Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-11
CON GREs Al.
In Senate, March 7, Mr. WEBSTER rose,

Law before the Senate the proceedings vi
meeting of the Building Mechanics OF the City
and County of Philadelphia, convened for the
purpose ofexpressing their opinions on the pre-
sent state of the country, on the 24th of Feb
ruary This meeting consisted of three thouS-
and persons, and was composed of carpenters,
masons, brickmakers, bricklayers, painters and
glaciers lime burners, plasterers, lumber mer-
chants, and Others whose occupations are con-
nected with the building of houses. am proud,
sir. that so respectable, SO important and SO
substantial class of mechanics, have entrusted
me with the preSentment of their opinions and
feelings, respecting the present distress OF the
country, to the Senate | am happy II they
have SEEM in the course pursued by me here,
policy favorable to the protection of their inte-
rests, and the prosperity of their families These
intelligent and sensible men, these highly use
full citizens, have witnessed the effect OF the late
measures OF Government upon their own con-
Germs; and the resolutions which have now 10
eresent fully express their convictions on the
subject. They propose not TO reason, Out 10
testify; they speak what they do know
MIR President, the members of this meeting
have not transmitted their proceedings by mail,
nor have they rested satisfied with merely cauS-
Ing them, in any way, to reach the two Houses
of Congress, and TO be read end disposed OF In
the ordinary manner. They have forwarded
them by committee of thirty persons OF their
own body and those thirty persons are now
within the walls of the Senate. | wish, sir, that
honorable Senators would converse with these
gentlemen wish they would use the opportu-
nifty of satisfying themselves OF their lntelll-
renee their fairness, their freedom from the
influence of all oblique or improper motives,
and the UNREASONABLE truth of the existence OF
that distress, which they come here to represent
Such communication would convince honor
able members, that there is no pretence, no he
ton, no exaggeration, in the whole matter; but
that all their words are words of truth and So
berneSS.
Mr. President, Congress has now been
good while in session. When we left our re-
spective homes, the pressure had not come on,
and we left our friends and neghborS prosper
Gus and happy. We have been here three
months without intercourse with our cOnstltu-
ents and our neighbors; in the mean time, the
whole condition of things is changed feaTtully
changed and verify believe, we DO not fully
know or feel the full extent of this change, and
all the difficulty and distress which now pervade
the people. If we were at home, II we were
each in our respective circles, amidst the men
of business, and mingiing with all classes, and
if we were hearing, as in that case we should
hear, every hour of more and more trouble, OF
new individual disasters, and of still increasing
fear and alarm; and if we could witness, as we
then should witness, the dependency OF those
heads of families whose occupations and means
of living have been thus suddenly cut OF, we
should be convinced that it is the imperative
duty of Congress to relieve the country without
a moments delay. Sir If half the time and
study, which are now devoted to the finding out
of plausible arguments to justify the Secretary,
were given to an honest and thorough inquiry
into the real state of the country, fully believe
all would see the absolute necessity OF lmme-
date redress. Sir, while sit here, in long
debates, the country is plunging deeper and
deeper in distress. We must not turn away
from this. Sir, let us keep our eyes earnestly
on the country; for, be assured, the eyes OF the
country are kept earnestly on US. And let us,
sir, take this occasion to look into facts, and
examine particulars. Letus see whether there
be any thing, and, if so, what it is, of which
these our fellow-citiZens, complain. Do they
only Join in a general cry raised by others! Do
they deal in unmeanng generalities, and setup
an underlined and invisible cause OF distress?
Sir listen to the statements; hear the facts
The Committee state, sir, that eight thousand
persons are ordinarily employed in building
houses, in the City and County of Philadelphia;
number which, with their families, would
make quite considerable town. They further
state, that the average number of houses, which
this body of mechanics has built for the last
five years, is tlreLre hundred houses year.
The average cost of these houses IS computed
at tl1o thousand dollars each. Here is buSl-
siness then, sir, of t,ro millions four hundred
thousand dollars year. Such has been the
average of the last five years. And what IS 1T
now? Sir, the Committee state that the bus-
ness has fallen off seUentyfre per cent. at least:
that is to say, that, at most only one quarter
part of their usual employment now remains
This is the season of the year in which build
ing contracts are made. It's now known what
is to be the business of the year. Many of
these persons, who have heretofore had, every
wear. contracts for several houses on hand
have this year no contract at ALL They have
been obi ged TO dismiss their hands, to turn them
over to any scraps of employment they could
Iaau N idlpnpSS 0f
any employment. But, sir, let us look into the
particulars of this case still little further. 1t
is well for us to dwell on them. As we have
facts before us useful for us to know, let US not
hasten away from them.
Sir, how has this building business been usn-
ally carried on? Has it been by employing theSe
mechanics as mere day laborers? No, SIR; that,
probably, would be generally the case IN othef
countries; but in this, hitherto, and especially OF
late years, something better has been done by
the building mechanics. Many of our young
beginners, say the Committee buy lot, partly
for cash, and perhaps mostly on credit. Ihey
go to work. and build a house upon it; those
who furnish bricks and lumber having lien Tor