Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-28

MECHANICS
From very able and eloquent address, de-
l;vered by Ely Moore, Esq before the Genera
Trades Union, New York, in December last,
we make the following extracts. We commend
them to the attention Of every mechanic. Inc
orators admonitions are wholesome ana en-
couraging.
You will not regard it as i'll timed, nor irrele-
want to the present occasion, my friends, snouio
invite your attention for a moment to-the I'M
nortant bearing which the useful arts have up
on the welfare of society In order to estimate
their Importance correctly, it is necessary 10
contemplate the condition of man as we ma
him in a state ofnature, where the arts are un-
known. and where the lights of civilization have
never dawncd upon his path Whenever man
is thus situated, we find him creature OF bnd
impulse. of passion and of instinct-of groVel-
ling hopes and Of low desires and his wants,
like those of the BRUTE supplied only by the spon-
taneous productions ofNature-hls only cover
ing, scanty supply of hair-his food the acorn
and the loathsome lnsect-the cavern MS owei-
ling, the earth his couch, and the rock his pill
low! The superiority fmans condition, there
fore, over that Of other animals is attributed
solely to the influence Ofthe mechanic arts; with
out their aid the native powers OF his mind, howe
YER great could never have been developed; and
the physical sciences which he has been enabled
to master, in state of civilization, would have
still been numbered among the secrets OF Ma
ture.
Who were the pioneers of the West? Were
they not artifcers? Were not the forests made
to bow beneath the stroke Of the aXe2 The stub
born globe to yield to the hoe and the plough
share2 Was not the harvest gathered with the
reapng hook? the grain converted into -four
by the mill or the mortar2 and the raw material
into fabrics by the wheel and the loom, and
fashioned into garments with the shears and
the needle? The game of the forest, and OF the
prairie, secured with the trap and the rifle? The
habtation, erected by means of the trowel, the
hammer, and the saw? Unquestionably, without
the agency of the arts, the adventurer must have
returned disappointed, or persisted in the enter
prise Place man without knowledge of the arts
and their uses in a country with rigid climate,
stubborn and ungrateful soil, and want, starva-
ton, and death, must be his destiny No coun-
try can be cleared or settled no colony found
ed, without the aid ofthe mechanic arts. First
settlers, therefore, are as much dependent upon
the useful arts for their subsistence comfort, and
welfare as are the plants of the field, for their
life and growth upon the light of the sun, and
the dews of heaven?
= Will you meet me with the excuse, that your
early opportunities in life were lmted2-that
you have no time for mprovement?-that it is
that you must, therefore, be content to live and
die in obscurity?-Such are the common apol-
ogies of the INDECENT the spiritless, and the dis
soute Let no such preteXts, therefore be made
by members of the Trades Union" Would
you have your ambition fired, your hopes ee-
waited, or your resolution strengthened, by glo-
rious example? Then contemplate, for mo-
ment the history of those illustrious men, whose
names stand as Landmarks on the cliffs of
and who, like yourselves, were mechanics and
artists.
Franklin, who astonished and confounded the
schoolmen of Europe, and with impunity dallied
with the hghtnings Of heaven, was once an OBJ
scure journeyman printer His elevation was the
result Of his own efforts. Roger Sherman one
of the most extraordinary men in the eXtraordi-
nary age in which he lived-and William Gift
ford, the author Of the Bavad and Maviad,
were both shoemakers. George Walton, the
distinguished patriot and jurist Of Georgia, &C
CURED his education by torch light, during the
term of his apprenticeship to a carpenter! &c.
neral Knox was northumberland General
Greene, (the second Washington blacksmith
But We are not limited to the past for examples
Our distinguished toWnsman, Frazee, was COM
mon stone mason. AS sculptor, he now stands
unequalled in this country-and a self-taught
artist, unsurpassed by any in the world.
Would you enjoy the fame of those ilustrious
menu Then follow their example and initiate
their virtues. Like them, be digent--be honest
BE irm--be interchangeable Pursue knowledge
with diligence that never tires and with
perseverance that never faters and honor, and
glory, and happiness, will be your reward
You have no longer an excuse why you should
not prosper and flourish both body, and as
individuals You know your rights, and, con-
sequently, feel your strength If modification
and defeat should attend you, blame not your
fellow men--the cause will be found within
yourselves. Neither blame your country--the
fault will not be hers holland of Genius
Land Of Refuge--Land Of the Brave and Free!
thy sons have no cause to reproach thee! All
thy deserving children find favor in thine eyes
support on thy arm, and protection in thy b.
som!