The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-11-26
For the 0ttumwa Couri'
ESSAY. NO. 1.
Obligation OF wealth.
Bv Hsss

BY H.
WHAT is wealth? We consider our wants
ana observe that food is indispensable to our
physical existence; that clothing is very con-
'venient, especially in the winter season; and
that knowledge and development add much to
our happiness and dignity as intellectual and
spiritual beings. To supply ourselves with,
food. raimsnt and education, requires means,
these means constitute wealth? To this end
are ell the obligations Of wealth. What Is the
source Of wealth? We look abroad and be-
hold the sun pouring out in bountiful profusion
his light and heat to warm into life each plant
and shrub, TO give vegetation its beautiful COL
curing and enable our sense of vision to enjoy
the delightful prospect; we see the plains spread
out before us and the hills roll gently up
around, all faithful to the seed entrusted to
their fruitful bosoms, and TO the hocks and
herds that spor. amid their products; we
glance into the clear waters and observe them
peopled with the finny tribes, from the maies-
tic whale that makes the fathomless aud
broad rolling ocean his home, to the littlc min.
ow that sports in the cove; we descend into
the deep places Of earth and wonder at the
boundless extent Of her mineral treasures,
from the diamond and glittering gold that
strike the avaricious with moral blindness, to
the most important inorganic matter, subject
to our use; where else can we look for the
source Of wealth? Nowhere, but in the APP
rlication OF the physical and mental strength
necessary to subject all these to our use
These are the free gifts Of God to the human
family without distinction. Over them we
have no rightful control except for our i.giti-
mate and prudent use in the attainment Of
happiness. To the benefits of the sun, the
waters, the air and the land, all have full
and ample, equal and indisputable title, by the
great law that has ever been, is, and shall az
ways continue to be. Over our powers Of boz
dy and mind the will sits supreme. They
were designed for exercise, which, when di.
rected to the promotion Of our greatest good.
call forth from exhuberart nature in plentiful
abundance all the wealth that can contribute
to the happiness and exaltation of humanity.
But toll cannot produce one iota more than
this, whether the laborers be few or many
Whether our race number ten or ten thousand
millions, the earth will yield to the same
amount Of toll from each person Just enough
and no more. To obtain sufficiency, does
moi require such constancy and severity Of
laboui from any one as to leave not an ade-
quate leasure for mental culture and gratifca-
ton, or would not, did justice reign among
inen. Thence, the only condition prescribed
to fix the right OF every individual to all that
he can Joy. is pleasurable degree Of persons
al toll. This condition being complied with,
each is entitled by the law OF nature and Of
reason, to all that can supply his physical de-
mands, and contribute TO his intellectual and
moral elevation. In the light Of these plain
truths, arenot the obligations Of wealth OF
easy apprehension? :"
Thus the wants Of man are the only measure
of value and labour, the only condition on
which Il can be obtained. Hence IL every
son and daughter of Adam are not supplied,
there must be some causes for the deficiency.
Do anysuffer for want, and If so what are the
causes? >"
...t..-. fL.s,, r.-at,s.tt a. ~
Are all supplied? To answer this question,
evil not consider the Chinese or Ethiopian;
nor summon on TO the stand from the Europe
an Continent her millions OF destitute and
cadaverous Witnesses who endure more than
slavery's burdens; but merely notice few
facts in the condition OF the people Of Great
Britain and our United States, which sit at the
head OF the nations, in civilization, freedom
and refinement. In England and Wales, ac-
cording to the census taken some years since,
there were l3,ss7,lS7 human beings, being
only, 100000 more than the population ex-
hiolted some ten years previous. or these,
2,Sol $50 persons, or more than one fifth OF the
whole were either houseless. dependent upon
the public tight-fngered charity for shelter, OF
crowded two or more families into single
shanty. "erewe not accustomed to hear Of
and see similar instances OF human destlu-
tson ana sunerins' VIC snou'a DC slartied az 'he
reiauon OF sucn Iac t Inc tnougnt 'nat
more tnan one nl 7i; OF great ana enllsn'eped
people, VINO are ao'e-ood' ca except as hard
Toll mas broken tneir eherg'es' are not permit
teo nome on TINS "ide ana oeautitui eartn,to
say nothing OF common enJoynents, wouia
call out our oeepeSt sympathy, and extend at