Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-08-15

| lhuuSiry, 10 PreIesseuIy eDrlch tue planter,
who now enjoys prosperity unequalled in
the rest Of the country No, sir, such plans
of sectional aggrandizement, and such dis
regard of the Interests Of the greatest and
most powerful class Of people in the eoun-
Try. can only excite thcir disgust and indir-
nation. Thus, sir, | have traced the bcne-
fits of this bill, if it have any, as ihsnrpret-
ed by its frienGs. to the rich aud powerful.
| have, if ! mistake moi, demonstrated that
/ they are TO be made richer by tax upon
their less fortunate, but more industriou,
and more nceessitous fellow citizens tax
that they never can and never will submit
to, SO long as their power can be felt
through the ballot-box.
''But, sir, this is not alt While we are
thus to have intolerahle burdens loaded mn
on US, TO add to the weight of eur eni,ar-
rassments, and TO increase cur suferinas,
and while the debtor portion of the public
are to be crushed aud ground to dust be-
tween the upper and Dclher miiistcnes OF
| this process, the man of money is not only
to escape unharnled, but 10 bave his property
doubled. He who holds cash, or its equi-
valeat in notes, bonds or stocks, viii be
able to buy double the amount Of property
with it, and viii therefore have its value
doabled on his hands, for while waees and
property are to 60 down, money Is 10 up
in the same ratio.
Il the friends Of the bill hare rfsea ii a
true construction, it is bill of privileges to
the rich, but seourgc toall Others. What
Is the debtor portion Of the publica Is it
so insignificant as to be lisregardede Sir,
will venture to assert that the amount of
bexisting Indebtedness, in any commercial
country, is neatly, if not quite, equal to
tue value of all property in that country,
, whether it be rich or poor, prosperous or un-
prosperous, and yop cannot change, 10 the
extent gentlemen have supposed the relation
: Of debtor and creditor, or flfis aimiaish the
resources Of the debtors without crash, a
: waste AMI desolaticn, such as has never been
S experienced Supposea man has purchased
0 $4,000 worth Of property, at present prices
: and given lis bond forit; Jon reduce its
D value one-half, and it is worth $1,000
G How is it possible that. without resources,
thus reduced, most debtors can ever pay.
5 But, sir, you cannot maintain state Of
5 things such as has been supposed. You
e may embarrass, and distress US as you have
; done, but this bill will, in the end, ssork out
e no such advantages as are anticipated for
i the planters. The theory contains in itself
/ principle that viii defeat the end in view.
f 10 on, sir, If you please, ,and so legislate as
f tq5ring the cotton planters the extracrdi-
: nary profits anticipated, at the expense of
e the other branches of industry: how long
: will it be before that pursuit will be over
u bauled wich competitors, till the market
a will be inundated with cotton, aud its Price
!, fall justin the ratio yoa have stimulated
I its production Down It viii, down il must,
: ty the laws Of trade, come to level with,
Z the fall of other productions. And What
e will be gained by the whole proeess2 No tn
II ing: absolutely nothing; except that it viii
+ takemore Of our labor and more Of our
. productions to bay foreign merchandise
% our:gain will turn literally into loss, This
= is capable, think, of demonstration, if 1t
% does not already Sufficiently appear: but |
$ have 10 time to enlarge, interesting and
it all important as the subject is.
1t What motive can we have, sir, te reduce
Ii wages and the value of property When
lie did the sun ever shine upon laboring peo-
" pie so blessed as those Of our country have
10 been' Where have they ever been able,by
re industry, tofecd, clothe, and educate them
,e selves so well. The history Of the world
r, praises nothing more certainly y-nothing
ii with clearer demonstration, than that where
a wages are lowestthere Is the greatest pov-
is erty and suffering, there the condition Of
j. the laborcr is most foflorn aud wTetched:
lr there is the least moral and intellectual
wi culture; and there our raeei is sunk intothe
Is depths of political degradation, incapable
at of raising itself to that lofty eieFaf'on' at
70 tanned b. q free, enlightened people, eapa-
as. bic ef governing their own affairs. II tends
i, to the opposite of everything dearest 10 MS
for the descent viii carry With i not oaig
a. wages, but all the high qualities wilieil ne
r. Us 10 be what we are--free adinaeFea cut
ue Such is the remedy for the disease walsig
n aflicts our country; aud while iis adsgeates'
III shadow fourth its evils far beyond any
ii -conception uf mine, if the bill be carried
or into effect, as has been proposed here ! must
r, confess that see 10 it nothing TO sooihe 81
relieve the public nothing e restore con-
]. 6dence, which is tue great ana seosli ao'0
- ena-nothing to avert future panlcs--hosl'-
j, Ing to stop this scramble after 'as goia anu
a silver going on between US and eihcr eeu'l-