Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1837-05-02
WEg@ZIIANIa
NJ &c II A n les.


4. sri.eet Gom Profe"or Potters adsn dsiivtred be-
fore the Poaghktspsie Mschanos Aaociation at he o.
pen'ng Of heiy f'Tai course Of Ltstges.
10 view Of these facts, ! must profess my amuze-
meat al The apathy which SO generally prevails re.
speeding the Intellectual aud moral welfare of Me-
ohanies--and my still greater amazement at the
contempt tworhy only OF dark age) with which
CONS disposed TO look down on this most use
fni. and 10 cities most aud powerful class
who can observe the workings OF the social system
or peruse tho records Of the past without feeling
tina, THERE is commanding innuencei What class
during the las, seven centuries. occupies a more
prominent, plscc in the history of the civilization
and Of constitutional liberty, Where amidst the
dense darkness o. the middle ages, first arose
taste Tor the comforts and rcfnemcnls Of life p
Who first taugi, tho feudal lord to encourage in
dastry instead of idcness TO substitute the improve
meat of his estate, and the establishment OF his
castle, and tie cultivation of personal refinement ia
place of a course and prodgal hospitality, Who
7 first supplied commodities for modern commerce
,hos opening friendly intercourse between distant
dissinsr, md hitherto hostile nations, and making
tho Improvements of the one. the common proper
~ ofslll And above all. who first rckndled the
long ex,ingulshed spirit Of civil liberty; or rather
let the say who for the first time lii up tina; glo-
rious spirit, which alone deserves the name Of civil
tees for individual rights. aud taught that the state
instead of being what ancient republics considered
ii-a slupenduous idol. TO whose honor and aggran-
dizemen, the freedom and happiness Of individuals
were TO be profusely sacrificed was but mn agent
or servant appointed for tho benefit of Sll and re-
sponsibe alike To ell for it's faithful stewardship .
To these questions history returns one and the
same answer. I, was from the free cities Of Ed
rope. fpunded sustained, and enriched by meclan.
.cs and tradesDen that these blessings took their
Tise. II was these mechanics and ,radesmen who
first conceived taste for the arts oni comforts Of
peace. who communicated this taste to the higher
elsssct and supplied commerce with MS rich freighs
81 wealth and utility. II they who taught the
issson no, yet fully learned in Europe Of system
site aud successful resistance 10 arbitrary power.
En,erpnsing and Intelligent knowing what was
due 10 their industry sud skill and feeling Tia, roy.
silly ,seli looked for protection sgsinsi the inso-
ssBce OF hsnghty and restless bsrons 10 their Prov
ess and wealth, they claimed TO DC represented in
he councils Of The state. Thus arose the Tiers
Eat, or third estate OF the realm which has Tor so
many sges held the balance of power 10 Europe be-
tween the monsrch and the nobles-snd which,as
The common. niddling class, has been infusing
more and more u freedom into the oons,iiuion uf
every civilized people.
la TINS land, shove al othen, /, becomes Us to
mske grateful and respectful mention Of The ser
vices whieh mechanics have rendered to the cause
81 l'eeHy. This outcrprise, be II remembered vas
suorg The causes which first excited the jealousy
81 The mother eouniTy towards her American colo.
NEE. u ~as BY her oppressive ana unnatural e.
ieris 10 s'rihsie that enterprise, that she eonlrbu
ted 10 weaken the ties Of affection which hound
them 10 her. ssd awake 90 these shores cry Of IN
dependence. 10 The fearless reuonarauees Which
sere laid 81 The feet Of fcysliy-in the negocis-
u"ns which Nefe oPened-iR The measures Of re-
ists'iou which WE concealed aud pct into erecu-
,'o0--ih the Efn and enlightened pulrs which cav
distinctly ns object and moved nghi ON 10 IT'S al
islnsnen' who more aotive aud influential than
the msehsnles And Shsn At length che die wss
essi. shd ;hs td'pss from Le1ington shd Bankers
iiil sere proclaimed that lhefe xss no hope bat
sn sfa's and The Ged Of battles, who siood forth
eoasPesOOs IN tho Geld IN lhs sssisel. and si for