Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-12-06

It is not needful nor fitting here that general
argument should be made in favor of popular in
situations; but there is one point with its
connections not so hackneyet most Others,
TO which 1 ask brief attention. 1t is
the effort to place capital on an equal footing
with, if not above labor in the structure Of Gov
eminent. 1t is assumed that labor is available
only in connection with capital, that nobody
labors unless somebody else, owning capital, some
how by the use of it, induces him to labor
This assumed, it is next considered whether
it is best that capital shall hire
laborers and thus induce them to work by their
own CONSENT or buy them and drive them to it
without their consent. Having proceeded so far
it is naturally concluded that all laborers are
either hired laoorers what we call slaves, and
further it is assumed that whoever is once hired
laborer is fixed in that condition for life. Now
there is no such relation between capital and lab
or as assumed, nor is there any such thing as q
free man being fixed for life in the condition of a
hired laborer. Both of these assumptions are
false, and all differences from them groundless
Labor is prior to and independent of Capt.
al. Capital is only the fruit of labor and
could never have existed If labor had
not first existed Labor is the superior of
capital and deserves much the higher consdera-
ton. Capital has its rights which are as worthy
of protection as any other right. Nor is it denied
that there is, and probably always 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 thereby avoid labor them
selves and with their capital hire or buy anoth-
er few to labor for them. A large majority be-
longing to neither class, neither work for others
nor have others working for them In most Of
the Southern States a majority of the whole peo-
pie of all tolors are neither slaves nor
masters, while in the Northern large majority
are neither hirers or hired; men with their
families, wives, sons and daughters work
ing for thtm'e!ves on their farms
in their houses and in their shops. taking the
whole products to themselves and asking no favors
of capitalists on the one hand nor hired laborers
or slaves on the other 1t is not forgotten that
considerable number of persons mingle their own
Labor with capital, that is they labor with their
own hands, and also buy or hire others to la or
for them; but this is only a mixed and not dis
tinct class No principle stated is distuI bed 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 laborels being ixed in that
condition for life. Many independent men,
every where in these States, few years back in
their lives, were hired laborers. The prudent PEN
niless in the world, labors awhile, saves surplus
with which to buy tools or land for him
self, then labors on his own account
another while, and at length hires another new
beginner to help him. This is the just and gen
erous and prosperous system which opens the
way to all, gives hope TO all, and secures
| the consequent progress and improvement
of the condition of all. No men living are
more worthy TO be trusted then those who toll on
from poverty, none less inclined to take or touch
ought which they have not honestly earned.
Let these beware of surrenderng a political
power which they already possess and which if
surrendered 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 is seventy years, and we fnd our popu-
at ion at the end of the period, eight times as
great as it was at the beginning. TIE increase OF
those other things which men deem desirable has
been even greater. We thus have at one view
what the popular principle applied to the govern
rent through the machinery of the States and
the Union has produced in given time and also
what if firmly maintained it promises for the
future. There are among us those who if the I'm
ion be prese we'd will live to see it contain two
hundred and fifty millions ofpeople. The strug-
gle, OF to-day is not altogether for to-day. 1t is
for II vast future also. With firm reliance on
Providence, all the more firm and earnest, let US
proceed in the great task which events have
devolved upon as.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Washington, D. c., Dec 3rd, 1861.