Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-08-19

There is matter which few years
since gave great deal of trouble to farm
ers, which the wholesome decisions of the
courts have materially corrected. Then
laborers felt that their employers were in
their power and that they were at liber-
ty to quit the service and demand their
wages at their pleasure. Sometimes in
the midst of planting, or haying, or har-
vesting, either through mere caprice, but
most commonly with the expectation of
getting higher wages, they would quit
their employer and leave him under eve
ry disadvantage. The courts having de-
cided that no man is entitled to his wages
who, without good and sufficient cause,
fails to continue his agreed term, the en-
ployer has proper remedy in his own
hands, which will keep this matter right
There is another point in this case of
the morals of labor, upon which we have
not the power to animadvert with too
much severity; and that is, practice
among employers Of seducing by brides
or intrigues or some vile means, laborer
from the service in which he is engaged.
We have known this done so frequently,
and under circumstances of snch extreme
inconvenience and loss to the injured par
ty, that no words can express our sense of
its baseness. 1t is gross violation of all
faith and hopor; and man who wopld
directly or indirectly be guilty of such an
act, ought to be pronounced an outlaw of
civil society.
The matter of providing for laborers
has become very serious affair; and
gross extravaganza has come in here as
into every other department of life. A
hired man, when he demands sixteen dol
lars month and his board, generally es.
Inmates his board as of no consideration.
But In few parts of the State can a man
be boarded for less than eight or len dol
lars month; and when the farmer per-
ceives that instead, as the laborer pretends.
ne is paying only sixteen dollars month,
ne is in fact paying twenty six dollars
month, the burden becomes verv heayv.-
Our habits of living have become too lux.
urlous. The habit of five meals dav
which prevails on many farms, is most
pernlclous 10 the health. We know well
by experience that three meals a day. at
o "A. M, at IL p. M. and at 6 PM.
with sometimes a cracker or two in the
forenoon, is all that is essential or benefi-
clal. Nothing is more unfavorable TO
health both of body and mind than by fire.
quent eatings to keep the organs of di-
gestion under continual exertion: and to
attempt to labor with the stomach filled
to repletion. The allowance formerly of
Scotch laborer in time of having and
harvesting, and no men ever labored hard
or or enjoyed in general frmer health. or
were capable of going through greater
nardshlps, was peck of oatmeal on Mon
lay morning and a gallon of milk a day. |
This was the weeks allowance, and he
prepared it in any way which pleased
him. -
Now most certainly we do not refer to |
such cases as these with any desire that
our laborers should be abridged of a single |
comfort; but as displaying the extremes to |
which our extravaganza leads us: and to |
show how much less is required than we
suppose, to maintain the yipor |
Of the human frame and TO supnort men
IN health under the severest toll. We are
that our present system of man.
agement is actually prejudical to health
md morals. How remedy shall be found
md applied, is more than we can saw.
The temperance reformation has been
IN immense gain both to employers and
aoorers. The very personifcation of
evil, In our opinion, is Rum; and the
blessed change which even its imperfect
progress has produced in the country. is
very where apparent, and fills the benev-
'lent bosom with inexprssible Joy and the
brightest hopes. Fl