New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-25
The Right 10 Lnbor.

The following communication from Leading and
respected Wing Member of our las; Assembly
snbodies truths which we had not supposed yet
made obvious TO any minds beyond small circle OF
those whom the general noise condemns fanat-
les and 'yisOnaries That the princsle which it
evolves IS sound and vitaly important, We have for
years believed without shadow Of doubt. That
oar State "a prepared TO adopt ard reduce ii 10 prac-
tee we 60 net yet perceive. However, 1t Is time
thai the public We're made familiar with it, so we
gladly make room for the article below. Paupcr.
ISM for all who have ability.and only lack oppor-
tonity, to earn their daily bread yet be abol-
ished, and rW be whenever the subject has fairly
attracted the attention of tie public. We appre.
bend tha; will not be so as 1916 But hear our
correspondent:
CONVENTION TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION
Now that nine-ten;hs of the electors who have ex-
pressed any opinion the subject, have voted for
Convention. il Is matter nj great moment that the
public Press shall discuss, and the People under.
stand, all neediul changes in their organic law
With permission desire call public at,eation 10
one feature in the duties OF Man, and the rights OF
the Commonwealth, which has somehow, been
quite overlooked IN our present Constitution
In the Declaration OF independence ii ~ asserted
that all men are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienabie rights, among which are Life,
Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" The right
10 pursue happiness, common 10 all the inhabitants
of the State. is seriously invaded, by compel
ling the industrious and frugal portion o.. The com
munity TO support in poor houses and in idleness,
thousands whose duty II Is 20 work and earn their
own living. According to the official returns. the
public taxes In this State last year, $1,000 100
no small portion of which went for the support of
the Poor This class of dependents is rapidly in
creasing; and there seems Of presento be way TO
prevent one half of our population, ii 80 disposed,
from living in ideness, by direct tax on the labor
and savings of the other Inoety. The Constiiu.
ton should define the right OF each human being 10
pursue happiness; and his duty 10 provide food and
rament, aud shelter for himself under all ordinary
circumstances. II should also define the duty OF
the State, under all ordinary circumstances TO every
hungry mouth. naked back and houseess head, that
Providence may send within its limits However
individuals may tall IN their duty provide for
themselves, surely there can be no good reason WHY
the community al large should fail in its duty 10 each
or any OF its members.
There are in this great State at leas, 100000 Ia
boring men whose daily bread, meat, clothing,
hocse-rent and hrewood. are purchased by their
daily toll. On the productive industry o. these,
some three or four hundred thousand pless child
rem and their mothers are also dependent for their
comfortable subsistence, Nothing is more common
than for of these laboring people 10 be thrown
out of work without The possibility OF finding employ
ment, at fair wages. in the communities where they
live. This misfortune often befas men employed Il
part OF the year only. the canals lakes and rv.
Of this commercial State. There are many manu-.
featuring operations which prosecuted far more
extensively n the warm season, when lights and
fuel are liitle needed, than III Winter. And that
very Numerous class, the farmers, whether engaged
u growing grain or in the dairy business need
double the help in Summer that they require
from November until April. But, independently Of
oil these circumstances, there are ever occurring
thousand nameless contingencies BY which labor
ing persons are suddenly cot off from their ONLY
means OF obtaining the accessories of hie--,bs on
portunity of selling at fair price their honest in
dusry. They feel and own their duty TO provide
comfortably for their "own household but the
cannot Ii the right 10 pursue happiness apner
tans 10 any class in the community surely il belongs
to those that work and create iull equivalen, for
all tina, they consume. Answer then this plain
question:
Without ficewood his children half clad, shiver.
ing in the cold and crying FOR bread how is the poor
mana native son of w-York-"to pursue hap.
piness" when he has his labor only 10 sell, and no
human being sees ft TO purchase it al any price 7
Hitherto he has paid with bounty for all The com
munity has given him. An honest man, and free
citizen, he is neither pauper nor 6egg0r. For
these oPprobrious ePhets cannot be applied, in