The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-11

; brilliantly he has served the country from q
time far back in our history, when few of the
now living had been born, and thencetorward
continually, / cannot but think we are still
his debtors. submit, therefore, for your
, consideration, what further mark OF recogni-
ton is due to him and to ourselves, as CRATE
full people.
, With the retirement Of General Scott, came
/ the executive duty of appointing in his stead a
General-i Chief of the army. 1t is fortu-
nate circumstance that neither in council or
country was there, 50 far as know any diff
ference of opinion as to the proper person to
be selected The retiring Chief repeatedly
expressed bis judgment in favor of General
Mcclellan for the position, and this the nation
decreed to give a unanimous concurrence.
The designation Of General Mcclellan is
therefore in a considerable degree, the seec-
ton Of the country as well as the Executive,
and hence there is better reason 10 hope that
there will be given him the confidence and
cordial support thus, by fair Implication Prom
ised and without which he cannot with so full
efficiency serve the country. 1t has been said
that one bad general is better than two good
ones and the saying is true, If taken to mean
no more than that our army is better directed
by single mind, though Inferior than by
two superior ones az variance and cross pur
poses with each other. And the same Is true
in all Joint observations wherein those engaged
can have none but q common end IN view and
can differ only as to the choice OF means.
i In a storm at sea no one can wish the ship
to sink, and vet not unfrequently, all so down
together. because too many will direct, and no
single mind can be allowed to coutrol
Itcontinues to develop that the insurrec ton
is largely. if not exclusively, a war upon the
first principles Of popular goyernment-the
g rights Of the people. Conclusive evidence of
this is found in the most grave and maturely
considered public documents, well as IN
the general tone Of The insurgents.
In these documents we find the abridgement
of the existing right of suffrage and the denial
to the people ofall right TO participate in the
selection ofpublc officers. except the Legisla,
ture, boldly advocated with lahored argu-
ments, to prove that large control of the peO-
pie in Government is the source of al pollti
cal evil. Monarchy itselfis sometimes limited
ed at as n possible refuge from the power Of
the people.
In my present position ] could scarely be
justified were l to omit raising a warning
voice against this approach Of returning deS-
potsm.
1t is not needed nor fitting here that gen.
=. eraI argument should be made in favor of pop
uIar institutions. But there is one point with
its connections, of so hackneyed most 9TH
ers. to which | ask brief atteation.
It is the effort to place capital on IN equal
footing with if not above labor, in the struc-
ture Of the Government. 1t is assumed that
labor is available only in connection with caI
ital that nobody IaborS unless somebody else
owning capital. somehow by the use Of it, in
70 ilh iS ~
considered whether it is best that arital shall
hire laborers, and thus induce them to work
by their own consent, or bug them snd drive
! them TO it without their consent
Having proceeded so far, it is naturally con-
cluded that all !aborerS are either hired labor
ers or what we call slaves. And further, it is
assumed that whoever is once hired labor
er, is fixed in that condition for life Now
there is no such relation between capital and
labor. as assumed, nor is there any such thing
, as free man being fixed for life in the rendi-
ton of a hired laborer. Both these aSSsmp-
tions are false, and all differences from them
+ are groundless. Labor is prior 10 and inde.
pendent of capital 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 higher consideration. Capital has its
. rights, which are ns worthy Of protection as
any other rights. Nor is it denied that there
E is and probably always will be a relation be-
tween labor and capital. producing mutua
, benefits. The error is in assuming that the
= whole labor of the community exists within
I that relation.
4 few mcn.own capital, and that few avoid
n labor, or buy another few to labor for them
\ large majority belong to neither class
f neither work for others nor have others work.
ing for them.
la most of the Southern States majority
! of the whole people, Of ali colors, are neither
slaves nor masters, while in the Northern,
i large ma ,ority are neIther hirers nor hired
. Men WITH their families, wives, sons anC
daughters, work for themselves on their farms
, in their houses, and in their shops, taking tht
= whole product to them.elves. and asking NJ
o favors of capital on the one hand nor Of hireC
laborers or slaves on the other.
J 1t is not forgotten that considerable mum
= Der of persons mingle their own labor with
! their capital-that is, they labor with thei
% own hands and also buy or hire others 10 Ia
y Dor for them but this is only a mixed anC
y, not distinct class No principle stated i!
= disturbed by the existence Of this mixed class
:. Again, as has already been said, there is no
7 of necessity any such thing as the free hreC
! laborer being fixed to that condition for life
Many independent men everywhere in thest
y States, few years back in their lives were
= hired laborers.
=. The prudent, ,penniless beginner in the Torld
. labors fol wages q while, saves a surplus will
. which to buy tools or land for himself, thei
labors on his own account another while, anC
: atlengthhresanothern new beginner to help him
This is the just, and generous and prosper
: Gus system which opens the way to all, give.
n hope to all, and consequently energy aud pro
. gress and Improvement of condition to all
: No men living are more worthy to be trusted
than those who toll up from poverty.
,f None less inclined to take or touch augh
y which they have not honestly earned. lie
# them beware of surrendering political pow
# er which they already possess, and which, i
, surrendered will surely be used to close tht
ofo Iya upa IL