Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-25
Total cost,
The President and Che workingmen

The President and the Workingmen.
On Monday last, a Committee representing
the New York WorkiDgmen's Republican Asso.
citation waited on the President for the purpose
of presenting him with the copy Of an address
which had been adopted by their Association, Of
which the address informed him he had been
elected an honorary member, and requesting
that his name might be entered upon its rolls.
After the members Of the committee had been
introduced, and their chairman had stated the
object OF their visit, Mr. Lincoln replied as fol-
lowg: ,.-
"Genllemen Of the Committee: The honorary
membership in your association so generously
rendered is gratefully accepted. You compre-
hend as your address shows that the existing
rebellion means more and tends to more than the
perpetuation OF African slavery that it is in fact
war upon the rights of all working peop Q -
Partly to show that the view has not escaped my
attention, and partly that cannot better express
myself read passage from the message to
Congress in December, 1861:
ut continues to develop that the nsuFreotion
is largely, II not exclusively, war upon the arst
principle Of popular goyernment-the rights of
the people. Conclusive evidence of this Is found
in the most grave and mRturely considered pub.
Ito documents as well as in the general tone Of
the insurgents. In those documents we ind the
infringement Of the existing right of suffrage and
the denial 10 the people Of all right to participate
in the selection Of public officers, except the
Legislative body, boldly advocated with labored
arguments to prove that large control Of the
people in government is the source Of all politi-
cal evil Monarchy is sometimes hinted at as a
possible refuge from the power Of the people.
In my present position could scarcely be iusti-
fed were to omit raising my voice against this
approach Of returning despotsm.
"lt is not needed or fitting here that general
argument should be made in favor Of popular
institutions, but there is one point with it's con-
nexions not so hackneyed as most Others to
which ask brief attention. II is the effort to
place capital on an equal footing with, If not
above, labor in the structure of the Government,
1t Is assumed that labor is available only in
connexion with capital, that no body labors un-
less somebody else owning capital somehow, by
use OF it, induces him to labor
"This assumed, ii is next considered whether
il is best that capital shall hire laborers and thus
induce them to work by their own consent OF
Guy them and drive them to il without their con.
sent. Having proceeded SO far il is naturally
concluded that all labOrers are either hired la
borers or what we call slaves. And, further, il
is assumed that whoever is once q hired laborer
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 u free
man being fixed for life in the condition of q
hired laborer Both of these assumptions are
false and oil inferenoes from them are ground
less.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital
Capital is only the fruit of labor and never could
have existed if labor had not first existed. La
Dor is the superior of capital, and deserves much
the higher consideration. Capital has its rights
which are as worthy Of protection as any other
rights Nor is it denied that there is, and pro-
badly always will be, relation between labor
and capital producing mutual benefits. The
error is in assuming that the whole labor of a
community exists within that relation. A few
men own capital, and that few avoid labor them
selves, and with that capital hire or buy another
few to labor for them.
"a large minority belong to neither class-
neither work for others nor have others working
for them. In most of the Southern States a
majority Of the whole people, of all colors, are
neither slaves nor masters, while in the Northern
States large majority ure neither hirers nor
hired. Men with their families-wives, sons,
and daughters-work for themselves on their
farms, in their houses, aud in their shops, taking
the whole product to themselves, and asking no
| fayors Of capital on the one hand nor of hired
laborers or slaves on the other 1t is not for
gotten that considerable number Of persons
mingle their own labor with capital--that is,
they labor with their own hands snd also buy or
hire others TO labor for them but this is only a
mixed and not 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 flee
hired labOrer being fixed to that condition for
life Many independent men everywhere in
these States, few years back, in their lives
we're hired laborers. The prudent, penniless
beginner in the world labors for wages awhile,
saves surplus with which to buy tools or lands
for himself, then labors on his own account
awhile, and at length hires another new beginner
to help him. This is the just, and generous, and
prosperous system which opens the way to all
gives hope TO all, aud consequent energy, and
progress, and improvement to all. Nc men
living are more worthy to be trusted than those
who toll up from pOverly-none less inclined to
take or touch aught which they have no
honestly earned Let them beware Of surrender
ing political power which they already possess
and which it surrendered will surely be used tt
close the door of advancement against such OF
they, aud to fix new disabilities and hurdenl
upon them till all Of liberty shall be lost.
"The views then expressed remain unchanged
nor have l much to add None are SO deeply
interested to resist the present rebellion as th'
working people. Let them beware of prejudicei
working disuniOn and hostility among them
selves. The most notable feature of a disturb
ance in your city last summer was the hanging
of some working people by other working peo-
pie. II should never be 80. The strongest bono
OF human sympathy, outside OF the family rela
tion, should be one uniting all working people
of all nations, tongues and kindreds No
should this lead to q war upon property or thu
owners of property. Property is the fruit o
labori property is desirable is a positive goo'
in the world. That some should be rich show
! that others may become rich, and hence is jus
encouragement to industry and enterprise. lie
not him who is house!ess pull down the house o
: another, but lot him absr diligently and bull
: one for himself; thus by example assuring tha
his own shall be safe from violence when built
At the close of the Presidents. speech tn
, chairman of the committee, in u few words, ex
pressed his thanks for the copy of it which ha
9 been handed to him by the President, and ex
pressed wish that he might be reelected. Tn
company then retired.
i The AMERICAN FLAG FIRRD UPON FROM FoR
PREBLE.-The Portland Mel Advertiser of Fri