i.e., with one’s means of livelihood. Is this a Jeffersonian coinage?
1820. Some of these leaders, if they could attain the power, their ambition would rather use it to keep the Union together, but others have ever had in view its separation. If they push it to that, they will find the line of separation very different from their 36° of latitude, and as manufacturing and navigating States, they will have quarrelled with their bread and butter, and I fear not that after a little trial they will think better of it, and return to the embraces of their natural and best friends.—Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Pinckney, Sept. 30.
1884. Industries were not so plenty or active in Stroback’s Corners that men could afford lightly to quarrel with their bread and butter.—Saxe Holm, Farmer Worrall’s Case, Harper’s Mag., lxx. p. 92/2. (Dec.) (N.E.D.)
