The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-02-17

h'Ied to rePletIon, and entirely forgetting the
power that built them up-but the time is an
preaching rapidly when the masses, the true
source ut power, will be leagned together TO de.
tend and maintain themselves Let the uuil,v
trembe for - The handwriting is upon the wall,
For the New Era
1Hr. Editor: was pleased to read your re-
marks on the article over the signature of "a
Workingman." Since its appearance 7 have
thought ON the subject, and have come 10 the
Conclusion that the wnrkingmen. like every other
class oil men, must look after their own interests
That unless they are united, firm and decided
their rights will never he respected. nor their
interests protected. am also workinumanI
am too, Democrat-and have ALWAYS voted the
Democratic ticket; but begin to think that all
elections amounts only to this-to put in Office
one set OF men and to turn out another We wbo
earn our living by the sweat of the brow. have
nothing to expect; we said to be ncompelent
10 NIL office. and. therefore, cannot obtain the
spoIls. Let me ask my fellow workmen, how
many OF us have sons in the Navy or Army2
How many of us can eyer hope to get one there
Are we not told that our position in society FIR
bids it2 Do not imagine that am DESTROYS of
anaying one portion of society agains, another.
Heaven forbid | respect every honest man, be
his calling what it may. But have not stated
taclse Are not these truths self.evident? SIM
pose war should grow out of this OREGON oues-
ton, who OF us can aspire even to the command
OF militia company? But is it not true that we
snail nave to serve our country in a private sta
ton for small pittance. whilst we shall leave
our families to starve? Congress appropria,es
every year money for The support of Government
Let us take that portion of the public service
with which we are most familiar.
Two million five hundred thousand dollars a
year, or more, is appropriated to pay the officers
and seamen of the Navy, and little more than
million for the increase and repairs of our public
ships, including materials of which they are built
and equipped. There are in the service nearly
seventy captains and une hundred commanders.
and we scarcely have ever more than twenty
vessels in commission. Now, one thing is certain.
we have too few vessels for the number of persons
employed to command them. If we have already
sufficient number of vessels to protect our ex-
scnsive commerce, it must follow, as copse.
quence, that we have too many officers EMPLOYED.
But do we ever see any effort made at retrench-
ment here, when we hear our law makers talk of
economy Quite the reverse. If the appropria.
tlons tor the Navy are considered too LARGE. wbx
the reduction must be made on that item which
goes to give employment TO the workipomen
and those In power, in order to make this an
preparation go as far as possible curtaI those ex-
Penses, or econoInlses by reducing the daily wages
OF the workingmen. | appeal to you, my asso
clates, if such is not the fact. How many of us
have been cursaed few cents in the dollar. in
order to enable our rulers to cry out economu
RETRENcHMEET !! I! and REFORM!!i We toll
ten hours in the day, and yet the small sum we
receive is considered fair equivalent by our
rulers, not only for sustaining DOR families. I'm,
also for educating children and let it be re-
membered, that what We receive scarcely amuun,s
to as much as is given to the youngest midsbp
man in the Navy. d. not complain Of the
wages paid our officers They have hard service
to perform, and ] am willing that all should he
literally paid. All ! ask is, equal and exact
Justice to all. An officer in the Navy, if he ia
sick has no physicians bills to pay, nor does his
pay stop. Ii we who labor with our hands arc
likewise sick, OUT income ceases, aud our expense
increases. II whilst engaged in our labor, acci
denis 5eiall us, we have nothing to expect at the
hands Of our Government. This, sir, calls INV
attention to the Pension Laws, and to show the in
injustice Of these laws, will cite case which
may happen, and leave it to be decided by all
who reflects, whether this is equal aud exact
justice.
Two persons are in the service Of the Govern
nent, one employed as a mechanic, the other as
an officer in the Navy. Both are on staging
one employed on work which he well understands.
and the other looking on, but without possessing
any knowledge Of that which he is superinrend-
ing. The stage gives way, and both become
cfPPles for life, and thereby incapacitsted for any
active duty. One is peuslOned by his Govern
msnt, and the other becomes a burden to his