Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-08-12
on TIE MECHANIC VOCATION.
Ina debate in the Massachusetts Legisla-

In a debate in the Massachusetts Legisia-
ture, on an amendment to the Constitute n,
proposing to reduce the number of members
Of theHouse Of Representatives., a Mr.. Hobart,
of Leice.tes, undertook to ridieuie the popu-
laton of Boston, calling them ''a set OF TrIn-
GERS, bookbinders, BARRIERS, COOLERS, tailors,
and tinkers, moving here and there. without
aay permanent places If abode. "-Air bay
fies, of Taunton, replied il the following hap
ny mauner
have had some experience in legislation
having held seat IN different legislative bo
dies for ten years have listened 10 many
legislative debates. aud have heard many
extraordinary speeches, but ] confess the
mest extraordinary was the one which was
made by this gentleman from Leicester, yes
terday is that gentleman aware Of the char
acter of his proposition? In adjusting the
terms of an amendment 10 the constitution,
he advocates the establishment OF principle.
which would tolerate n real bona tide aristo-
eracY. lie has gravciY urged npon this As
sembly the pr0pyjety OF gixing to ore class Of
orr citizens greater civil privileges than arc
allowed 10 the oiher classes. II bis PROPOSE
tion prevails, one class plust be favored at
the expense of the other, and those thus Ia
gored become virtually an aristocracy; for il
is not tides that constitute All afistocracy, but
privileges He would deny an equality Of
/ rights aud privileges to The printers, book
/ binders, clockmakcrs, blacksmiths, COOLERS,
tailors, BARRIERS, and tinkeTs: or III other
words, the mechanics of our State, on whom
he has lagished his sacers, and whom he en-
deayors 10 cover with contempt. He speaks
Of them As ''hrds Of passage" "moying plan
cts,'' ms devoid both cf patriotism aud OF To-
cal attachments; us NEE without home, who
hang on society as iueumbEances; and he bias
pioced them IN Illuminating contrast with the
e,,itivatora Of The soil, TO which class he com
plaoeBtiv tells lis HE belongs.
Sir there are none who cherish q more
sincere respect for The " oinanry. the faraers
el Massachusetts,. than myself know their
worth; know their y,Ftacs. would give
them their full share OF civil and political
privileges. bet woaid give Them no Bsofe;
aud i'll understand their feelings, they would
ask no Haere am certain that they would
peger contend for more than equality Of Fri,
viIegcs; andyl htliesc thcs3 60 be liic last who
woalG Gstiertake to wrest from taeir neigh
bors one title OF their right.
The gentleman from Leicester has called
up bis revolutionary rc.niai seences, and has
told Us Of his personal knowledge OF the pa
trots and heroes who composed tse glorious
baad Of revolutionary ehels, the men who
were engaged IN the noblest enterprise of mo-
ders times. Bat, sir, / can tell that gentle
man, that 1T !snot amongst the green hills
of tue county Of w oreestcr, that he can look
for those daring spirits, who gave the first
impulse which resulted in that mighty event
In two little rooms in fiiis, were assembled
the men who devised the project Of emanci-
pating ration the pioneers Of the American
revelation were the Mechanics Of Boston. In
their meetings they dcliberateaon the highest
object Oi human Coaeernment-a pation's
rights; and having aseeriained the strength
Of the foundation, they had no dread Of the
issue, and courted aSa conflict 1 can trans
port the geHtle,nae 10 another piaoe--the
Carpenters Hall in the city Of Philadelphia
ia that place. on day memorablein our an
Dals The 9TH day OF July, i776, deed was
done which has MS parallel On that day, in
That place, was assembled The most august
political hGdY that ever delrac rated on a ma
toms destiny. Five 'nen had been selected
as the d.ae of that assembly. the greatest a
fnofgst the great, TO prepare the manifesto
oi nations lights Of a n9tions WRONGS
AuiuHSsA th"iH was man ~ tne name OF
benjamin Franklin, (the gentleman from
Leicester, in bis teAltifarioss reading. NAV
have read Of him;l a man mighty amonst the
sons Of tBen ,who, by colpnen sen4cnt. stood
at the head of the philosophers OF America
and OF Eerope, whose deep Investigations
IN the secrets of nature, had gwen him the
knowledge Of her subtlest, most Tremendous,
&nost destructive agent. which lie hsarmed
of his power Yes, Sir. ha played with the
1orked .ghtnlngs as with a tanled snake; and
get, the clements of that marvellous wisdom
which enlightened and astenished the world,
were gathered in Printers 0fssce. aud this
great rnan was Printer.
There was another not The in ferior Ct
Franklin in sagacity, his superior in sound
practical knowledge fpolitics: a man whose
opinions were the essence. Of strong common
sense, the results Of the united action Of
clear head and an honest heart The rams
OF this was Roger Sherman, tthe gentleman
from Leicester has heard of him.) This
Roger Sherman wrought at the trade of a
shoemaker many years after he had reached
the age of maturity.
There was yet another not mechanic
himself, but the son of mechanic, and bred
IN the family Of mechanic. will now take |
the gentleman from the room where the States
nlen OF America assembled, TO that in which |
the Philosophers of America assembled-in |
The chair of the last, he once would have
seen David eittenhouse, a matchmaker, enc |
OF the greatest astronomers and mathemati-