The Operatives’ Life
(From Factory Girls’ Album, Exeter, N.H., June 20, 1846)

The numerous class of females who are operatives in mills, are required to devote fifteen twenty-fourths of every working day to the laborious task incumbent upon them, being thirteen hours of incessant toil, and two hours devoted to meals &c. Is not this fact a painful one? Is it not degrading to the age in which we live? It indicates that barbarism still exists among us, and it would be well for some people to take moral and humane lessons from savage life even. It is not a matter of marvel, that the Lowell girls should rebel against such treatment and petition the legislature of Massachusetts to establish a ten hour system; neither is it surprising that the federal wise-acres, who constituted that body, considered it in- expedient to legislate upon the subject-they do not legislate for the protection of the poor, but for the protection of the rich; the gold that lies within their grasp benumbs their sensibilities; and prevents the administration of that justice which humanity demands. We begin to doubt the utility or justice of any legislation for the protection of capital; indeed; if barbarism is to be the result of protection, we trust that the enlightened and philanthropic in- habitants of this country will cheerfully dispense with such aid, and, (as experience teaches it,) consider that legislation for the benefit of the few, is inimical to the best interests of the whole.

Think of girls being obliged to labor thirteen hours each working day, for a net compensation of two cents per hour, which is above the average net wages, being $1.56 per week. Two cents per hour for severe labor! Is not such a lesson enough to make an American curse the hour, when in an evil mood our lawmakers first granted a charter to enable the few to wield the wealth and power of hundreds? Is it not necessary to the maintenance of our rights, that some change be speedily effected in those laws by which our corporations are governed? We trust the friends of equal rights; will petition our legislature to make such a revision of these laws, as will cause the more general distribution of those benefits which were designed for all. If such a course is taken, let the tyrants tremble.