The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-14
FROM rae NATIONAL rSrrlIloEscEn.

marks subject which has become matter OF Intense
interest The People Of this country, and especially Of
ysan eectuay roused by doctrines lately pro-
mugaed in high quarters respecting hardmoney currency
and the reduction OF the price of labor And IL is well they
reused Labor is the very foundaonsone Of our pros
penty and can venture TO say that Pennsylvania VIII es
every who found the right or this
question, Ia the year 1883 Mr. WEBSTER then and of
the Senate visited Pennsylvania. he addressed crowd
Of many thousand people, in the open air Psbg and
happened To be in that city that me and witnessed the
enthusiastic appreciation which the vast m,ltade testified Of
his sentiments on subject Of labor His speech was aE
forwards published and send you an extract from IT.
which pray you publish for the good Of those toom
may concern wish our friends Pittsburg would repub-
sh the whole Of this speech suits these times remaka
bly, WE'LL AN lhoNMhoiEn
"GsNrr MEN Those of you who may have turned your
attention subject know that in the quarter Of the coun
try with which am more Immediately Connected me rro
pie early eager to urge the Government 70 carry
the protecting policy the height which Il has reached
Candor obges remind you that when the act OF el
passed. neither he who addresses YOU nor those
with whom he usually acted such subjects were ready or
willing take the which that act proposed hey aouot
ed its erpdeney passed however, by the great ana over
wenng influence of the central States New York. Penn
syIvana, and Ohio. New England acquiesced IN It. she
conformed TO It. the settled policy of the country and gave
to her capital and her labor corresponding direction she
system Her prosperity identified, not perhaps with any
particular degree Of protection but with the preservation OF
u
ciple under any circumstances whatever And who would
dare to yeldit2 Who standing here, and looking round
on this community and its interests would be bold enough
to touch spring which much industry and pro-
duces SO much happness Who would shut the mouths
Of these coaps7 Who stay the cargoes of manuac
ured goods now floating down river Of the nobles in
he world and stretching through territories almost bound
less in extent, and unequaed in fertility Who would
quench the fires Of engines or stay the opera
tons of much wel-employed abor1 Gentlemen can
not conceive how any subveron Of that policy which has
hitherto been pursued take place without great public
embarrassment, and great private distress y .;.
81 have said that am in favor OF projecting American
manual labor and after the best reflection can give the
subject and from the lights which can derive from the ex-
perence Of ourselves and Others have come TO the concu
sion that such protection jus, aud proper and that to leave
American labor sustain competition with that OF the over
peoped co0atres of Europe would lead to state OF Things
which the People could submit This is the great
reason why for maintaining what has been established
see home here wherever 60, that the slim
Mus which has excited the existing activity and Is producing
the existing prosperity the country nothing else than the
stimulus held out labor BY compromising prices think
this visible every where from Penobscot to New Or
leans and manifest in the condition and circumstances OF The
great body of the People, for nne-tenths Of the whole Peo
pie belong the laborous industrious, and productive
classes and these classes the stimulus acts we perceive
that the price Of labor high and we know that the means
Of living low and these two truths speak volumes IN Ia
Of the general prosperity of the country am aware
as has said already that this high price Of labor results
partly the favorable condition Of the country Labor
high comparatively speaking before the act of 1924
passed. but that fact affords in my Judgment for
endangeng its security and sacrificing its hopes by over
throwing what has since been established for its protection
Let look gentlemen the condition oother countries
and inquire little into the causes which, in some OF them
produce poverty and Distress the lamentations of which reach
our shores. | see around me many whom know 10
be emgrants from other countries Why are they herea
Why is the native of Ireland among usI Why has he
abandoned dear him these hills and hese
to you Is there any other cause than this that
burden of taxation the one hand and the low reward
of labor the other left him without the means OF com
Portable subsistence the power of providing for those who
dependent upon hint Was not this account that
he left his land and sought asylum in country OF
laws Ofc atiyec frO
less extent and which the means Of living are cheap and
the prices Of labor just and adequate And DO not these
remarks apply with less accuracy, to every other
part of Europe Is not true that sobrey and industry
and good chnrateI do for here than in
obvious that deny it, founded in this plain
that labor in this country earns better reward than
any where else, and so gives more comfort, more nd.
vdual independence, and elevation OF character
Whatever else may benefit particular portions OF society
whatever else may assist captawhatever else may favor
commercial enterprise professional Skill
traordnay individual sagacy good or,une-be assured
gentlemen that nothing advance the mass OF society in
prosperity and happiness, nothing uphold the substantial
interest," and steadily improve the general condition and char
of the whole but this thing compensang reirards
labor The fortunate situation of our country tends strongly
of itself to produce this result the Government has adopted
the policy Of cooperating with this natural tendency Of
thngs has encouraged and ostered labor and industry
by system of discriminating duties and the result of these
combined causes be in the present OF
| the country.
Gentlemen there important considerations Of another
kind, connected with this subject Our Government is pop
The actual character of the Government be better
than the general moral ard intellectual character Of the
munity. would be the widest Of human maginations
expect poor vicious and ignorant people TO maintain good
popular government Education and knowledge, which,
obvious be generally aand by the People only where
there adequate rewards labor and industry and
share in the public interest," stake in community would
ndspensaby necessary these who have the
appointing all public agents. passing all laws, and of
making and unmakng constitutions their pleasure Hence
the truth Of the e MAXIM that knowledge and virtue
the only foundation of republics but is to be added
be always remembered that there and
be- intelligent and vrtuous people, who at the time
are poor and idle people, badly employed and badly paid
Who would be safe in any community where political power
in the hands Of the many and property in the hands Of the
few Indeed, such unnatural state Of things could
where long exist.
1T certainly appears to me- gentlemen TO be quite evident
at this time and the present condition of the world that
necessary protect the industry this country against
the paupe labor of England and other parts Of Europe An
to educate has unequal chance against the pauper of Eng
land whose children TO he educated and probably
already the parish and who himself is half fed and clothed
by his labor and half from the poor rates. and very bad
y fed and clothed after all As have already said the
don Of country, Of ITSELF without the aid of Govern
ment does much to favor American manual labor and il
question Of policy and justice at all times what and how
much Government shall do in aid of natural advantages In
regard TO branches Of industry the natural advantages
less considerable than in regard to others and those
therefore, imperiously demand the regard of Govern
ment Such the occupations generally speaking of the