Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-12-14

iaborers or what we call slaves; and
further it is assumed that whoever is
once Il hired laborcr is fixed in that
condition for life.
Now there is no such relation be-
tween capital and labor as assumed,
nor is there any such thing as free
man being fixed for life in the condition
of q hired laborer Both of these as
sumptions are false, and all differences
from them are groundless.
T" Labor is prior to, and independent of
capital. Capital is only the fruit of la
Dor, and could never have existed if Ia
Dor bad not first existed Labor is the
superior of capital, and deserves much
the higher consideration. Capital has
Its rights, which are as worthy of pro-
lection as any other rights. Nor is it
denied that there is, and probably al
ways will be, a relation between labor
and capital, producing mutual benefits
The error IS in assuming that the whole
labor of the community exists within
that relation. a few.men own capital,
and that few avoid labor themselves,
and with their capital hire or buy an
other. few to labor for them. A large
majority belong 10 neither class -nei-
thcr work for others, nor have others
working for them. In most Of the
Southern States, a majority Of the whole
people Of all colors are neither slaves
nor masters, while in the Northern a
large majority are neither hirers nor
hired. Men with their famiies-wives;
sons and daughters-work for them
selves on their farms, in their houses,
and IN their shops, taking the whole
product to themselves, and asking no
taVocs Of capital, on the one hand, nor
of hired laborers or slaves, on the 9th
en- 1t is not forgotten that consider
able. number of persons mingle their
labor with capital-tbat is, they labor
with their own hands, and also buy or
hire others to labor for them; but this
is only a mixed and not 4 distinct class.
No principle stated is disturbed by the
existence of this mixed class.
Again, as has already been said, there
is not of necessity any such thing as
the free hired laborer being fixed TO
that condition for life. Many indepen-
dent men everywhere in these States a
few years back in their lives, were
hired la3orers. The prudent, penniless
beginner III the would labors for wages
awhile, saves 4 surplus with which to
buy tools or land for himself, then la
bors on his own account another while,
ana at length hires another new begin
her to help him. This is the just and
generous and prosperous system which
opens the way to all, gives hope to all,
and consequent energy aud progress in
the improvement Of condition to all
No men living are more worthy to be
trusted than those who toll up from
poverty; none less inclined to take or
touch aught which they have not hon
estly earned. Let them beware of sur
rendering political power which they
already possess, and which, if suwcn-
dcred, will surely be used to close the
door Of advancement against such as
they, and to fix new disabilities and
burdens upon them till all of liberty
shall be lost.
From the first taking of our national
! census to the last arc seventy years,
and we find our population at the end
of the period eight times as great as it
was at the beginning. The increase of
those other things which men deem de-
sirable, has been even greater. We
have thus, at one view, what the popu-
lar principle, applied to government,
through the machinery Of the States
and the Onion, has produced i'll a Civ
en- time; aud also what, if firmly main
tanned, it promises for the future
There are already among us those who,
liz the Union be preserved, will live to
see it contain 100000 900. The strug-
gle Of today is not altogether for to-
day. 1t is for the vast future, also.
With reliance on Providence, all
the more firm and earnest, let us pro-
ceed i'll The great task which events
have developed upon us.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Washington, Dee. 5, 1861.