Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-01-28
E'On, The .2sricul!,risf.
MECHANICS.

1T any class Of citizens can claim equality
with the yeomanry Of the country, the cult
vators Of the soil, ii is the hard-fstcd and in
dustriouS mechanics. Long lave they boon
looked upon as Interiors and vasSals-of
whom Of the virtucus, good, and the create
No; but of the self-willed, the naughty, the
irresponsible, the spectators, the shavers,
the Idlcrs, the rcbclious, the swindlers, the
lovers OF pleasure more than the lovers OF God,
with which the land is infested. Among
certain class, the name of mechanic is often
viewed with TeProach, and it is frequently
the case that it is considered dsreputa6le and
condescendmg to walk the streets, or be found
IN converse with plain and honest shop-la-
borer. Are they mere dreg in the commu-
nifty, and not fit associates for the very cream
of the best society 1t has been said in
days long gone by, that
San honest man is the noblest work OF God,,
and has this noble sentiment become trite and
questionable, in these days of hilnsy refine
ment and high life, upon the earnings olthose
who would not dcign to violate the solemn be-
hest, that man should gain his living by the
''sweat of his brow?" From the odium that
is wont TO be cast, we are constrained to ask,
who are these ''home-spun'' sturdy mechan-
les, that are not equal to natures noblemen
They are the inventors and makers Of all the
worlds usoables. They are the individuals
that make our houses, our furniture, our FIX
lures, and our garments, are they not great
indeed To them we are indebted for every
convenience and almost every luxury of life !;
and If farmers can, with propriety, be styled
the backbone of society. mechanics should
at least, claim to be pillars and supports Of
the fabric.
TO appreciate his venerable profession, il
must be considered that mechanics is science
which has claimed the attention of The intel
1igcnt of all stations and all nations. The
term is from word in Greek, which signifies
a machine, contriyance, and TO the science
which treats OF force and motion. Forces ac-
ting ont bodies may either produce rest or mo-
ton. In the former case they are treated of
under states and in the latter d yanamics The
first machine constructed, of which we have
knowledge, was the universe, "whose maker
and builder" is the author Of all things. In
this grand machinery wisdom and might are
displayed, beyond the comprehension OF man.
Worlds upon worlds have been put forth, all
subject to the same grayitating power that
holds each in lis place; and thus it should
not be astonishing when we reflect that it was
this Arch-mcclanist that "stretches out the
north over the empty place, and hung the
earth upon nothing" that it is He who "mea-
sured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and melted out heaven with span, and COM
pretended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains In scales and the
hills in a balance" This is not the only evil
dence of an ilIustrious mechanic. Jesus
Christ himself was carpenter, and the A
postle Paul tent-maker. But time would
fail to speak of the honored, and truly honor
able mechanics Of the world. The name of
Franklin, il not the example is deeply craven
upon the hearts Of the American people, and
the name Of Judge Buel will never be defa-
ced from the memory of the patriotic and
the good as was the man who set his own
type and worked his own press, while he was
accommodating the rich stores of knowledge,
with which the farming community have
been so richly blessed.
Thousands Of examples are faithfully re-
corded in the worlds history of men who