The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-10-11
ALEx'R DEWITT,
Chairman Free Soil County Conmitte
LINUS CHILD'S SPEECH.

1t seemed to be prominent object in the address of
Linus Child 10 depreciae the consequence of the ques-
os OF the extension of slavery and present the
it, the protection of free labor" as the most impor>
tan issue OF the pending election He dwet at length
this points, and, thought in some of his remarks
evnced disposition TO rhe with the question of human
rights, hardly consistent with his former professions
But suppose grant the position, that "ths protec
ton Of FREE LABoR-for this was the expression which
the seemed most delighted to use-to be the most
important political question before the people, how is it
to be disposed Oft
We had supposed that Linus Child was enough of
statesman, 10 understand, that every interest will be
best protected when all the power over il placed in
the hands of its friends and, at any rate that If
the power in their hands, and is not wisely exercised
they have no 10 complain of on that account. And
we supposed him 10 be a of sufficient information
and observation and nndass4 thai the
IHrress OF ''iree labor" will never be cared for and
protected, till the administration of the government is
taken from the hands OF the slave power and placed in
the hands OF those who represent the interests Of Frees
DOM So long as the slave power controls the govesas
ment, it always has DONE the slave interest will be
protected and the interests Of free ahor will be sacr6c
ed. it will, as it has done, put up tariffs when is for
its interest," and put them down when that is for its inter.
est. l. will make OF make peace, Just as its own
purposes may best be promoted and those purposes are
as much 10 destroy the prosperity Of the north 10
build up that Of the south.
When, in 1906, 7 aud g. The Ne~ England and Middle
States had acquired almost unequaled prosperity,
der the commercial system the slave power, jealous of
our growing strength, resored to embargoeS and Non
Intercourse laws TO check it, and finally involved in
disastrous war with England, by which commerce
was swept from the ocean. This being efecuay done,
peace was made, without having accomplished single
object for which the was os,ensibly made. We
were then told that the true policy of government was,
70 build up manufactures among ourselves and that they
should be established and sustained by governmental
protection, and check upon the attempt to
ish our former commercial prosperity, high protective
Tariff was enacted chiefly by the votes of the SOUTH led
on by John C. Calhoun. Well, we changed our system
fr"m commercial to manufacturing, and were again GO
ng ahead OF the slave States with the energy which the
indomtable spirit Of freedom nfuses INTO the free north
ihis would never do, and SO the tariff was put down,
and has gone up and down since just the slave
power has wlled
We see, then, that the only hope for any change for
'he better even the protection Of free labor were the
only important question before u.s. would be in a new
arrangement Of parties one in which we cut adrif from
e save power entirely, and place the political power
IN me hands OF those who represent the interests Of
ieeoon' lh's IS the only way that we can ever hope
'of any Stable legislation the sutec-4nd stability is
""o. we ~an'-ior every intelligent manufacturer will
'' ""' d low larih without change is better for the
country and better for them, Than the constantly recu
rug changes to which we have been subjected Give
Sao''iy 10 your policy, whatever il NAV be. and the
country will soon adap, itself 10 il.
Place your political power then into the hands If the
ree lo00rerS Of the country, or their representatives
ana Hee labor will be protected but, so lone as vou
leave IN the hands of the slave power the interests If
slavery WIN be paramount, and II will matter lille
"ne'ner the person, nominay at the head Of govern.
menl, IS James X. Polk Lewis Cas-, or "olo 80 y
The power behind the throne greater than ,he ,hror,
ITSELF" will control every thing and continue ~. Dn .
policy that has hitherto been pursued. On, on, hon"
then, is in the triumph Of the Free Soil Party.
portion Of The speech was devoted to Tho ,,,.,.,
10 show that the wing party Of tbenorh had awav. no.
tae on the question Of Free SOIL and The resolve. =,