Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-30
hen Butler on Agricultural Interests.

General Butler is not only lawyer and |
politician; he is also a ri,h man. and a
large share Of his wealth is invested in man |
ufaotures. lie is also a very able man |
some think he is not very honest man. If
they are right, then he may be supposed oc'
casionally to use arguments as lawyers and
politicians are wont to do, 10 make the worse
appear the better reason. 1t may be that in
his speech before Massachusetts agricul-
tural society, to which we referred last week,
he has been guilty Of this kind of uncandid
reasoning, even though his pecuniary inter
ests were on the other side. lie may have
been unfair TO his pecnniary interests in be-
half Of his political purposes, which are, as
some think, to cajole votes from the working
classes.
While this is possible, we cannot see any
harm in listening 10 what he says, and
weighing his statements for what they are
worth on a subject in which We are all
deeply concerned and on which he is at least
well informed.
The General introduces his address 10y
reference TO the fact that while by means Of
modern inventions the mechanic and opera
tive is able TO produce many times more than
formerly, he shares but slightly in the adj
vantage most of this increase, or its value,
going 10 the employers Of labor, or the cap
talists. Hence we may infer says the
speaker, "with logical accuracy that there
is not yet fair division of the profits Of
mechanical aud manufacturing labor between
the capitalists and the workmen." But"
he says, "the laboring man in this country
has become fully aware of his situation, and
will not long suffer what he deems an in
Justice, however il may be guarded by legal
enactment. In this country he is the law
making power himself" Thus far of me-
chanical labor and laborers Their demands
will be heard, the General thinks, because of
their intelligence and their votes aud they
will get reduced hours Oh labor, or increased
wages, or both. This, it must be remem-
bered, was said six years ago. It would
seem that, so far, something has prevented
the realization of the prediction, and capitals
grip upon the workng-man has, up to this
time, frightened rather than relaxed.
But to go on to the relations of capital
and labor as concerned with agriculture.
The speaker refers TO the fact that, as yet no
skill Of invention has been able greatly TO
increase the products of the earth, and con
Ia Of al OF
been tempted into farming and there is lit
tie contest between the farmer and his hired
help, since the prices paid for labor in other
kinds Of business, must regulate the prices
on the farm. The contest between capital
and labor is therefore not found to exist be-
tween the farm owners and his employees.
Does not, then, capitaloppress the agricul
tural interest The General says eyes,
but in very different form. 1t is here not
the capitalist defrauding the mere laboring
man of his Just hire--it is the great bank.
ing, railway and manufacturing capitalists
so dealing with the law-making power as to
reduce the profits of the farmer-who is both
small capitalist and laborer--to degree
that makes his situation really worse thar
that of the mechanical operative. How i,
this effected
Referring to the fact that the preceding
session Of the Massachusetts, legislature had
passed four hundred and sixty-six acts and
one hundred and three resolves-only tire,
Of which related in any way to the agricul
n la at "a ant 4.
analyze this vast amount of legislation
showing that forty-sx acts were for the ben
eft of banks and insurance companies; Mint
for manufacturing corporations; and on,
hundred sixty-two relating to railroads
Of which appropriated five million dollars o
state bonds To a single railroad. lie added
- do not mean TO be understood that tn
legislature OF 1860 was worse or better THAI
former legislatures. | am commenting OF
the system of legislation which fosters ever
other interest at the expense of the agricul
tural interest and at the expense of labor il
every department of industry, il in no othe
way, because taxes at last come with tn
heaviest burden upon land, and the product
and stock of the farm, for they cannot b
concealed. Capital may be locked up il
insurance companies, covered up unde
mortgages, hidden in bonds, absorbed in
thousand ways of SURPRISES, and bonuse
and extra dividends which do never reacl
the assessors eye, and In manners which
may salve the conscience of its owners bu
the farm the OK, the horse the cow the pig
and the sheep, are always open 10 the tax
gatherer.
agriculture asks for no special legisa
Il OF LaaaEfaI L.s. Ia. 4 -,
whatever, except such as shall preserve Tia
morals Of the people aud the rights of proT
erty and person. Indeed, the best Legislation
10 aid the tilling Of the earth is that whicl
lets 1t most severely alone. But what ough
10 be complained of is the fostering OF ever
interest by special laws, giving TO them ever
power that law can give 10 association an,
combnation-all interests save one
" Nine-tenths Of our legislation" says tn
speaker, " is for private objects, aud TO Civ
private advantages TO somebody over some
body else" Referring TO the various rail
road enterprises aided by legislation aud iii
rect grants Of immense sums of money
raised by taxation--the lIoosao tunnel will
its fifteen million dollars Of expenditure, L
bring produce mork cheaely from the Yves
to feed manufacturing population, not TO
its own advantage, but TO lesson wages 70
the benefit of the mill-owners, and in di
rect competition with home agriculture
points 10 the case of Vanderbilt and hi
eighty millions, of whom he says
=" Now we do not object 10 the enterprise
the industry and energy which can accnmu
late so much but what we do object TO is
that the laws regulating what has become
prime necessity of life-the transportation
of food and merchandise and the person.
the common highways of the people, by lauC
and by sea, eau be so manipulated tina
any man in single lifetime, by an,
means, can accumulate such fortune. III,
cannot have made so great mass o.
wealth without taking from others wha
should have been by them enjoyed. In othel
words, he has got more, much more thar
his share, giving credit for all the abil
ity he possesses. lie may not be blameabl,
in having acquired so much but what shall
we say of the laws which IN country o.
equal rights, and therefore OF what Shout,
he equal laws, will make it possible for on,
man so TO oyertop all others In wealth, which
must be produced by labor from the eartl
at last 7
when our fathers abolished primogeni
turs and entail 10y constitutional enactment
they proposed that the law should requir
such frequent distributions Of property
through the death Of the holder that no MAJ
could get inordinately rich. They saw il