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as a freeman being fatally fixed for life, in the condition of a 

 hired laborer, that both these assumptions are false, and all infer- 

 ences from them groundless. They hold that labor is prior to, and 

 independent of, capital; that, in fact, capital is the fruit of labor, 

 and could never have existed if labor had not first existed — -that 

 labor can exist without capital, but that capital could never have 

 existed without labor. Hence they hold that labor is the superior — 

 greatly the superior of capital. 



They do not deny that there is, and probably always will be, a 

 relation between labor and capital. The error, as they hold, is in 

 assuming that the w hole labor of the world exists within that rela- 

 tion. A few men own capital; and that few avoid labor themselves, 

 and with their capital, hire or buy another few to labor for them. 

 A large majority belong to neither class — neither work for others, 

 nor have others working for them. — Even in all our slave States, except 

 South Carolina, a majority of the whole people of all colors, are 

 neither slaves nor masters. In these free States, a large majority 

 are neither hirers nor hired. Men, with their families — wives, sons, 

 and daughters — work for themselves, on their farms, in their houses 

 and in their shops, taking the whole product to themselves, and asking 

 no favors of capital on the one hand, nor of hirelings or slaves on 

 the other. It is not forgotten that a considerable number of persons 

 mingle their own labor with capital; that is, labor with their own 

 hands, and also buy slaves or hire freemen to labor for them; but this 

 is only a mixed, and not a distinct class. No principle stated is 

 disturbed by the existence of this mixed class. Again, as has already 

 been said, the opponents of the "m'jd- sill " theory insist that there 

 is not, of necessity, any such thing as the free hired laborer being 

 fixed to that condition for life. There is demonstration for saying 

 this. Many independent men, in this assembly, doubtless a few years 

 ago were hired laborers. And their case is almost if not quite the 

 general rule. 



The prudent, penniless beginner in the world, labors for wages 

 awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land, for himself; 

 then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires 

 another new beginner to help him. This say its advocates, is fre e 

 labor — the just and generous, and prosperous system, which opens the 

 way for all — gives hope to all, and energy, and progress, and im- 

 provement of condition to all. If any continue through life in the con- 

 dition of the hired laborer, it is not the fault of the system, but because 

 of either a dependent nature which prefers it, or improvidence, folly, 

 or singular misfortune. I have said this much about the elements of 

 labor generally; as introductory to the consideration of a new phase 

 which that element is in process of assuming. The old general rule 

 was that educated people did not perform manual labor. They managed 



