Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-12-05

This assumed is considered whether II ia best
that capital shall hire aborcrs and induce them to work
wSon, ,bcir consent Having proc-sded 20 far i %n,
urny concluded that all nborers either hired laborcrs
or what we call slaves Aud further I, assumed that
whoover II once hired nborer Is fix in the condition
for life. Now there Is such relation between capital
and labor assumed, Ia there any such thing
freeman being fixed for life In the condition OF hired
laborer. Both OF these assumptions false aud NIL m
fcrences from them pronidcss Labor Is prior and
indcpenden, Of capital Capital is only the r, Of labor
aud could have exstcd II labor mud moi r, exist
ed Labor s the superior OF capital. and deserves much
the higher consideration
Capital hns IL ighis. which worthy OF protection
as any other rights. Nor is II denied that there IA and
probably always will he relation between labor and
capital, producing mutual benefits The error IL IN assu
ming that the whole labor OF community exists within
that relation few men capital aud that few avoid
labor and with ieir capital hire or buy few TO labor for
them A large majority belong to neither class-ieher
work for others nor have others work for them
IN most OF the Southern States majority of the whole
people of all colors arc neither slave masters while
in the Noriheri large majority neither hirrrs
hired. Men with their families. wives, and dnuch-
tors work for themselves their fnrs in their houses
aud In their shops mixing the whole productto themselves
anl asking III favors OF capital on the hand Of
hrcd labor or slaves on the orr II is not for ocn that
"A considerable number 0f persons nngle their own labor
with capital that IS they labor with their hands, and
also uy hire other. To labor for them Hut this s only
mixed and no distinct class No principle stated Is
dist"rhcd by the existence Of this mixed class.
Amin US has air ly bren snid ,hrr il not Of nec-s
ay any stch thing the tree hired latorrr lenG iSrd
in ihnt condition for life Many independent mon. every
where in these States few years back in their lives
were DIeu Inuurt rs Inc PRUDENT olHiicss bcggnr
the world, labors for wages awhile and saves surplus
with which to buy tools land for himself then lnbors
lis accou and Mt length hires another new be-
ginncr to work or him.
This is the Just and and prosperous system
which opens the way TO all gives hope all aud
quent energy progress and improvement Of the condition
TO all. No living worthk to be trusted thar
those who toll up or from poverty-nine less inclined
to take or touch aught which tdey have not honestly
| earned.
Lei them be aware OF surrounding q political powr
which they already possess. and which II SURRENDERED
will surely be used to close The door Of
against such they and To q disabilities and bur
| dens upon them, I'LL all OF liberty shall he lost.
From the first tnkng Of our national the las
are ~ years, and we find population at the end
that period eight times great II the beginning
| The increase OF those other things which deem de
| siralc has been even greater.
We thus hnve, Mt one view what the popular principle
applied to government through tue machinery of tn
States aud the Union has produced in a yvun lime, AM
also what II firmly maintained il promises for the future
There arc already among those who il the Unio
he preserved will live to see II contain 2O000000 Th
struggle Of to-day is not altogether for to-day II is 70
vast future also. With a firm reliance on Providence
all the firm and earnest let proceed In the grea
task which events have devolved upon U.s.
/ ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Il WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec g. 1851.