Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-08-19
Letter from II. Rush petr,l,n. rs,.

oohSresS, addressed the following feply IL
some inquiries from Sullivan county:
Lock HAVEN, July 30th, 1858.
DIR. j. Nj. Heacock, Dushore, and Augustus
Lippncott, Hills Grove, Sullivan county,
Penna
Gentlemen-Your favor Of the 28th inst. is
received. Your inquiries are unquestionably
right, and 1t gives me pleasure to answer.
The political war which is now waging be-
tween the people on the one hand, and the
hungry parasites hanging upon the National
Treasury under the control of the Slave No
bility, is, when divested Of claptrap names
designating party organization, simply con-
test between free and slave labor.
This contest has been going on since the
Notification or Revolt Of South Carolina
against the Tariff law Of 1923. Previous to
that revolt, and while our rulers were actua-
ted by the same spirit of justice which anima-
ted the patriot fathers of the Revolution, free
dom and protection of domestic industry went
hand in hand. Up to that time the National
Government was conducted as the Constitution
ordains it should be, ''to promote the general
welfare and secure the blessings of LiGelty"
to the people. But when we come to examine
events since, we find in each Congress where
Slavery has had full sway through the sham
democracy, the interests of free labor have
had to give way by modification of the rates
of duty and the abandonment Of discrimina-
ting protection. This has been persevered in
to the extent that now we have dd cul0rea
duties under the Tariff Act of 1857 of the
most ruinous kind.
To Senator Bigler you must charge this
wrong 1t was he who betrayed Pennsylya
nia-'tis he and his Lecompton followers who
serve the slave power and betray the people
Lecompton and the abrOgation Of all pro
tectlve discrimination are events that come
together; oppression and wrong; popular
rights disregarded in Kansas free industry
destroyed i'll the States. In this district our
productions are varied. We have varied az
rieultural products we have iron manufacto-
ries (ceTy qttet aoW); we have bituminous
coal mines and large lumber interests Even
under the Tariff Of 1916 these-intarests were
protected to some extent, possibly in all, save
iron sufficiently.
In the British possessions Of North Amer
lea all the productions common ia this district,
save iron, are abundant. Lumber, bitunlinous
coal and breadstuffs are staples. Cotton, rice
and tobacco are cultivated by slave labor
During the year 1854 treaty was made with
| Queen Victoria, by which the productions Of
the British Possessions, lumber coal and
| breadstuffs, come in FREE of duty, in direct
competition with our FREE LABOR, that the
products of SLAVE LABOR, cotton, rice and
| tobacco, may have free market IN her domin-
| ions on this continent. The chief produc
tions of our own people were thus sacrificed,
and the prosperity of this portion Of our good
old commonwealth checked.
That same year the Missouri COMPROMISE
was repealed, and that policy inaugurated
which has resulted in the Lecomptyn C0nsti.
tuition and the Dred Scott decision Encour-
aging slave labor and discouraging and op-
pressing free labor, are events which come
appropriately in connection with the wrongs
! to the people of the territories in the Kansas
! legislation of the General Government, and
! the decision of the Supreme Judiciary by
! which slavery covers the land.
! That policy which crushes free labor in the
/ old States keeps it out of the new-for if sla-
/ very may 90 there free labor cannot. Thus
/ whenever the sham Democracy have the sway.
| slavery has the ascendant, and nothing like
| justice to free interests can be expected. For
/ these and other reasons which If written
would be too long for letter, | am in favor
/ of that policy which favors free men and most
/ especially that policy which will protect their
uadotstfy, through their productions, against
! ruinous competition from abroad, 10y discrim-
/ mating duties, specific where the quality of
the article is not too varied to allow that mode.
/ | am in favor Of abrngating the Reciprocity
/ treaty, admitting the productions Of the Brit
! ish provinces free.
! In whatever position may bc placed, will
! assiduously work to effect these objects; In
! other words, ! shall endeavor 10 promote the
interests and dignity Of labor. The true dig
/ nifty Of labor is in its results and not in the
conventional form in which it is employed
| Ia 1850, according to received authority,
/ there were ., 100000 employed in agriculture,
| of the white male population over fifteen years
Of age, and l,G96,000 in commerce, trade,
mining, manufactures and mechanic art, OF
these 33S, 900 were employed in mining com
merce, ocean and river igaton-leaving
one and Il quarter Of q millioa for mechanics
and manufacturers just half ,he number en-
gagged in agriculture. The productions OF
these millions of free people, aided and in.
creased as they are by the Intelligence Of the
age and labor saving machinery, is surely
worthy of attention. Their happiness and
prosperity, and that Of tioir wives and little
ones, should certainly receive more attention
at the hands of the government than the slave
driver and his 4" chattels," i" for there are only
$50, 900 shareholders in the United States
yet the contrary is the fact. The slave owner
rules through party drill and party machinery
and in this way thousands Of good and true
men in other things forget their own and thei
cOuntry's cause in the temporary Joy Of pa1{J
triumph. If this course is pursued mucl
longer, where will this republic be? Libcrt'
crushed out-despotism instead IF part,
drill can make Free Industry forget he
wrongs; if party machinery can make US for
get or forgive our rulers, who have attempted
to force upon an unwilling people govern
ment not of their choice; If party can max
US forget the corruption, bribery and extray
agance of our present national rulers, sc hav
but one thing more to forget, and that is tha
we ever were free. | am one Of these VIII
cannot forget, and if ! am Il candidate TO
Congress, | am the candidate to be voted 70