Franklin Repository

He who earnestly encourages every effort made by the philanthropic, to promote the welfare of industry; who loses no opportunity for making himself useful to the productive enterprises of his country; who does everything in his power to ensure constant employment to all who earn their daily bread by their daily labor, at fair, remunerating prices, may justly be denominated the true friend of working men.

Under circumstances altogether different to those in which we find ourselves placed, perhaps, there might be no great necessity for giving protection to labor; but in the midst, as we now are, of a warfare between wealth and muscles, it behooves us to guard well the latter, knowing that the former can take care of itself. Money never has suffered, and never will, on account of inability to procure an equivalent for its use; whilst labor has been (even within the last twenty months) almost entirely destroyed in consequence of being unable to obtain employment, even at indifferent wages.

The financial crises, of the fall of 1857, which paralyzed our manufacturing establishments throughout the land; spreading universal consternation; depressing every branch of business, prostrated the working men and their families completely. Our business men, and our labor engendering establishments had no protection behind which to screen them from the force and violence of the storm, of this destroying pecuniary simoon, as it rushed on in its havoc-dealing course, carrying dessolation into every department of industry and enterprise, dislodging hundreds of persevering men from their positions at the head of many of our manufacturing houses, and thousands from their occupations at the loom, the anvil, the forge, the furnace and the mines.

Pennsylvania, with her immense mineral resources, has a deep interest in fostering labor. The general Government could aid in developing the hidden treasures of the Keystone of the Federal Arch, to the great benefit of all the other members of the great confederacy, by simply providing for enforcing the first law of nature- self preservation. But as long as she is so miserably misrepresented in Congress, as she has often been, by men who, to gain their positions - to secure their election - most loudly proclaimed themselves to be the peculiar friends of the protective policy; and as long as the chief office of the nation is filled by a native of her soil who basely deserts the principles he advocated when anxious to procure votes, and after being inducted into the highest post of honor in the world, ungratefully turns his back upon the State that gave him birth, she will not be able to rise from her present recumbent position.

Other measures than those which the present imbecile national administration suggests, i.e., borrowing money to carry on the Government, and borrowing more to pay the interest on the sum borrowed, must be devised and put into operation, before permanent relief can be given to the prostrate energies of our beloved country. Assisting the country to arise from the present prostrate position, will help Pennsylvania to shake from off her shoulders the load which bears her down; and this can only be done by giving encouragement to her hardy sons of toil - her sun-browned, honest, industrious working men- when they are properly provided for, the old Ship of State will ride triumphantly oer the billows of commercial revulsions and manufacturing competition, and arrive safely in the harbor of prosperity. When Pennsylvania is flourishing, the whole country is prosperous. The most certain method, therefore, of advancing the business prospects of every section of our country, would be by giving ample protection to every industrial enterprise which affords large employment for working men; for only when those who are willing to work are kept busy can we claim to be in a prosperous condition as a people. He is, therefore, a real patriot who is the true friend of working men.

The whole country looks forward with great anxiety to the doings of the next Congress. Will the expectations of the people be fully realized? Will the measure of relief, which is so badly needed, be provided by the people's Representatives? No fears are entertained about a majority of Congress being willing to revise the present inadequate revenue laws; but will their action be approved by the Pennsylvanian (?) who presides over the destinies of the Republic? is the question which keeps the public mind in a state of feverish anxiety. If he were a true friend of working men, he would disregard the approaches of labor-owning capitalists and, he would use all the power of his official position to procure the passage of such laws as would tend to elevate, from their present helpless, dependent position, that noble, worthy portion of our American citizens.

After the series of brilliant victories won by the Republicans in the March and April elections, the Washington States (a Democratic paper,) made a clean breast of the real cause of the crushing defeats its party had sustained. Here is what it said:

In this critical contingency they (the Northern Democrats) are appalled by a demand for still farther and still more embarrassing concession. It is not enough that they should sanction slavery in its most objectional aspect, by aiding in the recapture of the fugitive negro- it is not enough that they should admit slavery into the Territories under cover of the Constitution- it is not enough that they should consent to reverse the traditional policy of the government and to accept the illimitable extension of the Southern institutions- it is not enough that they should fetter the arm of Congress, hitherto so active and efficient in the restrictions of Slavery, and evoke the dormant energies of the judiciary for its protection in the Federal domain- all these things, and more besides, the Northern Democracy have yield; but their Southern associates are not yet content. They must agree to employ the power of the Government for the propagation of Slavery. It is a condition they cannot accept. It is an exaction for which they were not prepared after the solemn recognition of non-intervention among the fundamental principles of the party.

What wonder is the Northern Democracy now surrender in despair? Who is surprised when they say, it is no use for us to struggle against such overwhelming odds-on one side the frantic fanaticism of our own section; on the other, the ever-increasing exactions of our Southern allies. Why attempt to bear up under this accumulation of embarrassment?--Over and over again have we encountered defeat in support of the South, but the sacrifice is not yet sufficient. Why make further effort, when, at best, it will be unavailing against our foes, and unsatisfactory to our friends? Without pausing to discuss the propriety of the conviction and feelings involved in this complaint, we have no hesitation in affirming that the prevalence among, the Northern Democracy explains the result of the recent elections. May the party profit by the lesson.

We ask the Northern Democrats to look at the "appalling list of surrenders of principle" they have made to retain party fellowship with slaveholders; and put this question to them: "How much Jeffersonian Democracy have they left among them?"