The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-02
AN ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE
WORKING-MEN

ming July 49, the association addressed length
by John T. Norris. esq; and,
On motion OF Mr.. ofutt the secretary ordered to
procure copy Of said address for publication in the demo-
cratic papers the District
In address 10 The workg classes Of the people Of the
United STATES, dsiipersd by John E. Norris, esq be-
fore The Washington Democratic association, July
%, ls45, aud published by order Of Mai body
FELLow-cIrIzEss; The object contemplated in
the following address has engaged my attention for
considerable length of time; and am truly graft
fed, that have found sufficient leisure to arrange
and present my thoughts and that this association
has done the Aattering honor to grant me hear
ing. This instance of regard, superadded TO those
of previous date, affords me occasion TO express
my grateful sense of their kindness, and to renew
my pledge to cooperate with you in all your noble
and patriotic enterprises.
II would have air of vanity in me to assert, or
even intimate, that expect to enghten or instruct
you in any new doctrines of political economy, or to
gain your applause by any display of learning or Of
composition. My main purpose is to expose, in
plain and toreibie manner, some of the principles
which bear most materially on the moral social,
and political welfare of the ,coking-eiasses. MANY
of these have often before been discussedand that
too, with much acuteness and abty-by men of the
highest order of intellect But as they have gem
orally been far removed from the working in
their own pursuits, and could possess but little
sympathy with them individuals, what they
have said was likely to be only theoretical, and to
be controlled by the character and circumstances Of
their position. l will endeavor to give a different
complexion TO the subject in the course of the re-
marks which ! shall have the honor of addressing
to this association. Cherishing an Identity of sent-
ment and impulse with the working-casses, from
the fact of my having been trained up in their
ranks, if in any way can contribute to advance
their condition, will regard it as essential
vice rendered TO society.
The first remark that desire should be deeply
fixed in your minds is, the weight and influence
you exert over the affairs and institutions of
your country, by combining your purposes and eff
forts, and directing them 10 the accomplishment Of
any common object. IL you are not thoroughly
penetrated with "A conviction OF this truth you do
not rightly understand your true position in po-
litical point of view. Through selfish aims in
trigung demagogues have often courted your favor,
with fatterng expressions of regard for your inter-
ess and influence; but, when their sinister ends
were compassed, very few of them have ever
evinced adequate proof of the sincerity of their
professions, by corresponding course of practice.
When raised to preferment, and securely seated in
places OF power and emolument, they have refrain
ed, with studied care from bestowing their patron
age upon even the most meritorious of the working
people; and sometimes they have treated them with
evident scorn and neglect. / might personally in
woke those whom address, to reflect and candidy
decide on the accuracy of my remark; and doubt
not that their observation and experience will sup
port what have uttered.
Considering this fact, it dev Olives upon you, the
first and highest duty, obligation imposed
upon you by the laws of nature, which die
tate the principles of self-pTeservatlon itself, to
adopt such course Of conduct and such measures
as prudent regard for your personal and social in
terests demands. As stimuiant to this reflect for
moment on your true position in all the relations
and dependencies of society. Consider your num-
bery. In the idle and selfish defamation of dema-
gogues and subtle intrguers, you have been called
the ''toiling Millions" Candor and truth may adopt
the same appelation and say it is well
graphic. Numerically considered, you infinitely
surpass any other class in the country and if uni
ted on any question of national policy, you plainly
hold the balance Of po,cer, and control elections
and mpart direction to the administration of public
affairs. But it is not in numbers alone that you
powerful. Your moral influence, and the palue and
multiplicity of your tabors, the material points
that deserve our attention. Being the productive
classes, you constitute the very groundwork and
support Of the social fabric, and you afford the
means of subsistence and comfort TO all the other
component parts of society. Take away the far
mer, mechanic, and day-laborer, and the condition
of the community would be wretched beyond the
power Of description. Confusion, want, and gene
raj instability would quickly ensue. But as their
removal, as well as that of other kindred classes,
involves an impossibity; and as the very idea of
such deprivation is absurd suppose that course
of policy were pursued, which was detrimental to
their schemes Of enterprise and improvement; and
suppose that laws were made to cramp their free
ton and ramnel their interests, who could enume-
rate the disastrous consequences that would ensuei
The Author OF nature has formed man to exercise
his physical and intellectual powers; and he who
does not work, fails to act in accordance with those
laws. He who scOrns those who labor, deserves
any other sentiment at their hands than gratitude
and appreciation. He who would intentionally, or
by inaction, assist in constructing any system Of
policy which might prove adverse to their welfare,
is unworthy of the name of MAN, and, in truth, is
such only in physical conformation
Let the working classes, then, look up. Let them
be duly impressed with the dignity of their nature,
the weight of their combined forces, and the com
parative, well absolute, importance, in social
point of view, of their diversified ayocations. Let
no man who tolls, whether from election or rcces-
sity permit his reflections upon his situation to OPP
press his spirits check his generous aspirations,
inspire him with any feeling of inferiorty even in
the presence of those whom the weakness of hui
mainly has crowned with swelling titles, and mark
ed with honorary distinctions. Let him look
beyond all the forms, all the ceremonies and
pageantry with which wealth and station en-
trench themselves, well above the AFRO
giant pretcnsions which pampered pride and ars-
iocracy of sentiment have rendered fashionable,
md to which some have too savishly rendered
homage. Let them view all men, the God of
nature has in most unequiyocal manner declared
them to be--free and equal and when, in the
strength of their minds, and in the exercise Of
sound discretion, the working classes can realize
these impressions, and will act in corresponding
manner, perceptble advance will then be achieved
towards the obliteraon of all distinctions, except
those which virtue and intelligence create. The ar
tlfcal barriers of society which now too much d.
vide workingmcn from professional and other ex-
elusive classes, will be gradually broken down, and
equality, in all its beauty and excellence will begin
to extend its empire. If tho working classes are
circumscrbed in the sphere of their actionif they
are fettered and bound up by the irrational forms
and customs of society, and prevented from filling
the highest places Of honor and distinction and from
minglng in all the other classes, the fault is their
own. They should acknowledge no superior, ex-
cept far law and order enjoin obedience the
constituted authority. They should scorn all names,
all titles all acts, that favor the notion Of social ine-
quality; and they should assert boldly their natural
right to participate in all the concerns and instu-
tons Of society. They should demand attention to
be paid to their wishes and sentiments A stand,
thus boldly taken and firmly maintained on the part
Of the working classes, would operate uost benef-
cially upon our national prosperity 1t would be
productive of simplicity and artessness in the nd
nnslraiion Of public affairs and an honesty of pur-