Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-10-15


1t is partial legislation; u partial non.
entity.
Monopolies! what does he mean by
that! There are no monopolies by law
in this country, but Of inventions, 'and
Of literary publications. o.: does he
mean corporations Then ho either
does not know the meaning Of words -
or he pcrverts the meaning; and calls
that monopoly which is not monopoly,
Monopoly may be granted to corpo-
ration as it may to an individual; but
monopoly is altogether a distinct thing
from corporation. If Mr.. Van Buren,
understood the meaning Of the word,
and understood its proper sense, then
he meant to say to these working-men
that patents for inventions, and for lite
rary publications disturbed the relation
between the wages of labor and tho pri-
ces of commodities, to the produce Of
the laborer: Il profound statesman truly !!
Congregatod wealth. Can any NOR
tai tell what is meant by congrcgated
wealth. Wealth may be congrcsated
by one or by many. Does he mean that
inequality ofproperty is one of the caus-
rs, that operates to the prejudice of tho
laboror: cannot imagine what else
he can mean; and would he have that
inequality corrected? Certainly, being
the great friend of tho poor laborer.-
This is to avow himself a Locofoco Of
tho Brownson school. But after all,
how would equality Of property elevate
the standard Of wages for labor? how,
in what way could this effect arise from
tins causei Men once lived in state
of nature, and had every thing in COM
mon; then there was no inequality of
property; wonder If then there was II
great demand for labor-and if wages
were then high! And would it make
any difference, if property was equal,
but not cOmmOn?
Again interested combinations =
This phrase stands probably for some
idea which Mr.. Van Buren, had in his
mind; but no other mortal can tell what
that idea was. All combinations arc
intcrestpd; otherwise they could not
take place; for individuals never COM
bine but for some object. The object
it is true, may be either good or bad;
may be legal or illegal; does Mr.. Van
Buren mean all combinations yes
it literally understood; for the phrase
covers ALT is without any limitation.
Then ho is against all partnerships in
trade, and against all corporations; he
would have no religious corporations,
no school, no turnpike, no canal, no
rail road, and no other corporation
whatever. And this by the by is to
benefit the laborer. But if he did not
mean all combinations, who can tell
what no did mean, what particular
combinations he had in view? he has
not said, nor intinated; it can therefore
be known only to himself. This was a
precious Inockery ofthese working-men,
to put them of with phrase which IT,
literally understood, was an absurdity
upon its face; and if not to be literally
understood, left them completely in the
dark rs to his meaning. And if they
should return his compliment, and toll
him they could not comprehend his
meaning, their sincerity no one would
doubt.
Though Mr.. Van Buren's meaning
be imperutively obscure, his object is
clear as daylight, his object is to excite
the prcjudices of the laborcrs agains,
their employers rs being opprcssors.-
For who else arc intended and for whom
is this partial Legislation, these mo-
nopolies, this congregatcd wealth, and
these interested combinations' II must
be intended for them; and to represent
them as opprcssors by these means
This is tho doctrine Of Brownson
whether he borrows from Martin Van
Buren,, or Martin Van Buren from him
it is now common to both; viz: that the
employers are the oppressors Of tho la
borers.
What singular spectacle this coun-
try now exhibits The Government
is the enemy OF its business men, by
whom alone the Government it sup
ported; and is laboring all it can to
cripple them in the means Of doing busi-
mes; and not content with this is labor
ing to translr,sc its own onmity to the
business men, into the bosom Of all the