Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-28
THE MONOPOLY or LABOR.

A Observation-Disclosures ohious to the republic
can form of government and the rights of the
people-does not end with the thing monopo-
lized. 1t extends and ramifes into every ada
cent interest of society. Like thorn in the
hesh---it produces an irritability-an infamma-
ton which runs through the whole system.-
Hence, whenever the people aie left free to act,
they rise against any lingering exclusiveness
that may still come down to them from former
age as the farmers used to against those strag-
Cling wolves that formerly descended upon their
hocks now and then from the recesses of the
Green Mountains. They hunt down raven |
Gus monopoly with generous competition. They
stave open the dark and corrupt enclosures Of
exclusive interest, and ventilate the premises
with the free and purifying principles Of the
greatest good to the greatest number.
We are led to this remark by the long time
which has oapsed-now going on nearly two
months-since the House of Representatives
has remained in session without affecting an or
ganization. No Speaker is yet elected; the
country still remains without legislation, at Il
time when legislation is needed some of its
most important interests are being neglected.
and why, wherefore? 1t is simply because the
monopoly of labor which exists in large part
of our national territory seeks to extend its in
iiuence over the whole. BY the adoption of
very simple rule, which has already been twice
acted on in former years, and which would not
do violence even to the pride of opinion of any
J -i,v alo hn nj of hp No
proposed by Mr. Hickman Speaker coull be
elected at the first ballot; and the business of
the country could be attended to without far
Their delay. And what is the reason assigned
by the democrats why this is not done? Why,
that one Helper has written book. which ex-
poses the labor monopoly in some of its true
lights. and to which certain northern members
have lent the currency of their name. 1t is
made test of fitness for Speakership, or for
legisating for the United States, whether one
entertains or not the opinions that have been
set forth in certain book
f We do not deprecate any necessary checks
upon legislation; for the spirit of the age is to
legislate too much. Certain kinds of obstacles
in the way of nations progress often a
2 healthy stimulus to its growth and development.
. The difficulties in the way of internal improve
| ment presented by the geographical features of
I the country and the conflicting interests and
principles of legislation arising in the intercourse
b.. with foreign nations, are obstacles of this kind,
= leading to generous and strengthening effort to
o overcome them; but where vicious element
\ like that of slavery is thrown into the machine
+ ry of free institutions from persistent passion,
: prejudice and evil habit the result can only be
t irritating, stultifing and benightenng
n The first wrong step taken by the South was
e systematic opposition to free labor as evinced
- in efforts to shackle the energies Of the North
G by low tariff. Instead of acknowledging with
1t the North that free-labor is the brthright of all
e subjects of the republican form Of government
l. and entering together with us upon our nation
1t al career with this generous principle inscribed
d upon our colors, she sought from the outset 10
d oppose and cripple ree-abor in order that she
l. might indulge in the ruinous luxury Of slave
If labor. Instead of taking up the march of free
t labor, by which States would have gone on as
.e they had already commenced, manumittng
IS themselves slowly but surely, one after another
t like glorious artillery salute as it were to
l. Freedom and Liberty, they raised standard oil
Of opposition and sought by every devise of Gun.
is ming, art6ce and combination to check the nat
IL ura workings of that form of government
which they had help us to establish. Defeated
in the Senate by the eloquence and argument
rs of Webster, they sought satisfaction in thu
lie chagrin, passion and machination Of disap
Of pointed Calhoun. The noble Hayne, champion
l. by circumstance of a wrong cause, defeated il
n his efforts to erect such an odious. anti-demo
lie cratic policy as labor-monopoly in face of tn,
IA rights of free-labor, in magnanimous spiri
'e acknowledged his defeat; withdrew flon tn,
III field of argument and sought to enter into {
T. generous rivalry with the North by practica
a. development of the resources of his nativ,
'e State. The grand project of tapping the vale,
of the Mississippi by railroad to terminate a
es Charleston was his 1t was work worthy ever
te of the North IN conception and design worth
"a of free-labor, and worthy of the enterprise O
lis the Saxon race. To this work he devoted al
es his energies, and even his life for, overcom
IS by the obstacles thrown in its way by the mar
r. row and adverse political sentiments advocate,
OF by Calhoun, he fell and expired while engage,
ne upon the line of the work. This work was lon
es afterwards completed; and it is like an umbil
e. ical cord, connecting South Carolina with some
nd what of the life and energies of the nation a
Ir. large, without which, she would be but anothe
AS an American Ethiopia.
[r. But while the South is opposing free. abo
"a and the fundamental principles of our institu
or tons to the last, raising an issue for this pur
,ly pose even in so simple matter as the writin
IN, of book and the circulation of intelligence
ar the question of slavery is becoming one of gray
NJ practical Importance, not to the South alon,
but to the whole country, and indeed to tn
-. whole world. While the slaves are rapidly in
ks creasng in numbers, their production of cotto
az, no will not increase in the proportion. TIL
ar eight millions of slaves which the South threat
ny ems to contain in quarter of a century henc,
u