Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-06-12
MECHANICS MEETING.

eElSAif bNAtN w
Can't, Searles moved that a committee
of three be appointed to draft a constitu'
ton for the Mechanics Society OF Bator
Rouge. Adopted.
Mr.. Dufrocq, Capt. sear!es and A. Nj
Reeder were appointed said committee.
It YVES further resolve th,t said meet.
ing re.assembIc on Saturday evening, 18th
inst, at the same place, and that all The
mechanics of the Town, and all others in.
terested in the subject be invited to attend
On motion the meeting adjourned &c
Saturday evening, 18th inst.
The proceedings We report above seem
pregnant with sufficient importance to
merit, peairaps, 4 more lengthy notice than
we can at preventative. Mechanics societies
when well and wisely governed, have long
proved themselves among the most useful OF
socia, institutions. In countries VIII Sc
civil regulations do not interfere with or
prohibit such assemblies, and whose me-
chanics compose a large body Of the popu.
~lation, they have formed societies, the
beneficial tendency of which has not onl,
been experienced by immediate members,
but has extended to after generations and
aided and strengthened, even, the state
government under which they were fos-
tered. Such has been peculiarly the ca e
in our country /; and the god already eff
fectoi may be increased by fresh and
more vigorous, systematic action on part
OF the mechanics We shall not at the
present time, examine how much or in
what manner our government has been
aided by mechanic associations, although
the subject is highly interesting and would
amply repay investigation: Having been
more or less connectad with such societies
since our childhood, and knowing from
personal experience, their great value to
the mar whose hours for self.imProvement
ale limited, we do not hesitate to offer our
working friends of Baton Rouge a few
words Ct advice as to the uost eligible
course in carrying vi their lauda h
enterprise.
The first object of the Mechanics So
c;ety should then be self-improvement:
that is, the elevation and expansion Of
their own minds BY reading standard works
on the arts and sciences, history, and the
biography of such men as Franklin, Full
ton, Arkwright, Whitney and Watt. We
know hat such reading cannot be strictly
termed a relaxation from labor and that
the fatisues of an evenings application
to books are scarcely less than a days
work in our shops. But then, the aavar-
ces we make in the acquisition Of useful
knowledge, raise lis in the scale Of being,
enable US to comprehend, and become
valuable members Of, society.
We Americans, the learned and the IN
learned are too fond Of show; we are a
precocious set and the canse of this is
that we try TO be SO. The object # us
all, appears TO be, to make ourselves con-
.spicuous before We are prepared for con-
~spicuous stations; TO Gsain eminence be-
fore We have prepared ourselves to sustain
ii. Or Congressman think they make
great speeches because they make long
ones; and consider themselves eminent
statesmen because they talk loud and
about legislative acts, constitutions,
laws, the people, etc. Our mec anics and
men, too, cherish similar opinions,
and suppose they can do nothing when
assembled together, without sponting like
Congressman and stump orators in time
Of elections. For OUT part, we can see in
such proceedings, subjects Of riiicule
only. No benefit arises from them to any
II is a loss of breath and time; of
which, well SCAT, would enable US F.;
add something solil to Il Light stock
# information. Of what profit is it to
mechanics to assemble onco a week and c
iecIaira about their strong arms-iustice
the sweat Of the poor mans brow-ar,s- !
-ioctors-opprsssto 9
tic. etc.l We have heard a great deal Of
lch fummery in our time, bat never saw !
ne GOOD effects of it. II was not thus
hat the eminent men named above, won
heir way to fame and Immortality. They 4
%arlnously, speaking little, read :
1g much, hearing much, and investigating ="
all they read and heard
Permit US then to urge the example of II
lese men upon the mechanics Of Baton c.
When Franklin ard his few as o.
commenced in Philadelphia, they
'lni that town as ours now is, without te
ny public library. Yet this did not dis Il
on1age them; they brought their books St
and formed one. And in this
Renaissance We have a remarkable evil +,
,nce o. waat mechanics can do. he J..
'rary formed by Fraaklin and his work.
Z friends, has now become the largest
the Unltei States. 1t became, in time,
9 property OF the state, was attached to
, University ti:at grew up at its 81 lie,
Il now numbers over SO. 900 volumes! .
IRE is an example worthy our emulation,
deed! WHAT a splendid instance of the IN
efutness Of Mechanics societies, when