The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1843-09-16
MECHANICS MEETING.

House, in The town Of Ripley on Monday the
lth instant, VIM. R Buchanan was CO II
ed to The chair, and J. A. Pate appointed
Secretary. II was then moved and carried
that Saml. Benton j Esq who was present.
be requested to address the meeting, setting
forth its object At the close of Mr.. Ben
tons remarks,
On motion, a committee consisting of
Messrs J. A. Pate, John Gossett, H. P.
Smith, and J. E. Daniel, was appointed to
draw up Preamble and suitable Resol,,,
tons, expressive Of the design Of he NEE
ting. The following was presented by them,
after a short absence, which were unanm-
ously adopted,
Whereas the system Of furnishing t.,;.n,
ders against The laws Of the land by
confinement at labor in Penien,iary,
adopted in this State for the suppression OF
crime and the reformation Of Grim ils, has,
il is believed, in a great measure failed to
accomplish these OF jects; and whereas the
employment of The convic,s in the several
mechanical trades, seriously in'erferes with
he interests Of that class OF persons euga.
ged in The same occupations throughout, the
State, in as much as the produces manufac
'nredbv the conyicl can be produced at a
Much smaller expense and offered for sale
at much lover rate than by the honest
mechanic, thereby brin,ing system OF
cubic punishment, built up at public ex
pense, in direct competition with The labor of
in ividnais, and indirectly taxing them with
Is support; and whereas the system tends
o bring reproach upon the mechanical avo. |
,a,ions By making them the means Of pun.
shing criminals, and by turning out, year
lfier year, men. who have been guilty Of
very species Of crime and infamy, and
.hose mora. character renders them dis
race TO sociaty, 'opursue these calllngs
md minge with homes. men who have
dop'ed the same as the means Of their sup
ort; and whereas the grievance complain.
d Of is annually increasing, Therefore.
Resolped. That the Penltentiary sys.
EN-, as it now exist, is odious and oppres.
i've tn the mechanical interests ofthe State,
nd that as mechanics Of Tlppah we feel
allied upon, by a regard for our interests
nd respect for our avocations, to enter up ]
ur solemn protest against it.
X solrcd That we recommend to our
re,hren throughout the State TO take this i
inject into consideration, and hold $
nblic meetings for the purpose Of giving
n expression Of their views, and devising Il
eans for the remoyalof The evil complain. 0
Of. =
Resolced That memorial TO tho lie
stature, setting forth the evils Of the pro.
N. Peniieaiary system, and praying their :
moval by an entire adjustment of the
stem, or such a modification of It as will
II conflict with the mechanical interests of
Q country; be signed by the mechanics Of =
is county and transmitted to that body
ID that similar course be recommended q
our brethren in other counties. :.
There being no further business before hi
Q meeting, the following Resolution was Sc
ered and adopted:
Resolped That the proceedings Of this mi
seiing be signed by the Chairman and on
cre.ary, and published in the Ripley Ls
lvertiser; and that papers throughout the da
ate be requested to copy them. 10
Whereupon the meeting adjourned. r.
w. R. BUCHANAN, Ch'n.