The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-30

For tho Voice of Freedom.
INEQUALITIES AND INJUSTICE OF THE PRES
ENT SOCIAL SYSTEM


Many laborers startle at the idea, and some spur
the thought, that they have not as much influence
in settling the price of their wages, as their employ
ers. One whom l conversed with on the subec
thanked God that he did not think as dd-said h,
was no more dependent on his emplover than hi
employer was on him. Perhaps he was not
do not know his circumstances. But the assertion
that laborers are no more dependent on employers
than employers are on them can be true only in re-
spect to those who are well off for property-whc
are not obliged to work for others, but who do il
from choice. The man who has farm in cultiva
tion from which, by common prudence and industry
he can support himself and those dependent on him
would hardly be willing hire out or labor for 9TH
ers, unless by so doing he could make more money
than by cultivating his farm. With him, therefore
if he worked for others, it would be matter of
choice. But there is very numerous class of Ia
borers Who afs dependent on laborng for others for
the necessaries and comforts of life. If they were
sick, or disabled, or unable to obtain employment
only for short time, they would be involved in
debt, or become burden to community. With
them therefore, it is not matter of choice, whether
they labor for others. Under God they have no 9th
er resource. They must work for others. whether
wages be high or low. Whether they have fair
remuneration for what they do, or only bare sub
s!stence, and that often very coarse one. With
them it is matter of necessity. With their en-
poyers, often, if not always, matter merely of dol
lars and cents, OF profit or loss know that in the
free states the laborer may have his choice of en-
Payments to some extent, for which he has talents
and that he may leave his employer at the expira
ton of his contract. But as an offset to this advan
tage, II indeed it may be called an advantage his
employer is under no legal obligation to provide for
nm IN sickness, or to keep him beyond the term of
his contract The aborer (of this class meau) is
compelled by the operation of the laws to work for
another and at that others price, at price what
ever 1t may be- The laws of this country-of this
commonwealth if you please, indirectly compel men
and women to sell their labor and to sell it for what
another is disposed to give, verify and as rresisti-
bly, as the black man at the South is compelled to
go into slavery, (and what is it but slavery p and
the law, laws which do this are as contrary to the
law OF God, as contrary to Justice as the law, or
has compensation for his labor such as his master
thinks proper to allow. Laborers at the North have
no more. That the latter is obliged to work for no
particular designated person, makes no essential diff
ference The class of laborers referred to are rs eff
fectually compelled, as if the law directly enoined
it upon them under pains and penalties. And if this
is not the essence of slavery, know not what is
True, they may have sufficient compensation for
their labor, or they may not. That will depend on
their employers ability, disposition or other circum-
Stances or all these put together. Their receiving
full compensation does not alter the wrong in the
case. They are compelled to labor fer Others under
penalty. And this constitutes the wrong, both
with respect to aborers, and slaves. But, saws the
obcctor, is not the farmer under equal necessity of
buying of the mechanic, the manufacturer, the
merchant, such things he needs, and selling the
produce of his farm for such price as he can get
answer the farmer is usually forehanded, or has
the means of living, which the laborer has not. He
is not under the same, or by any means an equal ne
cessity OF buying or selling to disadvantage, as the
poor laborer. Besides, if he was do not see how
that would alter the wrong in the case unless it can
the same or similar cause. man may be re-
duced to condition bad, or even worse, than or
binary slavery; and yet have no reasonable ground
of complaint. 1t may be in the ordinary course of
nature, or in the providence of God, over which
man can have no control. But when this takes place
in consequence of an unrghteous system of laws, or
for want of constitutional legislation, conceive it
toc
rection
Personal service is different thing from other
property, and demands different rule in the dspos-
nj of it. If sell my labor to another, many things
are to be taken into consideration, which have no
existence in the sale other property. Ihave tastes
and incinations to consult, on the qualification of
which, my happiness and well-being may depend.
If you place mans personal service on par with
other property, and make his existence or we-beng
dependent rendering that service to another you
make him mere chattel, slave, thing, which
God never intended as is evident from the abundant
provision which he has everywhere made for his in
dependent support. And may say also from his
will revealed in the scriptures of truth.
Again tho burden of supporting the capitalists
and government Of the country falls mainly, if not
entirely, on laborers. mean on those who depend
on their labor for support. This will include, of
course, the small farmers and mechanics who do
their own work.
To illustrate this, let us consider or two cases.
A man lets number of houses, on the income of
which he supports his family, and lives gentleman.
He usually gets enough to pay the interest of his
money or cost Of houses taxes wear and tear, risk
of property, OR insurance, and something handsome
for his own trouble. Now who pays the taxes of
that man and supports him and his family? Ger
tainly the tenants. And why is he able to do this,
to obtain so much for the of his property.
Manifesty the necessities of his tenants, They are
houseless and must have shelter for themselves
and families at some price. Again; if man lives