Mobile daily commercial register and patriot., 1841-10-15
From the Savannah GeorRi


 American Mechanics.-Perhaps it is not venturing much, say that there is exhibited as much phi | osophy and much mind in the mechanic arts, as in the higher departments of studies and of science The scholar, sitting down to his books, will weave out beautiful theories, to attract the admiration of the learned; the Astronomer, from his obseryato ry may carry us, by his eoqu descriptions, up 10 the third heavens of submIty; and these will appear great men, beceuse they clothe their discoveries in the attractive garb of rhetorical elegance. But the mechanic, working out in his humble shop some useful invention, some idea, to advance human enjoyment, s more beneficial to his species, a greater blessing society, and cOners upon it rea substantial good, by his results than the learn ed men, with all their theories, which are too ab- stract to be useful, too foreign 10 humanity, to be ap plicable to its wants. The mechanical arts have done more for the real advancement of mankind than all the schemes of philosophy of human origin, and to the abors of practical mechanics, we indebted, for some of the most important blessings around us. To Watt, indebted, for the steam engine; to Arkwright, for the spinning jenny; to Whtemore, for the cardng machine; to Whitney, for the cotton gn and 10 the poor and almost unknown John Fitch, for the first invention of steam navigation eleven years before Fulton practically applied hs theory. These few mechanics have, by their splendid achieve mens, in the manual arts altered the whole face of the world, and from their workshops, has gone forth power more authoritative than from the Senate chamber, and influential than from the Throne. Setting aside for the present the instances just c
 
 mechanic upon our naval system, through the labors 1 of Henry Eckfnrd ThIs renowned naval construc- tor, having by his genus, firmly established the char acter of New York, built ships every other in the Union, contracted, on the breaking out of the war of 1872, to build for the U. $. fotlla the Lakes With dauntless energy, he began his task, surrounded by the most trying and discouragng dIf- culties. In frontier-wild and unnhabited coun- | uy-with no materials al hand but the trees of the forest, transporting from the seaboard every imple- ment of labor, and in time almost incredible, he converted the noble oaks around him into the gallant barks of our navy, and with them Chauncey abled preserve the frontier. "It is but few days since," says Mir. yerpanck in address delivered years since, "hat the wealth, talent and public station of this city, were assembled to pay honor to the brave and excellent Commodore Chauncey Few could be ter deserve su honnrs either by pulp lie service private worth; but all of us who reLol- ect the eyeats of the struggle for superiority the lakes, during the late war with Great Britain, could not help calling to mind, the courage, the sea- nianship, the ability of Chauncey, would have been exerted in vain had they not been seconded by the skill the enterprise the science, the powers of com bination and the nexhaustibe resources of the shp builder, HENRY EcKFoRD.
 The ship of the Line "Ohio" is one of the mon,,- ments of his architectural skill; pronounced by every | udge the most beautiful model in the navy though such the ignorant stubbornness of the Usage navy commis issIoners," that they told Mir. Eckford that they would never put her in commission as long as they in the board, and for eighteen years this beau f this beau ideal of liRe of battle ship suffer- ed to lie missioned-unused. But time proved that Eckford right, and the wise Navy Board was wrong; the judgment of the humble mechanic has been confirmed, while the crude opin- ions of the proud old commodores have proved as rotten and unworthy, the ships built by their direc tons not one of which hardly fit for use. The en- ergy of Mir. Eckford is exhibited in the fact that in the short space of eighteen months he built and de- spatched Columbia and Brazil, four GA gun ships office he requested from Mir. Eckford plan for the reorganization of the Navy, such the estimation m which this noble ship builder was held by the Pres ident of the United States. His plan was just the one needed and but for the prejudice of some of the old salts and the envy of others, would have been adopted to the honor and increased efficiency of the service.
 Tn 1884, at the request of Sultan Mahmoud, he built for him sloop of war, and visited Turkey, where he received he appointment of Chief Naval Construc- to the Empire setting himself at once to work, he laid down the keel of ship of the line and had al ready progressed far towards it's completion, when he sckened and died, just as the Sultan was about to confer him on the honor of Bey of the Empire. We have but touched here and there upon the promi nent traits in his character, but his should be treasured word with his f. flows. His life-his in tegrity-,is strict honor-his dauntless energy-his superior judgment and his extensive influence prove, that the Mechanic has power which may direct the destiny of nations that the Mechanic can, by indus try and moral worth, elevate himself to the highest ranks of society; that the Meehanie by his we'll directed influence, confer blessing his g, ecies, and make himself more truly noble than the starred and gartered aristocracy of Royal power.