The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-10-04
For the Sentinel.
John FenlOn's Friendship for the Rights Of
Iab0riug Men.

ITtrUuSulp IuI tiiC hlgQN OF
Laboring Men.
1t will be remembered by all who ars
acquainted with the legislation of last win.
ter IN Harrisburg, that great part of the
session was spent in considering private
bills, and class legislation, to the exclusion
of much important business of general in
terest to the people. There was at no
time any difficulty In wealthy individuals
or companies. procuring the postponement
of the order of the day for the purpose of
passing special laws, and granting privile-
ges to favored classes, because of course
such were in possession Of the one thing
necessary to command the exclusive al
tention of whig egislators-namelv, plen-
ty of money. in addition TO such la VS..
general manufacturing law was passed,
granting corporate privileges to every five
men Or more, who would associate them
selves together in the manufacturing busi-
ness III this commonwealth, with capital
of at least 10000 dollars.
Here we see that capitalists OF al
grades may avail themselves of the ad.
vantages of special laws and corporate
privileges all but laboring men, who cam
not raise a capital of 10000 dollars. This
leaves large majority cf our citiz ems,
chiefly of the laDoring class, entirely BE-
yond the reach Of these legal privileges,
while they have no guaranty by law that
they shall receive even living wages for
their labor, being left 10 the mercy of
wealthy capitalists who may make use of
their necessities to compel them to labor
for nought more than is necessary 10 sup
port life. This is all in strict accordance
with time-honored policy of the Federal
party, viz: "Let government take care of
the rich, and the rich will take care of he
poor"
But men of liberal principles and honest
feelings, who reflect on these things, be-
lieve that some law could and should be
enacted that would guarantee to laborers
proportionate share OF the advantages con-
ferred by these privileges.
For this purpose proposition was pre-
sented to ohm Fenlon, the member in the
lower House from this county, in favor of
a law that would secure to laborers, who
worked for corporate companies, profit
on the value of their labor in proportion
to its amount, on the same principle that
ca pitalists command profit on the value
of their money or property invested IN bu-
siness. This would al once obviate the
whole difficulty, and be in strict accord
ance with the most rigid principles Of JUS
tice; because money or property is the
capital of the wealthy man, and labor is
the capital of the laborer, and they both
are equally entitled TO share in the clean
profits of their business, in proportion to
their respective amounts.
/ But how was this measure of even han
ded justice entertained by Mr.. Fenlon!
He ''laughed outright and exhibited his
scorn for the subject in the most naughty
and ludIcrous manner-not that he could
object TO the justice of the measure, for he
acknowledged ii was right. But he laugh
ed at the preposterous idea, that any man
should think that such policy could meet
with success. So far was it beneath the
notice of gentlemen whig politicians.
Now he that hath understanding let him
count The value of John Fenlon's friend.
ship for the laboring men. Whenever
any measure is proposed to grant special
! privileges TO the few at the expense of the
many; whenever a swindling bank is 10
be incorporated; whenever an excitement
is to be got up in favor of $50 calledl
protective policy, TO pick the bones of Ia
Dor and cram the inordinate appetite OF
avaricious wealth, there we find Mr.. Fen
lon devotedly enlisted in the cause, and Ia
boring like a tumblebug to roll on the ball!
But propose any measure that will do JUS
tice to labor, TO which, by-the-by, Mr..
Fenlon owes every bite of bread that ap-
peases his hunger, and every stitch o!
clothes that covers his awkward limbs
say, propose such a measure TO John
Fenlon, and it is met by broad ludicrous
laugh, and grinned into ridicule.
Now this much must be true. Any Ia
boring man who has discovered the real
political character and principles of the
q, man, will surely consent to send almost
; any body else to Harrisburg in preference
TO John Fenlon. And any laborer who
has thus learned his character, and We
; will support him for seat in our legisla
tive councils, might as well snatch tht
bread from his own children's mouth
and consign them to a life of poverty ant
destitution.
A LABoRER.