No. 15L] 281 



royal family, of the dignified clergy, and of the lord chancellor, and 

 other high officers of the British government, which, most probably, 

 will never be done until effected by a revolution. 



If Sir Robert Peel's free trade system vrould have the effect of se- 

 curing to British manufacturing laborers the rate of wages paid to 

 those of the United States, it would indeed be a blessing to the poor 

 of both countries. But the reverse of this will be the case. The 

 tendency of the system will be to introduce the low rate of British 

 wages into the United States. And if Great Britain is to gain the 

 market of the world for the sale of her manufactures, as it is evi- 

 dently the aim of Sir Robert Peel, these rates must still be reduced 

 to a lower point, and British laborers are to suffer, if possible, great- 

 er distress than they have yet known. Although they may, under 

 the repeal of the corn-laws, obtain their food at reduced prices, yet 

 if their wages should be reduced in a still greater degree, as will 

 probably be the case, their condition will be more wretched than ever; 

 and they will find that what is taken from the profits of the rich 

 land-holder, is not to be applied to their benefit, but is to add to the 

 means of the rich capitalists engaged in manufactures, that they 

 may send the products of pauper labor over the commercial world. 



The hopeless condition of the laboring classes of Great Britain, 

 should admonish us to avoid, as a pestilence, whatever causes the 

 enormous wealth of the few, and the abject poverty of the many — 

 the high wages of the lord chancellor, and the low wages of the 

 weaver — and especially whatever causes the immeasurable difference 

 in the conditions of men, whom a just and merciful God has created 

 equal. 



Our ancestors, the pilgrims, who, driven by religious persecution 

 from the mother country, first visited these shores, were all laborers. 

 The artificial distinctions in society, now prevailing, were unknown 

 to them; and although circumstances are much changed since that 

 time, our laboring classes maintain ^n elevated condition, unknown 

 to those of Europe. And that they should continue to do so, must 

 be the wish of every American patriot. 



The laboring classes of the free States of this Union, may be esti- 

 mated at eight millions of people, — the bone and sinew of the re- 

 public, — upon whose strong arm the country depends for its prospe- 

 rity in time of peace, and for its defence in time of war. 



