Daily national Republican., 1864-03-21
COMMITTEE.
FRANK U. STITT, Chairman.

FRANK U. sTITT, Chairman.
GEORGE GRAVES, Secretary,
J. Howard LArcombe. Oscar Alexander
John II. Cunningham. William II. Server, jr.
NorSal W. King Joseph W. Palmer.
J. Harvey Roberts, Augustus DonAth.
William 4. Mott. John II. Hewlett.
Charles "; Murray. augustus Rogers.
Samuel mcElwee, jr. william s. Lyman
John X. Shoemaker. J.Wilson Rowan.
Albert II. Angsl. Horace II. Lahee,
Augustus @. seaman. William Foley.
John SArell. Charles Smith,
c. O!eolA Alexander. Henry A. Prince.
To whi Ii the President replied as follows:
Gentlemen Of The Commfhecs
The honorary meneership Ia your usoeiHtion
a. generously rendered is gratefully accepted.
You comprehend, as your address shows, that the
existing rebellion means more and tends 10 more
1t is In fact war upon the rights OF ali worIinr
escsFod my attention, and partly that cannot moi
mtsIage TO Congless, In December, 1851:
IT continues to develOpe that the insurrcction
10 largely, II not eXcluAiVely war upon the first
principle OF popular goyernment-the rights Of the
people, Concluave evidence OF this In found In the
most grave and maturely considered public docu-
ments as well az n the general tone OF the inaur-
gents. In those documents we find the abridgment
OF the existing right Of suffrage and the denial TO
the people Of all right 70 participate in the selec
tion OF public officers except the legislative body
boldly advocated with lAborcd arguments TO prove
that large control Of the people in government 10
the source Of all political evil. Monarchy is some
times limited at As possible refuge from the
power OF the people; In my present position
could scarcely be Juetihed were to omit raising
my voice against this approach Of returning des-
potiAm. ..'.
at IL not needed or fitting hero that a general
Argument should be made in favor OF popular insii-
tutionG but there is one point with its conneXIona
not so hAelCneyed as most Others, to which S,E
brief attention. II - the effort to place ca pifdI
on an equal footing with, If not above labor In the
structure Of the Government. It is assumed that
labor Ia available only In eonneNiOn with capital
that nobody labors unless somebody else owninr
capital somehow by the use Pf it, induces him to
" This assumed, 1t Is next considered whether IL
is best that capital shall htr labOren and thus In
duce them to work by their own consent or buU
them and drive them to 1t without their oon.ent'
Having proceeded 80 tai ~ i1 naturally concluded
we call slaves. And further II iS assumed thst
whoever is once hired laborer Ia fixed in that
condition for life. Now there is no such relation
between capital and labor as assumed ner n there
any such thing as free man being Gxed for NE
In the condition OF q hired lAboreF Both theSe
assumptions are false AndAu differences from them
Labor is prior To and independent of cnrit.l.
Capital 10 only the fruit Of labor, and never could
have existed II labor had not frat existed. Labor
il the superior Of capital, and deserves much the
higher consideration. Capital has its rightS v hioh
Nor Is it Gen thst there and any PiyoSsSiT SsSsT right
will be, IelstiOn between labor and capital pro.
due:ng mutual benefitH: The error 10 in assuming
that relation. few men own capital and that
few Ayo labor Themselves, and with thai capitai
IA large jority belong TO neither SiSss.pe,,bs,
work for Others nor have others working for them
In most of tho Southern StAtes majority OF the
ncT masters, while in the Northern States
= large majority are neither hirerG nor hired
Men with their families wives, sons, and
daughters-work for themselves on their farms
| In their houses, AID In their shops, taking the
whole product 70 emselves, and asking no fsvorS
OF capital on the one hand, nor OF hired laborera
or slaves on the other. II Is not forgotten that
considerable number Of perIo mingle their own
labor with cAptAl-thAt is, they labor with their
| nd ihnra 10 lahn
tor them; but this is only mixed and not dis
tinct class. No principle stated is disturbed by
already been said, there 10 not, of necessity Aay
Suoy thing the free hired laborer being xed to
| that eondIto nfsr life.
States, few years back In their lives were hired
lAtOrers. The prudent, penniless beginner in The
with which to buy tools OF lands for himselI then
iAborB on his own account another while, and at
length hires another nav beginner to help him.
This 10 the just and generous and prosperous avs
TEN which opens the way to all-giveS hope TO sIi,
and consequent energy, and progress and Improve,
trusted than those who toifup from povorty.none
leBl inclined to take or touch Aught with which
they have not honestly earned.
''Let them beware Of suFrenderinE n political
| power which they already possess and which II
surrendered VII surely te uGed TO close the door
new disabilities and burdens upon Them ill ali of
| liberty shall be lost"
The views then expressed remain unclaimed,
nor have much to add None are so deeply in.
ereSted to resist the present rebellion as the work.
ing people Let them beware Of pTejudlees work
ing dlHuni0n and hostility among tn ImSelVeI.
| The most notable feature Of disturbance in
| your city last summer was the hanging Of some
working people by other working people, II
should never be so, The strongest bond OF human
| sympathy, outside Of the family relation should
be one-unlting Al-working people, OF ali nations,
tongues and kindreds Nor should this lead 10 4
| war upon property or the owners OF property.
Property is the uit Of lAboF property is
ls positive good in the world. That some should
| be fioh shows that others may become rich, and
hence 10 Just encouragement to Industry and enter
prise. Let not him who 10 houseleSs pull down the
house OF another, but let him labor diligently and
! build one for himBelfi thus by example assuring
bulp