Holly Springs gazette., 1845-09-13
pledge mentioned in said interrogatories.
With esteem,
JAMES l.. TOTTEN.
LAMAR. August 9th lo45.

LAMAR. August 9Th 1S49.
GenHsmen:-Your Communication as a
Com mittee of the Mechanics Association of
Marshall County, bearing date the .4th ult.,
was duly received and the delay in answer
ing The "Interrogatories" contained therein,
has not been from any desire TO conceal my
opinions and views relative to objects con-
tempated by the Ass oclation but from .he
fact that at the moment of It's reception,
was in the act of starting 10 Memphis upol
urgent business from whence | have just
returned. and | avail myself of the first lei
sure moment. TO give to you direct, full
and explicit answer to your communication,
and shall freely and openly give my views
upon this subject as | shall feel myself
bound to do upon all Others whilst occupys
ing the situation now do as Candidate
for your suffrages.
To the first question propounded "wheth-
er II elected in November, | will pledge
myself to use all lawful and honorable
means in my power to effect a radical
change in the present system of convict la
bor:" To this Interrogatory without the
least hesitation, answer emphatically,
mil.
Being a mechanic my self it has been a
matter of astonishment and modification,
that this virtuous and intelligent class of
community in our State, have SO long fold
ed their arms in cold indifference 10 their
to the unjus st expressions practiced upon
them not only n pecuniary point OF view
bat morally by the present system OF cons
vict abour. as established in our State Pris
on and sanctioned by our laws. La other
States, the Mechanic, knowing bis rights
and ready to maintain them have appealed
to the Justice and magnanimity of their res
spective legis atures and Indignantly de-
manded of them to reform this system and
release them ftom the manifold evils which
unwIse, oppressive and criminal Legislation
nas imposed upon their honest industry
They have demanded that powerful
State monopoly with which their individu-
al labour is unable to cope should no longer
be fostered by the State. These appeals
have been heard and attended ID and the la
bour oil the COnVicts has been turned into
other channels and thereby relieved the
State OF the burthen of their support, and in
some instances by the change a hands some
2 profit has been realized. 1t has had an eff
: est Mechanical labour. aud will eventually
break up compulsive association which is
. SO degrading and demora'iziDg in its ten
{ denotes upon those who depend upon the
Mechanic Arts for support Had not the
labour of tbe Convict in other States bee,
0 directed in another course and the Who'll
: system undergone "a radical change" thos
t of our citizens who engag d IN the re
i spectacle employmens of the manufacture
of Shoes, Clothing, Saddlsry, Farming u
tensils, Furniture, &C., would have beer
: necessarily compelled to relinquIsh the call
!. ;pg to which they had been bred, and b.
. which they had hoped to galn homes
livelihood or ground 10 the dus; by beinj
= reduced to the prices of the labour OF tn
y condemned felon. and this deplorabe con
dtion would have been brought about b.
}, the operations OF The very governnen
q which they are bound to support and de
n fend.
II In another sense | conceive that our Pen
: itentiary system has most deleterious e
f-ct mean the injurious influence
brings upon the moral standing and char
acter of the honest Mechanic, and the per
, nicious consequences that result to tn
: future prosperity of the apprentice by th
association which is necessarily involve
: between them and discharged convicts, wh
of course, endeavour to derive a suppol
y from the trades they have been forced
: learn while imprisoned. Deeply contain
mated by vicious practices and propensitit
: previous to having been immured in til
e' walls of a prison for crime, they are di