Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-09

nership consisting of various persons being
much more conveniently conducted by
corporations, that they are carried on in
that way rather than by means of linden.
ture. and that's the whole of it,
We'll, gentlemen, without arguing this
point, | believe that tariff with moderate
duties, carefully laid and justly calculated
is expedient, in the first place, because
think that it augments the aggregate Of
national wealth by stimulating labor. ]
should be very happy--l believe | must
take the liberty to put on my hat and
Mr.. Webster here put it on, with the sutfi-
GENTLY marked appreciation of the assem-
blage.] l should be glad on other circum-
stances to 90 into this at some length, but
| can only glance at it. 1t is the opinion
Of all intelligent men that labor is the great
productive source Of wealth, and they all
admit, too, that capital is the stimulus Of
labor. Well, it seems TO me to follow, as a
matter of course, that if that capital he ap-
piled on the spot-directly in the presence Of
the laboring community-it operates better
than if it be applied in foreign country.
and reach US only consequently and re-
motley. Now, Gentlemen, Mr.. McCul-
loch, a gentleman of great distinction in
the science of political economy, and all
other able writers, aunt that capital is the
instrument Of labor-that the quantity of
labor in any country is in proportion to
the stimulus applied to call out that labor
by capital. do not think that any man
in any age has contributed more to pro-
mote a correct knowledge in statistics and
political economy than McCulloch. But,
if the opinion be not presumptuous, |
would venture with great respect to say
that some of his opinions are little too
abstract for application. If | may not say
that | can think, at least be permitted TO
say that the opinions to which allude are
not applicable to such state Of things as
exist at present in the United States.
think that our society is pecuiar-that
there is no such broad distinction between
capital on the one hand, and labor on the
other, with US, as there exists in England
In short, believe there is no subject which
requires an essay to deyelope il, and set it
forth in all its prominence and all its i'm.
portance, SO much as the character of
American labor. There is nothing like il
on this glube-there never has been. Now
| American labor, our labor. in this particu
lar state Of things, reaches beyond mere
subsistence.
They who reason on this subject in Eu
rope consider that all accumulation nc
crues to capital, and tina: labor extend
only to mere subsistence. But with us We
know that labor obtains--accumulatcs-
augments its means. We know that labo
even creates capital, and that is our cond
ton, from the vast extent Of uncutivatet
lands beyond us-the Western wilderness
and that will be our condition, and, let me
add, our happy and most fortunate condi
ton for half century to come. Gentle
men, labor in the United States is respect
able. Ours, is country of labor mos
emphatically. Labor here creates for lsel
capital, and hence it is that labor and CAPT
tai becomes SO mixed, so mingled, 81
Blended together beyond any experience il
any other part of the world. Why, gen
tlemen, if European writer will turn hi
consideration to what is the value of 5Ot
acres of the best land upon earth in
remote wilderness-at the foot OF the Rock,
Mountains, for instance, or in the midd,
of one of the Spanish Provinces on tn
west coost of America, at what will be 6
timated its worth! Why, it's worth no,hin
at all, it's valueless ill the tiIIer of tn
ground has mixed his labor with it. Blu
The moment the American laborer goes o
one of these parcels of land. the first ire
he fells creates capital and fuel; and ever,
stroke of his steady arm bestowed upon i
not only gives him the means of subsisi
encc as laborer from day to day, bu
augments constantly upon his capital; an
where else do you find such state G
thingsl in any other part of the earth cal
you fad fad such class Of laborers?
F Do the manufacturing establishments q
any part of the world show any thing Iik
that and united with all this, we must re
, collect that there is degree Of persona
respectability-of elevation of character
a degree Of education which exists n
=. where else; and now, gentlemen, VIII
) should we wish TO change this state c
things by any theories-any notions-an
: new speculative attempts upon the great in
terests of the community | confess
feel astonshed when | consider what
know TO be true, that there are in hi
! Commonweallh-and in this very circl
around me dare say-many persons VIII
maintain political opinions directly the re
verse of those which have produced thi
general and substantial happiness, an
therefore il is that ! respect tie strong de
, sire feel that we should on these subject
approach our opponents--l will not ca
them enemies or adversaries-with a can
did spirit; spirit that requires discussion
4 that we may see that our interests are a
united Mr. Webster continued al som