The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-12-10

could have existed if labor had
not first existed. Labor is the superior
of capital, and it deserves much the high
or consideration. Capital has its rights,
which are as worthy of protection as any
other rights. Nor is il denied that there
is, as there probably always will be, re-
lation between capital and labor, produ-
cling mutual benefit.
The error is in assuming that the
whole labor of community exists with
in that relation. A few men have CAPT
tai, and that few avoid labor, and with
their capital hire or buy few to labor
FOR them. A large majority-belongipg
10 neither class--neilher work for others,
nor have others working for them. In
most of the Southern States majority OF
the people Of all colors are neither slaves
nor masters, while in the Northern-a
large majority are neither hirers nol hr
ed. Men with their families, wives, sons
and daughters work for themselves on
their farms, in their houses, and in their
shops, taking the whole product to them
selves, and asking no favors of capital on
the one hand nor Of hired labor or slaves
on the other. 1t is not forgotten that a
considerable number Of persons mingle
their own labors with capital that is
they labor with their own hands, and al
so buy, or hire, persons to labor for them.
But this is only mixed land not dis
tinct class No principle stated is dis
turbed by the existence of this mixed
class Again, as has already been stat
ed, there is not of necessity any such
thing as the free hired aborer being fix
ed in that condition for life. Many in.
dependent men everywhere in these
States few years ago We're hired labor
ers. The most prudent, penniless beg
gar in the world labors for wages awhile,
and secures surplus with which to buy
tools or land for himself. He then lab
ors on his own account, and at length
hires another new beginner to help him.
This is the just and generous and prosp
erous system which opens the way 10 all,
gives hopes to all,and consequent energy,
progress and improvement of the con-
dition of all. No men living are more
worthy to be trusted than those who toll
up or on from poverty-none less inclin-
ed to take or touch aught which they
have not honestly earned. Let them be
ware of surrendering 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 bur-
dens upon them till all Of liberty shall be
lost. From the first taking of our Ma
tional license. TO the last, are 70 years,
and we find our population at the end Of
this period S times as great as it was at
the beginning. The 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 government, through the I'm
ion, has produced in a given time, and
also what, il firmly maintained, ii prom
ises for the future. There are already
among us those who, il the Union be
preserved, will live TO see it contain $780,
10000 The struggle of to-day is not
altogether for to day. It is for vast
future also.
With firm reliance on Providence,
all the more firm and earnest, let us pro
coed in the great task when events have
devolved upon us.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WAsHINGToN, December 3, 1861.