Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-06

and thus induce them to work by their own con-
sent, or buy them and drive them to il without
their consent. Having proceeded so far it is nat
urally concluded that all laborers are either hired
laborers or what call slaves and further il sas-
sumed that whoever is once hired laborer is fixed
m that condition for life. Now there is no such
labor as assumed, nor is there any such thing as A
free man being fixed for life in the condition of a
slave laborer Both of these assumptions are
false and all differences from them are grnund
less Labor is prior to and independent Of capi-
tai Capital is only the fruit Of labor and could
never have existed il labor had not first existed
Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much
the higher consideration. Capital has lis rights
which are as worthy Of protection as any other
right Nor is it denied that there is and proba
bly, always will be a relation between labor and
capital producing benefits The erroris in assum-
ing that the whole labor OF a few men own
capital and that a few avoid labor themselves and
with their capital hire another few to labor for
them and large majority belonging to another
class neither work for others nor have others work
for them In the midst of the Southern states
majority Of the whole people Of all coors are
neither slaves nor masters, while in the nor,h a
large majority are neither hirers nor hired. 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 20
themselves, aud asking no iayors OF capital ON the
one hand nor of hired labor ON the other. Il is
not forgotten that a considerable number Of per-
sons minglc their own labor with capital-that is
they labor with their own hands, and also buy or
hire other, 20 labor for them, but this is ouly a
mixed and not a 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
laborcr being fixed in that condition for life
! Many independent men everywhere in these States
a few years back in their lives were hired labor
ers. The prudent pcnuiless beggar IN the world
labors for wages while, saves surplus with
which 10 buy tools or land for himself then labors
, ON his own account another while, aud al length
( hires another new beginner 20 help him. This is
the just and generous and prosperous system.
which opens the way 90 ALL gives hope 10 all, and
consequent energy and progress and Improvement
of their condition TO all. No men living are more
worthy 20 be trusted than those who toll 10 from
poverty-nonc less inclined 10 take or touch ught
which they have not honestly earned Let them
beware of surrcnderlng political power which
they already possess, and which II surrendered
will surely be- used 20 close the door of advance
ment against such as they, and 20 Gxncw disabili-
ties and burdens upon them till all Of liberty shall
be lost.
From the first taking of our national census 10
the last are 20 years, and We find our population
az the end OF the period eight times as great as i,
in the beginning. The increase of those other
Z things which men dccm desirable has been even
| greater. We thu, have at one view what the pop
uauoh pFWppc Appucd 10 government through
the machinery OF the States, aud the Union has pro-
duccd IN given time aud also what IT firmly main
u tained,it promises for the future. There are AL
q ready among us, those, who. If the Union be- pre-
% served, will live 20 see il contain 25O.Op0UO0.
r. The Struggle of to-day is not altogether for Co
j day. It is for the future also Witha firm rclianc,
in Providence. al the more firm and earnest, lc
s ms proceed In the great task which events have de
q ,ohcd upon as.
(~igned) ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
10 Washington, Dec. 3. 1861.