The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-22
COMMUNICATION.
For the Union.
For tho Union
Report Of the Secretary the Treasury.-Labor and
the Laboring Glasses.

For Union.
Report Of The Secretary the Treasary.-Labor and
the Laborfnx Glasses.
In no nation in the world have labor and its rights been
the objects OF much socude as In this and i is
happy indication, in the progressive movements OF the
age that the interests and welfare of the industrial classes
considered OF high importance In all legislative
Labor is the source of all human enjoyment and it
may be reckoned the source OF all possession be-
cause not even the property IN seyeraty OF the soil Gas Is
truly remarked by Lord Brougham) be obtained with
out exerto to acquire and secure possession, while
abors also required to obtain possession OF its minerals
of the products which grow unculhvated, or the am
mails which roam wild
All wealth, therefore-a objects OF necessary use, OF
convenience, o enoymenare either created or fash
ioned or in some way obtained by human labor. The
statesman who does not, in his measures and policy
give prominent consideration TO labor and its rights IS
either dishonest ignorant His conceptions must pc
smallhs views limited, narrow, contracted, or seinsn
all com bined if he does not in his movements regard
with deep interest and profound attention the rights OF
labor and OF those who toll In all ages and IN all coun
tries labor has been oppressed BY the money Potuer
and tyranny, cruelty and oppression have been pracsed
with mpui,y on the toiing Millions BY restrictions
combinations, and fhtnepoes, created and secured by
money power" This state Of things, under our happy
constitution is rapidly passing away. The Ysghts q "a
Dor have been investigated and the policy OF our govern
ment has BEEN under The guidance of wise and human
statesmen to labor its rights, and guard
the Entertainments OF interested spectators and hearless
monopolists We have been led to these reflections BY
reading the report OF the Secretary OF the treasury; anu
it has afforded us peculiar satisfaction in finding that
the subject OF labor has occupied much OF his patriotic
attention OF the triumphant success OF the tariff based
the principle Of equal rights and e9tG justice to a
we need not speak II has disappointed its enemies and
more than satisfied its most sanguine friends II is no
longer experiment-speculaon, probably, has been
confirmed by positive results and prosperous facts and
" liberal trade, free and urffeered, may be consid
cred as the settled and permanent policy OF the country
Free trade without any restrictions except those which
imposed for the purpose of revenue has produced
a m
lures, and every branch of human industry unexamped
history; and the proscionists may look in vain
which they prophesed would result from the operation
of the tariff of 1916. The revenue has increased
than eight millions of dollars, and the laboring classes
hons Ssse rs sns dea l"afs e s5r
the unjust tariff Of 1912. and which went to enrich the
evegraspng and ayaricous possessors of the money
pO,Der" 1t would be super1uous in to say that Mr..
Walker able statesman; but we shall be pardoned
in extending our remarks little further in relation to his
eminent powers. extraordinary sagacy, and his pro-
p l~ su must cheer and Bless The sbons classes
His talents for political speculation OF as brilliant
description, and admirably and useully applied,
that his reports yet unrvaed the department OF
practical financial and commercial science; and he may
Justly be deemed the founder in this country OF the lib
eal, enlightened and rational system Of national polty,
which has the general approval of comprehensive states
men, and which would be speedily adopted all the
world but for conflicting interests, popular ignorance,
and the opposition which arises from privileged classes
render justice TO the superior abilities Of this eminent
but the time will when these mists shall have
passed away and when il will be universally acknowi-
edged that Robert j. Walker was benefactor to his
country. This judgment, which we imparially pro-
nounced long since, has been still further confirmed
by his last able and luminous report. In this docu-
ment, the spirit OF humanity is manifested throughout
and his soicude for the Improvement and we'll
being of the laborng classes, the oiling millions, must
call forth unminged appreciation from every lover OF his
racefrom all who animated BY sentiments OF d.
vine humanity. The suggestion which he makes OF CIV
ng the laborng classes interest in the work performed,
above and beyond their wages is one OF those concep
produce moral elevation in the proletaires never
dreamed of in the most sangune aspirations OF the most
enthusiastic philosophers .as.
AS this part of the report is OF great and enduring in
erest TO the working classes, may be permitted to
quote entire We trust that all those who desire to see
country permanently advancing in spiritual eevation
physical enjoyment, will give to this portion OF the report
serious and earnest attention Let this doctrine be acted
enegecally and honestly, and we shall hear no more
of barn burners and anti renters. MIR. Walker says:
'sThe energetic American freeman and does perform
far effective labor in day. than what is called by the
resctonists the pauper labor of Enrope and therefore,
wons%en ME @ by the 'e day. the wages here
be higher than in Europe; but measured by the work done
capitalists ns already have) shall find it to be their
true interest in addition TO the wages paid tothe American
the profits capital, fair those profits and eie-
vae him to the rank Of partner in the concern, may
then deIy all compettlon ms Is the same principle mus
uniform experience proving that he who his
farm builds his house. sails his ships conducts other
business shares realizes the largest and that
he who works by the job produces in the time
than the laborer whose wages are paid by the day The
the vigilance and that will be manifested
by our intelligent workngmen under such a system, will
far than refund capital such reasonable partcipa
ton in its profits, and enable such American establish
ments to supply all the nations Of the world. The in
PRODUCTION OF this system will be voluntary, because 1t
is most just and beneficial to all parties 1t is the par
cipation OF all our people in the government that is
workngmen in the profits Of industrial establish
ments would exhibit similar results. Our whale and
other fisheries strong evidence of the at
tending American industry, when intelligent lreemen
cipsion in the profits have driven from the most distant
the whale ships of other nations, and nearly
monopolzed this pursuit The intelligent wokingmen Of
country far better prepared for the adoption of this
and this elevation OF the toling millions Of America
Just participation in the profits OF that capital which is
made fruitful only by their industry, will enjoy great
triumph ,nleered trade and untaxcd and unre
strcted labor with which it ought be, and certainly yet
will proudly associated. Under this sysem the abornv
men, whilst they received the full wages heretofore allowed
them, would also participate TO reasonable extent in the
profits, as an addition to their wages, and most
powerful and certain stimulus render their labor
productive, and thus increase for the benefit of all con-
cerned the capitalists and workinamen, the profits of
the establishment What is called the pauper labor of
Europe is already inferior to labor, but would be
dered still powerless compete with when labor
here participated with capital in the profits When
reflect that the working reemen of the Union cons
the government and direct the policy of the nation the
peror comfort education, intelligence and information
necessarily resulting to them from this improvement of
social SYSTEM is important to the successful progress and
every republican patriot and lover mankind Whilst all
have derived great benefits from the Tariff is labor