Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-04-17
From the Milwaukee Journal.
The WOrEinQ Man.


The rights Of that large class in society who
are dependant for the means of subsistence upon
manual labor, irregularly furnished, and poorly
paid are worthy of the consideration of the prac-
tical .philanthropist and wise legislator, Labor
is no disgrace 1t is one of the necessities OF
our being, but the mode and reward are depend
ant upon circumstances, customs, and laws.
Some kinds Of labor are considered honorable
and ennobling, while others are regarded as SER
vile and degrading distinction in the character
of servitude depending chiefly upon the amount
of talent and skill requisite for its performance
There are three classes Of labor: That of mind
upon mind, by governors, prophets, teachers and
poets; that of mind upon matter, by merchants,
manufacturers, farmers engineers, mechanics,
and bankers; and that of muscles upon matter,
mere manual labor by that large class who work
under the direction of. superior minds.
The first is the most honorable the second the
most remunerative, and the third the most SER
vile; for requiring but little capital and SKILL it
is mere manual service, with which machinery
comes into successful competition, reducing its
rewards to the means of subsistence, and inducing
habits of thoughIessness, or Of dependence, de-
spair and beggary.
This is n great and growing evil The remedy
is to be sought in the habits of the rising genera
ton. Let every child be taught n trade. Let
every man who can, become the owner Of q few
hCTco VI REOuuu. Leu luc HliLoSt5 VI laDOTeTb nee
the city, and breathe the free air of the country
There is no beggary there, and little absolute
penury. But in the city mutitudes freeze, starvc,
and die prematurely for want Of wholesome food
and proper medication.
The laborer should have time for rest for
social enjoyment, and for mental cultivation
Wasting and unending toll tends to the prostra-
ton of the nobest powers. The interests of the
aborer are promoted by the prosperity of the
higher classes. Successful enterprise furnishes
labor and wages for the poor and dependant
Financial reverses, sweeping away fortunes and
suspending public improvements, deprive multi
tudes Of the means Of subsistence.
The interests of the workngman cannot be
built upon the ruins Of the capitalist. Labor
and capital are co.workers in building up and
sustaining the social structure. Circumstances
which diminish capital, and check the spirit of
enterprise reduce the wages of the workingman
by diminishing the demand for labor. When
agriculture is unrewarded, when manufactures
are prostrated, and when the mercantile interests
langush, the laborer is reduced TO the most abso-
lutte dependence upon the will Of his employer if
not deprived altogether of employment. The in
terests Of the laborng classes are especially de-
pendant upon the prosperity Of commerce and
manufactures. Those who seek to array one
class against another are the natural enemies Of
both.
SoUTH CAROLINA AND SECESSION. The seces-
sion convention of South Carolina assemblies on
the 26th instant. There is wonderful change,
of late, in the tone Of the secession journals OF
that State. The State Rights Republican has an
article (which the Charleston Mercury copies)
in which, speaking of the convention, it says:
In the first place, we may fairly conclude
that it will not attempt, in regard to federal re-
lations, any separate or solitary action, for ne
a.. orocpsJjDg In
the second place we may conclude that it will
not meddle with our internal organization, for
that department has not been entrusted to it by
public sentiment but tactly withheld In truth
the convention is an accidental body, elected 6y
yeyy small portion cfhePeople