The southern press., 1851-04-30


them as it would be to children.
We will cite another familiar instance to prove
and illustrate the destructive effects OF liberty
or free competition IL is that where two races
of men of different capacity are brought into
juxtapo ition. 1t is the boast OF the Ango-saxon,
that by the arts of peace under tre influence OF
free trade he can march to universal conquest
However true this may be, all know that If Eng.
lishmen or Americans settle among inferior
races, they soon become the owners OF the soil,
and gradually extrpate or reduce to poverty the
original owners; they are the wiHs-grass OF ma
tons. The same law of nature which enables
and impels the stronger race to Cypress and ex-
terminate the weaker, is constantly at work in
the bosom ofevery society, between its stronger
and weaker members. Liberty and equality
rather encourage than restrict this law In us
deadly operation. A Northern gentleman, who
was both statesman and philosopher, once told
us, that his only objection to domestic slavery
was, that it would perpetuate an inferior race,
who, under the influence Of free trade and free
competition, would otherwise disappear from
the earth. China and Japan acted wise to an
ticipate this new philosophy and exclude Euro
peans.
One step more, and that the most difficult in
this process of reasoning and illustration, and
we have done with this part of our subject.
Liberty and equality throw the whole weight of
society on its weakest members; they combine
all men in depressing precisely that part OF man
kind who most needs sympathy, aid, and protec-
ton The very astute and ayaricous man,
when left free to exercise his faculties, is in
jured by no one in the field of competition, but
levies a tax on all with whom he deals. The
sensible and prudent, but less astute man, is
seldom. worsted in competing with his fellow
men, and generally benefited The very SIM
pie and improvident man is the prey of every
body. The simple man represents class--the
common day laborers. The employer cheap
ems their wages, and the retail dealer takes adj
vantage Of their ignorance, their inability to visit
other markets, and their want of credit to charge
them enormous profits. They bear the whole
weight of society on their shoulders they are
the producers and artifcers of all the necessa-
ries, the comforts, the luxuries, the pomp and
splendor of the world; they create it all, and
enjoy none of it; they are the muzzled OK that
treadeth out the straw; they are at constant
war with those above them, asking higher wages
but getting lower; for they arc also at war with
each other, undertaking, to get employment.
This process of undertaking never ceases so
long as employers want profits, or laborers want
employment. 1t ends when wages are reduced
too low to afford subsistence, in filing poor
houses, and jails, and graves. 1t has reached
hat point already in France, England, and
Ireland. A half million died Of hunger in one
year in Ireland-they died because in the eye of
he law they we're the equals, and liberty had
made them the enemies of their landlords and
employers Had they been vassals or serfs,
hey would have been beloved, cherished, and
hken care Of by these same landlords and en-
Iloyers Slaves never die of hunger, scarcely
ever feel want.
. The bestowing upon men equality of rights.
i, but giving license to the strong to Cypress
tie weak. 1t begets the grossest inequalities of
Menials and day-labsrers are and
must be as numerous as in land of slavery.
And these menials and laborers are only taken
care of while young, strong, and healthy. II
the laborer gets sick, his wages cease just as
his demands are greatest. Ii two of the poor
get married, who being young and healthy, are
getting good wages, in few years they may
have four children. Their wants have increased
but the mother has enough to do to nurse the
four children, and the wages Of the husband
must support six. There is no equality, except
in theory, in such society; and there is no lib
erty. The men of property, those who own
lands and money, are masters of the poor-mas-
ters, with none of the feelings interests, or sym
pathies of masters. They employ them when
they please, and for what they please, and may
eave them to die in the highway, for It's the
only home to which the poor free countries
are entited. They (the property-holders) be-
headed Charles Stuart and Louis Capet, because
.hese kings asserted a divine right 10 Cover
wrong, and forgot that Office was a trust TO b..
exercised for the benefit of the governed and
yet they seem TO think that property is Of divine
light, and that they may abuse its possession to
he detriment of the rest of society, as much as
hey please. Apretty exchange the world would
make to get rid of kings who often love and pro-
ect the poor, and get In their place million Of
,elting, petty officers in the garh of money
hangers and landowners, who think that as
hey own all the property, the rest Of mankind
rave no right to living, except on the condi-
ions they may prescribe. "'Tis better TO fall
,efore the lion than the WOLF" and modern lib
rty has substituted thousand wolves for few
ions. The vulgar landlords, capitalists, and
Employers Of to-day, have the liberties and lives |
# the people more completely in their hands.
han bad the kings, barons, and gentlemen of
ormer times; and they hate and Cypress the |
,eople rs cordially rs the people despise them. |
,ut bnese NuiguI paINenus, lHese psalin-slnglng /
egicides, these worshippers Of mammon, shave
ut taught bloody instructions, which being
aught, return TO plague the inventor" The
iing's Office was trust, so are your lands,
muses., and money. Society permits you to
odd them, because private property well admin. |
stored conduces TO the good Of all society. |
This Is your only tile; you lose your right to
our property, as the king did his TO his crown,
o soon as you cease faithfully TO execute your
rust; you can't make commons and forests Of
our lands, and starve mankind; you must man.
ge your lands TO produce the most food and
aiment for mankind, or you forfeit your title
ou may not understand this philosophy, but
ou feel that it is true, and are trembling in your
eats as you hear the murmurings and threats Of
he starving poor.
The moral effect of free society Is TO Danish
christian virtue--that virtue which bids US love
ur neighbor az ourself and 10 substitute the
cry equiyocal virtues proceeding from mere sell
shness. The intense struggle TO better each
mes pecuniary condition, the rivalries, the zeal.
usies, the hostilities which il. begets, leaves
either time or inclination 10 cultivate the heart
II the head. Every finer feeling Of our nature
chilled and benumbed by its selfish atmos.