The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-15
THE WAGES OF LABoR.-We invite the


attention of the reader, especially OF Inc labor
mo man to the extract which we give below from
,be Lancaster Intelligencer. That paper is the
srecial advocate of MIR. Buchanan. 1t is pub
sshed at his residence in Pennsylvania; the edl-
sor is in his confidence; ready at all times TO de
fend him against all and every imputation, and
vet he argues that the laboring man IS benehlted
by the reduction of prices. We give the ex-
sract entire. and ask the reader TO remember tha'
he Gives the same Interpretation to Mr.. Buchan-
ans speech that Mr.. Davis did-that this Ed
ror,s known attachment to Mr.. Buchanan isSuch
that no one can suppose he misrepresenls either
,he motive of the speaker or the speech ITSELF
If is here admitted that the purpose of the war
anon the banks is TO reduce prices; and the arSu-
Eept is that although wages are reduced ~ pei
cont the laboring man is benefited, by that re-
dnction because flour may be purchased at 5O
per cent.
II annears to US that Mr.. Buchanan and his
sdvocate are both wide of the mark. If ii be true
that wages are reduced but 40 per cent, it is no
less true that labor is idle for want OF employ
ruent-the loss to the country is in the susPen-
sion of labor. 1t is not so much low wages, as
the want of employment of which the whole
country complains.
IF we take the average price of wages at one
dollar per day. and estimate the effect OF the sus-
renson of labor, for want of profitable employ
nent. we will then see why it is that every man
feels the hardness Of the times
If we estimate our population az sixteen mil
lions. and assume that one-eight part are labor
srs and that in consequence OF the arrangement
NJ the currency and the war upon credit, one
half ofthese get but half employment, the result
will then be as follows: one-eight OF sixteen is
nro millions; ifone-half ofthese are employed but
One-haf their time; or if one million OF laborers
lose one-half of their time fol want OF employ
n,ert il follows that one million of the sixteen
lose ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLIONS per an
nnrn This has now run through three years OF
Mr. Van Buren's term. 1t is only necessary to
apply this same rule of calculation to the other
branches of industry and to multiply the product
by the sepsn years of MIR. Van Buren's admins
istration to show what will be the cost OF his
measures We will not venture to give the re-
sults they will startle the most incredulous; and
vet the premises and the conclusions are irreSis-
table.
The Editor of the Intelligeneer would recon-
cile the mechanic and day laborer by comparing
the prices of bread-stuS with the price OF labor,
and we are told that the adminisI alton deserves
the confidence of the laboring man because, al
though, it is true that wages are reduced 4O per
cent bread-stufS are reduced 80 per cent; over
looking the important fact that the consequence
of this war upon the public and private credit of
the county, is the arrest ofpublic and private I'M
provements,-and that large proportion OF the
labor that would have been otherwise employed,
and thus have been the consumers of bread-stuifs,
are compelled, for want OF employment, to cul-
tiVate the soil, and by over-production to reduce
the price of provisions without creating the means
of consuming the products of the labor of the
mechanic class.
Thus in prosperous times, men build houses
This gives employment to the laborer, the stone
cutter, the brick maker, the brieklayer the plais
lerer the carpenter, the lumber merchant, thu
hardware merchant, the iron master, the mai
maker, the SAWYER, the lime burner the Woo
chopper; and the list might be greatly, great!
increased.
What is true in relation to building is equal,
spplicable to all other departments of labor
Each of the mechanic arts gives employment t.
MANY who do not belong to that art. Take TO
example the printer. He gives employment t
the merchant, the mechanic who builds the hou
ses, the machinery, the paper maker, the wome
and children who handle the paper in its passag
from the rags into pure white paper; then tn
type founder, the miner, the smelter, the new
carrier. &C. &C. We take these illustrations a
random, and they might be carried much far
Their, showing how intimately sosiety is interwo
ven, and how much we are dependent upon eac
other. and that the true secret of prosperity j
constant and profitable employment. The wa
of the administration on credit dries up the sour
ces of employment, and robs the industrious poo
Of the means of earning bread even at the reduc
ed prices.
But there is another and most importan
branch of this subject which must strike home
to the bosom of every feeling man. Who car
calmly look on and see the misery, the wretched
ness which must follow in the train of such mea
suIes-"Satin finds some mischief still for idle
hands to do,n Look into the dwellings where