, 1840-10-17
From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE TWO SAGES--

HE IWO SAIES--
Or, Mr.. Daniel Webster, and has man Seth Peterson
Mr.. Webster lately made a crack Speeci
at Saratoga, first from a platform winch broke
down. ard then from n wagon. And the
burden of the Song was (hnnge!! Change!
Change measures! Change men! The Ad,
ministration, he commended, was responsible
for low prices. a varilhir currency-and
without altogether unm1skinu his designs.
(which he is said Ia have done subsequently,
IN cnnverSatIun.O there cannoi he Il al 'ubt
that he and Gen. Harrison. and Seth Peter,
son. are all Cor a great Bank of the u s.
In this Speech. Mr.. ". diScnurSeS upon mat
tiers and things IN general; dnUmr'iSes eSpe-
ciallv on the Constitution and the Currency:
upon the shipper and the mechanic; and backs
his opinion by the ~oracuIar S1gacitv of one
Seth Peterson. half farmer and half fisherman.
Seth apper hrs To be just rs much the oracle
nf d. Webster. as d.. Webster of the
Was in the Unite States. How far either
of them deserves this distinction. will appear
bv the searching criticism of our incog. friend,
the Dreamer. But if most men thought as
good things when awake. as our corresppn-
dent does when he is asleep. it would be well
for the world, if her lazy sons could sleep
and dream more than they usually do.
The following is an Extract from Mr.. Web
ster's great SPEECH ut Saratoga on the 10Th
of August:
"There is not much danger that schemes
and doctrines. such rs these, shall find favor
with the people. They understand their
w interest too well for that. Gentlemen.
| am a farmer, on the sea-shore, and have Of
course, occasion to employ some degree Of
agricultural labor. | am sometimes also
rowed out to sea. being, like other New
Englandmen. fond of occasionally catching 4
fish, and finding health and recreation in warm
weather, from the air of the ocean. For
the few months during which ] am able TO
enjoy that retreat from labor, public or pro-
fessional, | do not often trouble my %neIgbOrs.
or thew me. with conversation on politics.
1t happened, however, about three weeks
ago, that on such an excursion as ] have
mentioned, with one man only with me, ]
mentioned this doctrine of the reduction of
prices, and asked him his opinion Of it.
"He said he did not like it. ! replied, the
wages of labor. it is, true, are reduced; but
then -four, and beef, md perhaps clothing,
all of which you buy, are reduced also. What,
then, can be your objections? Why, said
he, it is true that many rise suddenly, by
means Of scanty crop, in England, or at
home; and if it should rise from five dollars
to ten, | am not certain that it would fetch
the price Of my labor up with it. But there
is another thing. | have but one thing 10
sell, that is my labor; but | must buy many
tIIings-not only flour, and meat and clothing,
but also some articles that come from other
countries; a little sugar, a little coffee. n little
of the common spices, and such like. Now.
| do not see how these foreign articles will
be brought down bv reducing vvates ~ home:
and before the price is brought down of the
only thing | have tn sell. ! want I" be sure
that the price will fall also. not Of a part.
but of all the things which ! must buy.
snow. gentlemen, though he will be as
tonished or amused. that | should tell the
story. be ore such a vast and respect
able assemblage rs this, | will place this ar
pumpnt of Seth Peterson. sometimes farmer
and s,neiimes fisherman on the coast of
Massachusetts. stated to me while pulling
an oar with each hand. and with the sleeves
of his read shirt rolled mp above his elbows,
against the arguments. the theories. and the
speeches of the Administrative and all its
friends, in or out Of Congress. and take the
verdict Of the country, and OF the civilized
world, whether he has not the best side of the
question"
WIT AND WISDOM UNITED! e..
For the Enquirer.
MY DEAR SrR:-I enclose you a squib, in
tended to ridicule Mr.. Webster's assertion
at Saratoga, that a contraction of currency
will deprive the Iaboring classes Of the ben
eff, + >foreign products. Mr.. Webster is
not himself deceived, but he is deceiving 9th
ers, and nothing has injured the Administra-
ton more than he artfuI attempt Of our ad-
versaiies to connect our measures with the
deransed stats Of the currency, for which