230 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



and will never be induced to relinquish it. And as they 

 control a large proportion of the property and money 

 of the community, and the farmers and mechanics are 

 dependant on them for patronage and employment, they 

 claim the right of superiority and exclusiveness. 



"But, suppose now, Ma, that all the farmers and all 

 the mechanics should combine and agree that they would 

 not work for, nor sell anything to the fashionable class, 

 how long do you think they would maintain their supe- 

 riority? or what course would they take? 



"The presumption is, at least, that such a thing will 

 never occur, because the working classes are too fond 

 of the money which they are continually receiving from 

 the rich, to willingly offend them; but if such a thing 

 should take place, I suppose the rich and fashionable 

 would also combine, and by their superior influence in 

 the government, they would immediately procure a law 

 to be passed, by means of which they would take the 

 produce of the farmer by force, and would compel the 

 mechanics to work, or punish them by imprisonment, or 

 otherwise, for their obstinacy. 



"But as the farmers and mechanics constitute a very 

 large majority of the population of the State, why could 

 they not elect such men to represent them in their legis- 

 lation, as would favor their cause, and prevent the pas- 

 sage of any such laws? 



"The difficulty in doing this, would be as at present, a 

 want of unity and concert. The rich understand this, 

 and by the influence of their money, and concert in their 

 actions, they always contrive to procure the election of 

 men of the first class, so that all, or nearly all, of the 

 laws that are enacted, are calculated to strengthen their 

 systems of influence, and keep the working classes con- 

 tinually in a state of partial subjection. Poor people, 

 and those in moderate circumstances, are prone to court 

 the favors of the rich, and instead of helping to build 

 each other up, are found pressing each other down, and 

 will frequently favor the cause of the rich against that 



