Year: 1859




THE LABoRING MAN To THE SLAVE OWNER.


When, last winter, Senator Hammond,
of South Carolina, alluded to the white
laborers of the North as white slaves, Mr..
Broderick responded:


"1, sir, am glad that the Senator has
spoken thus; it may have the effect of
arousing in the workingmen that spirit
which has been lying dormant for centu-
ries. 1t may also have the effect of arous-
ing the two hundred thousand men with
pure skins in South Carolina, who are now
degraded and dsspised by the thirty
thousand aristocratic Shareholders. 1t
may teach them to demand what is the
power


Linked with success, assumed and kept with
That moulds anothers weakness to its will;
Wields with their hands, but, still TO them un-


known,


Makes even their mightiest deeds appear its


own."


Il suppose, sir, the Senator from South
Carolina did not intend to be personal in
his remarks to any of his peers upon this
floor. If had thought SO / would have
noticed them at the time. ! am, sir, with
one exception, the youngest in years of
the Senators upon this floor. 1t is not
long since I served an apprenticeship of
five years at one of the most laborious
mechanical trades pursued by mana
trade that, from its nature, devotes its fol-
lowers to thought, but debars him from
conversation. would not have alluded
to this if it were not for the remarks of
the Senator from South Carolina; and the
thousands who know that | am the son of
an artisan, and myself a mechanic, they
would feel disappointed in me if did
notreply to him. l am not proud of this.
l am sorry it is true. I would that l
could have enjoyed the pleasures of life
in my boyhood days; but they were de-
MED to me. l say this with pain. l
have not the admiration for the men of
the class from whence sprang that might
be expected; they submit too tamely to
oppression, and are prone to neglect their
rights and duties as citizens. But, sir,
the class of society to whose toll / was
born, under our form of government, will
control the destinies of this nation. If
were inclined to forget my connections
with them, or to deny that / sprang from
them, this chamber would not be the place
in which 1 could do either. While l
hold a seat here 1 have to look at the
beautiful capitals adorning the pilasters
that support this roof to be reminded of
my fathers talent, and to see his handi-
work.


~ left the scenes of my youth and man.
hood for the Far West because l was
tired of the struggles and jealousies of
men of my class, who could not under
stand why one of their fellows should
seek to elevate his condition above the
common level. l made my new abode
among strangers, where labor is honored.
1 had left without regret; there remained
no tie of blood to bind me to any being
in existence. If fell in the struggle for
reputation and fortune, there was no rela-
tive on earth to mourn my fall. The
people of California elevated me to the
highest office within their gift. My eiec-
ton was not the result of an accident
For years 1 had to struggle, often seeing
the gaol of ambition within my reach; it
was again and again taken from me BY
the aid of men Of my own class. I had
not only them to contend with, but al
most the entire partisan press of my State
was subsidized by government money
and patronage to oppose my election. 1
sincerely hope, sir, the time will come
when such speeches as that from the Sem
ator from South Carolina will be consid-
cred lesson to the laborers of the
nation.s