The North-Carolina standard., 1843-11-08
GENTLEMEN AND LABoRERo

GENTLEMEN AND LABORERS
A few days since, young gentleman of tbo
North gave, at an Agricultural Fair, the foIow
ing toast:
".ddGna, the first Fa'ner-God made him genf,o
man; Sin a laborer'" e-"'te-
Revolving as is this sentiment, he probably moan.
what he said; but when he saw the surprise its
delivery had created, he endeavored to explain
Explanations, however, were idle; he becano
deeply confused, and left the assemblage.
The young gentleman was mistaken. Cod
made man laborer from the beginning. Afer
ne had created man, and built Eden, and mado
path through it for pleasant rivers, and garnsb.
ed it with all manner of fruits and flowers Ho
"took the man, and put him into the garden, IN
dress 1t, and to keep It," Here was labor nut he.
fore him in the outset. True, through sin he fell
from this high estate; but the fall only enlarged
the theatre of his labors, and perhaps Augmented
their intensity; for he was sent forth
''With all the world before him. where to choose
God made man q gentleman; !; Sin o. Lab0rer,
According to this rule, Roger Sherman was M
gentleman neither Franklin, nor Pickeripo. M,
Davy, nor Watt, nor Fulton nor WAsH1NGro,
According to this rule, all are serfs of the soil
laborers-not gentlemen; for "aA have sinned.n
We know there is extensively prevalent in this
country an idea that labor is degrading: that M
laborer can be a gentleman; that broad lines are
drawn between those who toll and those who do
not toll; and ksOD the class that cherisbes this
idea and that draws these lines We knoO them
They are the soft-handed and effcminate. the
dwellers for the most part in villages and cities;
the drones that consume all and produce nothing.
the curse and the cause of deep disgrace to the
country. Mr.. JEFFERSON once said, and said
with truth, that cities are sore upon the bodv
polite" We all know what he meant He
aimed at their aristocratic tastes their sumptuous
their means and instruments of
and the blow told we'll, for it fell full
and strong upon the ranks of the Federal party
The present Wings are the successors, in fact and
in faith, of the Old Federaliss As a general
hing, they hold laborers in contempt. They op
pose, on all occasions and at all times, the de-
nocratic doctrine of equality of political rights
md their leaders, or a majority of them, con,
'ider the common. run Of men as sent into the
world for the express purpose of hewing wood
md drawing water" Occasionally, however, you
zee them "stooping to conquer looming down
rom their lofty heights, and mingling among the
laborers of the land And what
ora 70 get rotes. We call upon the laborers
o put their mark upon such men--to avoid them
Is they would the presence of pestilence.
That is beautiful thought which looks upon
he whole universe as full of labor. The stars
1bor in their eoorses. for they perform their al
otted work. The sun rises and scls by the mo.
ion of the Garth, and the earth itself is pervaded
nd qlickcncd E'y the energy of labor. Man is
surrounded by incitemcnls TO excron
ad activity--the commands of his Creator are
pon hirn-his wants admonish him, and his fears
mpeF kim to performances of duty; and yet lie
must withhold his hand, because no gentleman
an labor Depend upon it, there is nothing
Forth having which is not obtained by labor
And if every thing which is valuable can be
chieved only by labor, then should laborers
1emsefves be regarded as the first men of every
ountry. Does the smut of forge taint the char
cter2 Does 07y kind Of labor tear out of the
cart its native noblencss and honor? Shame
pon those who, by their actions, give an afrma.
We response to these questions!