Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-19
EDUCATION, COTTON. FACTORIES, &c.


We assure our friend Of the Warren Star,
that he is altogether in error, in saying that
we have accused him Of writing speech for
the Hon. Mr. Daggett Of the Seekonk delega-
tion. 10 "the Bay State General Court we
have done no such thing, and if he will but
look at our remarks again, he will find that he
is in error, and that we ascribed the speech of
Mr. Daggett to no particular person. and went
no further, than to intimate that it was not
the real production Of the old gentleman, who
gave it To the world, as the native fruit Of his
own mind and fancy. We did not insnuate,
that Mr.. Fowler was the author. and we as
sure him, that zoe are not capable, Of suppos-
ing him capable Of producing so wretched a
production, II does not belong to his fine
fancy, to produce such lump Of mental Ste
rility.
The gentleman of the Star, has also done
us manifest injustice by saying that, we "would
drive every bolt of canvas from the ocean,
and leave our sea ports to decay" We would
do no such thing, and we protest against the
accusation whc, is thus unceremonously
made. We are no, slaves to any party :-we
are not advocates : r the granting of exclusive
privilege to any articular interest or pro-
fession, and whilst we honestly and fearlessly
advocate the rights and interests of the Farm
er we would see the Mechanic and the Mer-
chant prosper ;-and though we profess to be
friends of the Manufacturer, and the untiring
advocates of his best interest, we are far
from being hostile to the man Of Commerce,
whose ships spread their canvas to every breeze, q,
and sail upon the bosom Of every ocean.
When did We by word or deed, or gesture or
look, indicate the least hostility TO the man of
commerce, and when did we merit the mpu.
tation, which has been cast at us by our friend
of the Star? We have no fault TO find with
the gentleman Of the Star, so long as his re =
marks are confined TO the subject matter in
dispute; but when he wanders from the main
question to charge us with assumptions which
are not consistent with IA cts,we must complain,
that he has done us palpabo injustice. All
that we have contended for, is. that the chill
drcn who nhabit our Cotton Factories, arc
not less informed than others who possess the
same advantages, and that the lad, who
serves regular apprenticeship TO the manu-
featuring business, has as good an opportunl-
ty Of acquiring nn education, as the apprentice
TO the carpenter or black smith. These positions
we have maintained, and we shall not retract
them.
In reply to the appeal, which the gentle
man Of the Star, has made 10 our pride and
feelings, we have simply to say, that if we
had children, old enough TO enter on the du-
tics Of life, we certainly should not place
them in a cotton factory 10 acquire an oduca-
ton. as we indulge fond hope, that we shall
be enabled to maintain them, as we have been
maintained, during tho period of homage;
and we shall certainly struggle, TO keep them
from tue more tedious labois OF life. and TO in
troduce them TO the world, TO receive its res
pect and its honors But misfortuncs may
strike us the heavy hand Of affection may fall
upon US and deprive us,of,bc power Ofdisposing