Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-04-02
From the Philadelphia Pablo ledger.

From the Philadelphia PuJl;c ledger.
MECHANICS NOT GENTLEMEN.-Poo
the "gentlemen of high responsibility and
standing from Georgia. who aided the
murderer May in killing Cochrane, and
who is now imprisoned a, Baltimore on n
complain, of theft, expressed great con
tempt for young man whom he had S
saul;ed, because, he was "only bookbin- |
der" Had the oh, ect OF his brutal outrage
been ''gentleman,' the assailant would
have given him satisfaction by cutting his
throat. But as the fellow was "only al
bookbinder," Mister Pooler, the "gentle-
man from Georgia." could not descend to
his level. Such is the account published
in some Of our exchanges, and we have no
reason for doubling it. Some are disposed
TO censuie Mister Pooler for his remark.
But we can find no god reason for such
censure. He is gentleman" and con-
sequenlly is bound 10 regard vulgar me-
chanics with contempt.
Perhaps the bookbinders in Washing
ton, or even the whole trade, may consider
themselves insuIted by this remark, and in
reply 20 1t affirm that they are as good as
Mr.. Pooler, the reputed thief. But we
can very easily prove that they have no
right TO feel aggrieved by such con,emptu-
Gus expressions, and that they are inferi-
or 20 gentlemen" even the "gentlemcn''
who steal. What is bookbinder? He is
a mechanic, md nothing but a mechanic;
and therefore he cannot be gentleman
He handles tools, instruments, machinery
he works in leather, cloth, paper, thread
paste, paint, and various other materials;
and gentlemen do not. But bookbndel
may reply that q sergeon handles tools anc
instru ments, and merchant deals il
| paints, leather, paper, hardware, and oil
the things with or upon which the bookbn
der eypends his skill. We admit all thi 5
but still say,and refer to public opinion 70
authority, that the surgeon and the mer
chant are gentlemen. But the bookDinde
may have both talent and learning, rein
ed and cultivated tastes, and elegant man
ners. These do not elevate the mechanic
to gentleman. The surgeon or the mer
chant may have low tastes and vulgar man
ners. These do not prevent them from
being gentlemen. The bookbirder may
be Christian in principle and practice
loving and fearing God, loving his neigh
Dor, and doing as he would be done by ;anc
the surgeon or the merchant may be q
scofler, q ,vrant, swindler Still the
bookblnder is not gentlemen, and surge
ons and merchants never gentlemen, anc
the other two are SO; for mechanics nevel
are gentleman, and surgeons and mer.
chants are always so.
But why is not mechanic gentleman
Do you ask this question in wonder, We book.
binders and other mechanics. The an
swer is ready. You never were and new
er can be; for at the very foundation oil
the social constitution which now exist YOU
were degraded and excluded from the pale
of gentlemen. You will say that this soci.
al constitution was founded in barbarous
age, by robbers and murderers, without,
learning or refinement, pure principles or
elevated feelings, who could do nothing bet
ter than cutting the throats add plundering
the property Of the Industrious and useful
This is true. But this social constitution
still exists, you not only tolerate, but sus-
tain it: and therefore you must take its
consequences without complaining. Ifthen
it degrades you, which it certainly does,
you should submit 10 the degradation with
a good grace, and confess that you are not
gentlemen. and not worthy Of notice from
| gentlemen. When the feudal system was
established on the ruins Of the Roman EN-
pirc. by hands Of savages in some places,
and bands Of absconding slaves in others,
the conquerors, who robbed the conquered
of their property, took the land for them
selves as a superior order, called nobility,
and reduced all cultvators Of the soil, all
mechanics, and all who Iabored with hand
or head. TO social and political degradation.
In the last category were included priests,
lawyers and physicians. The priests first
raised themselves from this degrade ton
by addressing the superslitions feats of
this daring and plundering nobility. Then
the lawyers became useful in their con-
tests about property. Finally tho ply
slcian gained higher social position. But
mechanics, cultivator and other laborers,
remained content with heir degradation. -
Merchants rose with peace, which always
promotes commerce; and kings and mobiles
wanting money, gave privileges to mer-
chants. Hence rose free cities and other
corporations; and asthey were the work Of
merchants, the only persons who could pay
money: merchants became their masters,
and still kept mechanics in their degraded
condition. And thus has the social cons.i-
iuaion of a barbarous age reached our day IS:
a constitution which acknowledges gentle
men in mobiles, merchants,the professors Of
law. physic, and divinity, and condemns
mechanics, culliVators, mariners, and all
other laborers, to social degradation.
With this history OF the present social
CONDITION, history supported by abundant
testimony, mechanics may cease from won-
derlng al their present social degradation.
Ii began with this very constitution, and
has beea maintained BY themselves. They
have assented to il, patiently and mcekly
borne lis burdens, have done much to sus-