Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-02-24

said. but one in thousand has any title to
the right o.! soit; in France, the condition
ct the population is but little better. The
Taass of the people in both England and
France, were borne into the world destitute
81 foot Of soil whereon they have the &C.
knowledgsd right to work, stand, or sleep.
In this country we are yet compai atively
free from these alarming evils; yet no man
of reading or observation, could deny bur
that the same causes were at work, which
would at some period produce the like re-
cults, unless there was some Intervention
TO stay the progressive inequality between
capital and labor. Witness the changes
of the last thirty years in New England,
in the relative condition of the rich and the
poor in the more denssly populated dis
tricts, capital aad the rishtto the soil have
been gradually concentrating in the hands
Of the few, while the many have become
more circumscribed in their possessions
Wherever land is abundant and cheap, the
contest between capital and labor is less
apparent; but as population increases and
lands become valuable, capital holds labor
in obeyance and dictates its rewards. From
estimates based upon statistical facts, it
has been shown that out Of nine hundred
millions Of dollars. being the annual avail
of capital end labor ia the United States,
only two hundred million goes TO the actual
producer over and above the necessaries Of
food, clothing and lodging; the remainder
goes to increase the wealth Of those who
toll not. And what, he would ask, was the
fruitful cause Of the apparent inequality ia
the distribution Of The proceeds Of capital
and labor? The friends Of association be-
lieved the cause, 10 a considerable extent,
was 10 be found in misdirected legislation !;
a very large proportion of the special leg
islation OF the country, for long period Of
years, had been for the benefit Of capital.
Nine-tenths Of the interpretations which
have heretofore been granted by Legisla.
lures, were 10 enable wealth TO concentrate
its power, and more effectually TO monopo-
lze trade and commerce, and the cvails Of
labor. Banks, and all other corporate in
situations, which purporied TO be based on
capital, and whose principal business con-
sists in meneyed transactions, have been
the source Of great mischief by creating
distinctions in society, and by elevating the
non producing classes u, the expense of
the productive part of the population. Sell
dom, if ever. had company of laborers
relying upon industry alone as the basis Of
their operations, received any encourag e-
ment from legislative bodies, and been al
lowed a corporate name; yet oil would ad-
nit that labor was the true foundation OF
\ olfh nd fho IF i
pendence for people or nation.
1t had been objected to this bill, said Mr.
f., that it did not'propose proper division
Of the proceeds of capital and labor; the
gentleman from Rock, (Mr. Whiton) had
cited the opinion Of Doct Palcy, to prove
that the proposed division was not an equi-
table one. A proper division, said Mr.. F.
doubtless depended upon many circums,an-
ces, such as the nature Of the employment.
the ABUNDANCE or scarcity Of capital, the
value Of property, provisions, &c. The
rule Of division established by Fourier, was
TO give seven-twelf,hs to labor, three to
capital, and two twelfihs to knowledge and
skill. In this country The friends of asso-
citation had generally deemed it an equitable
division 10 assign three fourhs to labor.
and oEe-fourth TO capital. What the true
rule OF proporilonment should be, he was
not prepared to say ; but the object sought
be secured in having fixed rule, he be-
lieved to be good one. 4" Hitherto, in al
most every enterprise undertaken by CAPT
tai, requiring labor for its mplishmen,,
capital has generally taken to itself all the
profits, and left TO labor barely enough for
a present subsistence. Now the object in
tended to be gained, was to secure 10 labor
its proper reward in such manner as TO
render it safe against the encroaching
power of capital and this was one O. the
prominent advantages which association
sought to obtain. Mr.. F. said he could see
no danger TO be apprehended from securing
men in their just rights in their industrial
occupations, especially in the cultivation Of
soil; nor did he see any evil consequences
in allowing men to band together for The
purpose of elevating the laboring classes,
and raising industry 10 the sphere of no.
bleness TO which it was justly entil led. In
no age Of the world has labor ever been too
much respected and protected but the
misfortune in almost every instance has
OC0ns a"ot SoFO'uuiStiiS uuSC idSiilOUGu
their laws in obedience to the interests Of
wealth, and overlooked or disregarded the
Interests Of the producing classes.
But, said Mr.. F., it would be inquired
how can the overpowering influence Of
capital be restrained, and made to benefit
tho whole instead Of the few! He said The
friends Of association proposed 10 unite la
Dor and capital 10 form a partnership be-
twesn them, and thus make their interests
mutual. The contest between the two had
always been unequal; the power OF wealth,
although welded by minority, had always
controlled the condition oil" the majority,
and dictated the wages Of the employed. -
Suppose public work undertaken requir-
ing five thousand laborers; capital, or those
who control it, fixes the price which the
employed shall receive, and for the price
so fixed the laborer must work or remain
unemployed. The inability Of labor TO
hold out agains. the dic,aiion of capital had
been repeatedly illustrated in the combina-
lions of working men called Strikes
However great the grievance, or pc nur Gus
the wages, or just the complaint Of such
combinations Of men who banded together