having completed the picture Of want, degradation
and Distress to which the writer Of the address thinks
the American mechanic has arrived, and brought us
down to the time when to receive but 81 so per
week; when we and families shall not have the
means to taste meat than or twice a week ;
when our ptance of food is cut off by sickness or