Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-11-07
A LETTER TO
Mechanics and Working Men.
ON THE WAGES OF LABOR,
BY PAUL INGLIS, Carpentsr,


men, are undergoing the severest discussions, not
'ny in the newspapers, but in societies, clubs
md assoca atoms, throughout the country, the
possession OF information necessary 10 the for
nation Of correct conclusions concerning them
s so essential, that have deemed it of sufficient
importance 10 devote portion Of my time TO OBJ
tanning it.
shall confne myself to what exclusively in.
teresls the aborng classes, in reference to the
measures and doctrines Of the Administration -
A mechanic myself, suffering deeply from the
Effects OF the measures Of Government upon
the Currency, and not an inattentive observer Of
the progress Of financial events OF the day,
claim the attention Of my fellow aborers, with
whom sympahse, and with whose interests |
am most deeply and personally concerned
Whatever causes operate on them, operate like.
wise on me, and Whatever in prosperous or ad
verse times may be their fortune and cirtumstsn
ces, mine are the same.
In examining doctrines, therefore, in which I,
as mechanic, and personally interested, | feel
that am advocating the cause Of the aboring
man throughout the country, whatever his pro.
lesion or condition may be- and | claim his at.
tention 10 the remarks may make, without any
reference to nv attachment or opposition TO either
country.
II do not succeed in presenting VIVA; have
to say according to the established forms Of crit
cal and logical arrangement, ask that nduI-
gence which may Justly be claimed by one whose
education and condition in life have been such as
to disquaiily him for that kind Of writing which
will adapt itself to the taste OF refined and cult.
waited minds. address myself to those whom
elegance Of composition is an nmaera point,
but whose sagaciry and intelligence will enable
them to grasp The strong points OF question,
aud particularly one upon which, in their work
shops and their moments Of leisure, they have
often deeply and seriously reflected.
The discussions which now agitate the minds
OF the great mass Of the people, and which are
now moving them to and Iro, like the waves Of
the sea, when shaken by mighty tempest have
awakened the attention and aroused the reflection
Of the working men as much, if no, more, than
any other class Of our citizens.
The questions in agitation in reference to the
Currency, and its operation upon their interests,
are oftenlimes discussed ny them with an int Il
gence and force which prove them capable Of
comprehe nding the most difficult subjects. Who
ever, therefore, regards them as deficient in in.
,electual power to arrive at sound conclusions
with their interests and happiness, knows little OF
their sagac;ty, judgment, or intelligence.
To such men | present the facts | have col.
lected, not to infame their patty zeal, but that
they may be fortified with reasons 'ior the faith
that is in them,' and that they may the more
confidently sustain themselves in this warfare o.
Truth against Error.
appeal 10 the mechanic and la0orng man,
e Ii, e;t,otinp hos in,nrov.l h., Il,
ures OF Government? Il has not for the very
substantial reason, that those measures have beer
directed toward the production OF an entirely
different result than the improvement Of his cir.
cumstances. The want OF employment, ard the
necessary contraction Of his comforts 10 which
he has been obliged to submit, are consequences
which naturally spring from the arrangement 0
the moned affairs Of the country
The experiments upon the Currency by tht
Administration. instead Of producing benefits tc
the laboring portion OF our population, as it wa:
pretended they would do have had contrary
effect.
The loss OF public confidence, and the de
rangement Of our finances have had, ultimately,
the same effect upon the interests Of the lnecnan
c as upon those Of the merchant, proving there
by, nconteslably, that the interests of all class
tS dIt CIOSclJ anu lIlIlUdltly CONNECTED.
1t was not until the proposal Of the Sub. Tea.
sury scheme, that the great object Of the Admin.
istr alton, to reduce the price Of labor, became
known. This notwithstanding their pretended
sympathy for the aborng man, is now admitted
10 be one Of the principal motives Of the Admin.
istration in the establishment OF that system, and
as they DO not conceal but on the contrary bold
~ promulgate it as the doctrine Of the party, it is
left to the working man to decide whether or not
it is acceptable to him.
Is it not matter Of establishment, that an Ad
mnstraton whose professions OF sympathy for
the lahoTing man have been so notorious, and
whose financial measures have been boosted OIL
by its party presses throughout the country, as
directed exclusively to The improvement Of his
condition, should now boldly avow doctrine
which strikes at the very root Of his prosperity?
The inevitable consequence OF the measures
OF our Government was 10 reduce The price Of
labor; and because they now see that such has
been the result, they boldly avow il TO have been
their purpose from tie beginning. Like Quacks
who having administered medicine, Of the ef
ecls Of which they were entirely Ignorant, when
instead OF restoring the patient, It has thrown min
into commissions, with admirable GOODNESS anc
impotence turn round and say, il was The very
end they were DESTROYS Of accomplishing, as
necessary result in the progress to health.
To avoid acknowledging their ignorance, anc
seeing the fleet upon the interests Of the working
man. they adopt the result as their doctrine, bu
console US by saying that we are no worse off
because The prices OF every thing else will fal
in proportion
propose to examine this monslrous and alb
surd error before have concluded nv remarks
Senator Buchanan, Of Pennsylvania-a tai