The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-12-12


1t is not needed nor fitting here that
general argument should be made IN Ia
vor of popular institutions; but there Is
one point sith its connections not SO haeK
neyed as uio>t others. to which ask
brief attention. 1t is the effort 70 piace
capital on equal footing with. If not above
labor in the structure OF the GoVernment
II !, assumed that labor is available only
in connection with capital, tbst nobody
labors unless somebody else owning cap
,tal somehow by the use of il induces bin
20 labor. This assumed, it is next con
sidered whether it is best that capital
,hail 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 lahorers arc either bir-
ed laborers or what We call slaves; and
further it is assumed that whoever Is
once a hired laborer is fixed in that con
dition for life. Now there is no such re-
lation between capital and labor
as assumed, nor is there any such
thing as free II an being fixed for life in
the condition Of hired laborer. Both
OF these assumptions are false, aud ell 10.
ferences from them are grouudess. La
Dor is prior to, and Independent of capi
tai. 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 bisher consideration Capital has its
rights. which are as worthy OF protection
as any other rights. Nor is it denied
that there is, and always will be. rela
ton between labor and capital. producing
IL mutual benefits The error is in assu
ming that the whole labor of the commu-
nity exists within that relation. A few
men own capital, and the few avoid labor
themselves, and with their capital hire or
buy another iew to lator for them. A
large majority belong to neither class
ueither work for others, nor have Others
working for them. In most of the South
erp States, uajority of the whole peo-
pie of all coors are neither slaves nor
IL asters, while in the Northern a large
III siority are neither hirers nor hired. -
Men With their families sons and
daughtcrs-work for themselves on their
farms, in their houses, and 10 their shops,
taking the whole product to themselves
and asking DO favors of capital, on the
one hand, nor of hired laborerers or slaves
on the other. 1t is not forgotten that a
considerable number of persons mingle
their own labor with capitsl-tbat is,
they labor with their own hands, and al.
so buy or hire others TO labor for them;
but this is only mixed and not distinct
class. No principle stated is distinguish
ed 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 in that con
dition for life. Many independent men
everyS here in these States a few years
back in their lives were hired laborers-
The prudent. penniie,s teginner in the
world labors sith which TO buy tools and
land for himself, then lators on lis OVID
account another while, and at length bires
apother new beginner to help hin. This
is the jl.t and generous and prosperous
system which opens the way to all, and
consequent energy aud progress in the
improvement Of their condition to all
No men living are more worthy to be
trusted than those who toll Up from pov.
erty; none less Inclined to take or touch
aus BIT which they have not honestly earn
ed Let them beware Of surreIdering q
political power which they already pos
sess, and which. If surrendered, will sure.
y be used to close the door of advance
nent against sucb as they, aUd to FIX new
disabilities AMI burdens cpon them till
all of liberty shall be lot.
From the fret taking Of our national
census to the last are seventy years, and
We find our population at the end of the
period eis BIT times as great as it was at
the beginning. The increase of those 9th
er things which men dee N desirable, has
been even greater. We thus have, at
one view, shat the popular principle, ap,
piled TO government through the macbine-
~ OF the States and the Union, has pro-
duced 10 a given time; and also what If
firuly maintained, it promises for the fu-
ture. There are already among Us those
who, i! the Union be preserved. will live
to see it contain $50 100000. The strug-
gle Of to day is not altogether for to day.
L is for a vat future, also
With a frn reliance on Providence, all
the N ore firm and earnest for our pres
eut troubles, let Us proceed iD the great
tack which evcnts have devo!ved upon US.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Washington. Dece mber 3. 1861.
Arrest of a Fast Young Man.