The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-06-01
TIE AMERICAN LABORER

ahc following eloquent aud truthful re-
marks are taken from speech on the
Tarl1, delivered April 24lh in the House
of Representatives, by the Hon Edward
JOY Morris. We hope soon TO be able to
lay the whole speech before our readers;
In Eng land, the man of humble means
has no participation in the affairs of gov
ernmcnt lie cannot rise to posts of
honor IN the Kingdom, from his inability
to compete with the favored SONS of for
tune. The control Of the Government, is
vested III the weather. classes, who adj
minister it more for their own benefit than
that of the productive classes. An odlous
property qualification excludes large
proportion Of the poor from the baIlol.bo
Ilele we are all equal at the ballot-box,
and the poorest citizen in the community
has voice i'll the control ofpubllc affairs
and public men, as omnipotenl as that of
the weallhiest. The distribution of the
right OF suffrage, sir, i'll this country, and
The influence II gives TO the productive
classes over the policy and operations of
government, is one reason why the Amer
lcan mechanic and operative occupies a
higher position than in England The
worklngmcn and farmers have the destiny
of tho American Government in their keep
lng-lhey constitute the vas, majority
whose oplnons and interests direct its
movements and prescibe its policy-and
l. is to them we are indebted for the ex-
hlbtion of all those beneficial influences
which have made it an exemplar of poll
tical liberty for the whole civilized world
Labor is spoken Of, on this floor, as if
II tended to mental ard physical degrade
llon. We are urged not TO encourage
manufactures. as, according to the opinion
lot some gentlemen, they brutaizc and de-
tertoalc the operative. donot know sir
whence gentlemen draw their opinion of
labor. For my part, know no distinction
between the American mechanics and
operatives and any other class of citizens.
Some OF the most eminen. and useful
men that This country has produced, rose
to distinction from mechanical pursuits.
Frank lin left his printing pless To cham
the Lightning of the heavens, TO form a
Constitution for nation, and to represent
his counlry in foreign Courts. Roger
Sherman, the shoemaker, was an eloquent
advocate of independence in the Congress
of the Revolution, and a statesman of
great ability. Nathaniel Greene, the black
smith. became a General in the Revolution
under whose gallantry, skill, aud co,l age
some of the most glorious battles of that
glorious era were achieved Were these
men less respectable, less honorable, be-
cause aaey had commenced life at the forge
the press, and the last2 Had labor de
graded them, and so brulalized their minds
as to lead them to prefer an ignomin.ous
slavery 70 3 wac FOR liberty and right ?
No, sir; they were patriots, seif-sacrifcing
men, who perilled every thing for The at
talnmcnt Ola great end--lIle independence
OF their country The first rally for in
dependence in the Revolution was made
among the farmers aud mechanics. 1,
was the hard hand of labor, the iron muscle
and sIncwy ann and the stalwar, frame of
the robust sons Of industry, the flag ol ma