Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-12
CAPITAL AND LABOR.

The doctrine enuncisted by Mayor Woed, that
''those who do all the work get nothing while those
who get ALL do nothing" though not true in its liter
Al sense, does nevertheless approximate more near
~ to truth than at first strikes the mind Cunning
has always prevailed over mere physical strength,
inthe distribution Of the rewards of labor.
There was time, in all barbarous ages indeed
strength Of body, muscle may have exacted its
fun share Of earthly honors and emoluments. But
just in proportion as civilization advanced so has
intellect extended its empire over labor. That it
has been too arbitrary, that it has monopolised too
much, that labor has been at least undulyrewarded
we think few can deny. That all men, at least all
who work, are willing to work, are entitled to
food and clothing, we regard as undenisble, self
evident maxim of ethits. How much more, is not
now the question. But how to secure to labor
Its just reward, without violating these laws which
the great incentives of industry, activity enter
prise progress, that is the great mystery the eng
ma which free governments have not yet solved
Hitherto, and we trust for an indefinite period of
time, it viii but little disturb our free government
Yet We cannot shut eyes to the fact that in some
of our largest and most popuOus Cities the Unequal
tiles in the condition of men, is beginning at times
to disturb not little the theory of those who have
regarded pure democracy, the right of each to
get all he can, and keep what he gets, the perfec
tiOn Of human government.
This condition of things very naturally suggests
the inquiry to the nature of the remedy. What
other remedy there may be, we leave to others, to
those with whom it has, to some extent, become a
practical question to determine; but the South en-
joysn the institution Of negro slavery the best that
has been yet devised Best for the master best for
the slave. The race seems born to command, the
other TO obey One to devise to plan, the other to
toll The for intellectual labor and intellectual
enjoyment the other for ply steal labor and physi-
cal enjoyment. The one to originate, the other to
initiate. The to guide the other to follow. The
happiness Of both races has been UNNECESSARILY aug
mented by this union.
Nor can we estimate how much the Vorlds wealth
and the worlds enjoyment have also been increased
by the happy union of these two elements of sue
cessful progress. We would not obtrude our advice
upon our Northern brethren, however liberal they
may have been towards US in this respect, but We
shall rejoice as good and true democrats, sn1iously
desiring the good of our fellow men, whenever they
shall have found out a way, by means Of which,
without injustice to any, and without giving positive
encouragement oidleness te secure free labor its
just reward.
Freedom, is indeed TO many, q very precious
brthright But the freedom to beg, steal or starve,
is of no great worth Yet this is the freedom, the
only practical freedom which many Of our own flesh
and blood enjoy in some of the large cites of the
free States
Labor under the most favorable circumstances il
the free States, has most unequal battle to fight
with capital. But in times like these, it lies ALSO
lutely the mercy of its antagonist In the South
where slavery exists capital and labor strike hands,
and work tremendously to the end
The slave, from the very nature of things, cannot
suffer for food or clothing His master must of ne
cessity have the means of furnishing both The
law would else sell the slave to some one who has
means The master, from every motive Of humanity
that can touch the heart of generous nature,
not fail to provide both But if he have no generous
emotion, self interest prompts him to take diligent
care of the health and strength of his property
The comfort of the defendant is matter of dollars
and cents to the master
The two races seem almost to have been designed
for each other, for just such relations subsst be-
tween I'm. Can human government go further 10
providing 'ghe greatest good to the greatest num-
ber"