Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-24

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up this Government
1t has always been my purpose since my 6rst
participation ia the business Of the Senate 10 vote
and act for measures which thought would pro-
mote the interests of the country North and South,
East and West, endeavoring to have no sectional
feeling or local partialifies in legislation.
can expect to exert but little influence; to at
tempt it might give oifenc?, for do not profess
to have either ability experience to justify such
a course but may say to Senators who are tai
ented and enjoy an elevated position, that it may
be wise in them to cultivate fraternal feelings in
this body of equal representatives of States. The
idea that there many spheres in the walks of
life is not the American doctrine.
The Senator. from South Carolina Mr.. HAM
nosDl is already assured OF my respect That
Senator the other day, undertook to prove that
society in the North was not organized as well, or
with as favorable elements, as that Of the South.
He insisted the laboring men of the North occu-
pied the position of slaves like those of the South;
and having the right Of franchise, our rights we're
held by more precarious tenure than theirs. /
think he is mistaken in this. He calls the aborers
of both sections the "mud-sills" of society. As
this is a technical term in the construction of
dam, suppose he means to intimate by it, that
those who are regarded as the more fortunate in
point of wealth or position, are the cap-logs of
society.
We have an intelligent people at the North,
whether wealthy or not; and in no country in the
world is there less pretension made to wealth, or
to position on account OF it-none where there is
a more general recognition of the fealty due by all
men to their common Creator, who has said to
man that by the sweat of his facs shall he eat
bread.
No man is exempt from this service. The Sem
ator seems to suppose that with their organization
of society, there win be- and is, class with the
leisure and means Of education which must ele-
vate and secure to them character for progress,
civilization, and refinement.
would ask the Senator if in his experience in
society, this has generally been the effect of the
possession of such supposed early advantagesg
regret to say it has not, in most cases that have
come within my observation and have always
been disposed to award greater merit for success
in those thus circum stanced than to those who
are not subject to the various temptations which
beset the class he refers to. In our country, it is
than rich" In the history Of our country there
is nothing to justify this overweening vanity Of
wealth or high position, or to discourage those
who commence with every disadvantage that con-
ceit can attach to the drudgcry of labor. Will the
Senator from South Carolina look at the picture
which hangs over the western entrance to the ro-
tunda of this Capitol, and examine the protrait Of
Benjamin Franklin, in his plain citizens dress, at
the most refined court OF Europe? Look at his
ceuntenance as he is addressing the King, and
then look at the King, in his royal robes, who has
enjoyed every advantage of elevate d birth and of
solid and refined education, and say which of the
two he would like to have for his compeer in this
body? The attitude, features, and countenance,
of the laboring man specimen of one of ma
lures nobemen. As to the other, / will say
nothing. i am prevented, from the gratitude
feel for the aid he gave in the cause Of the Rev
oution. Let the Senator examine the portraits Of
the signers of tie Declaration Of independence.
He will find the same man associated with Roger
Sherman; they are not among the mass Of the
members of that highly distinguished body Of
patriots, but ara represented as two of the FIVE
members who report the declaration TO Congress;
men who are prominent among the noblest of the
land-both lsborers. Does the Senator think we
should be in lower strata las be calls it) by hav-
ing these two men in our body, to represent the
States they represented in 1875?
Sir, every man in Christendom would accord to
such men the post Of honor, be they where they
may. Franklin was known in Europe as a day
worker at job printing; it never Injured him any
where. / doubt If be was ever, in any body OF
men, or on any committee, where he did not ap.
pear little taller than his associates for intelli-
gence and common sense; and l would rather
have the maxims in his Poor Richards" almanac
| to make man with, than all the writings of Lord
Chesterfield upon refinement and court etiquette
There are a few other remarks which the SEN
ator from South Carolina made that must notice /;
not in any spirit Of complaint, for like South
Carolina; for received the Inequalities of her
people, and those of Georgia. when was a boy,
and remember it with gratitude; but think he
has made some unfair comparisons between the
| two sections, which l have, briefly alluded To-.
What remains for me TO say relates to the remark
he made that, IL we now settled this question
fairly, the South had % guarantee that we should
not plumber them with tariffs, with internal i'm.
provements, with navigation laws and fishing
bounties, and with bank Of the United States,
to concentrate all the capital Of the country in the
commercial emporium. These were SO many
counts 10 his bin Of Indictment against the North.
As well as recollect, most Of the measures
enumerated and denounced by the Senator, as
plundering them, originated with South Carroll.
mans. think the tariff was reported by one of
the most distinguished Of the citizens of South
Carolina, Mr.. Lowndes: at least have always
given him credit for inaugurating that measure
for the benefit Of labor. The credit Of internal
improvements and the bank have been awarded
by his grateful countrymen to another iIustrious
citizen OF that State, Mr. Calhoun. / must leave
the defence OF these measures TO their beneficial
effect while we enjoyed them, and to the State
which feels such just pride in their orgnators, or
supporters. The fame Of these statesmen had
these very measures for its basis and sustenance
concur with the Senator In his view of the value
Of the great staples Of that section Of the country
and am always glad 10 notice the improvements
they have made In their production. Since nv
he IF A. IL