Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-04-19
Democratic Mechanics.

If an example were required to prove
disinterestcd devotion among the people 10
the democratic institutions Of the country,
it may be found in the conduct Of the dem
ocratic mechanics in the late presidential
contest. This powerful body Of men,
throughoutth Union, were in correspond
ence with the democratic association in
this city, and contributed with great zeal
and activity to spread information, derived
from this quarter, through the communities
in which they lived, and TO extend and en-
force the principles Of the party. We have
never seen more energetic spirit than
was displayed among the mechanics Of this
city, both in their correspondence with So
cieties in every section Of the Union, and
in the purchase and despatch Of documents.
Those who worked all day in their respec-
tive callings, gave their nights to inccssant
effort in promoting the cause. And what
peculiar personal advantage could the great
mass Of these men expect from the success
Of their labor? The time, attention, and
exertion necessary to acquire skill in the
various arts to which their lives are dedi-
Gated, unfit them for most of the govern
ment offices. They are not lawyers; and
q knowledge Of the laws is essential to the
higher functionaries by whom the laws are
administered They are not, for the most
part, skilled with the pen; and this circum-
stance is bar to the vast multitude of EN-
pioyments in which clerkly expertness is
indispensable. Here, then, is this great
body Of intelligent, industrious, virfuous
class Of citizens-as class the most vir.
tuous and patriotic in the country--exclud-
ed, for the most part, from the honors and
emoluments Of Office; and yet they were
found, in the late conflict, the most ardent
and energetic and powerful class in con-
ducting it to triumphant result. Moth
ing can be given to them to compensate
their labors. They are, il the political
struggles of the country, as in fighting lis
battles against foreign enemy, in the truest
sense the sinetcs Of war. Their courage,
strength, skill, and patriotism--their intel
lectual and physical prowess, constitute the
bulwark Of the republic; but its honors, its
favors, and its pecuniary rewards, 90 10
other classes who deserve them less, but
prepare better to appropriate them.
These considerations should, in our opin-
ion, induce the Chief Magistrate to make
it an invariably rule whenever an Office
comes within the province Of mechanic,
70 confer itupon one. Whenever the duty
has reference to construction, and depends
on any Of the arts in which mechanical cd
ucation and capacity are required, a me-
chanic should Be appointed to the Office Of
direction. As The circumstance Of . pecn-
liar education units the artist for almost
all the offices Of government, those adapted
to their requirements should never be con-
ferred on an individual Of sXy other class
Of citixens. The executive should seize
every occasion, where such opportunity
offers, to distinguish able, and worthy, and
patriotic members Of this order with the
government patronage. 1t is proper that
the arts and mechanical skill Of our coun-
trymen should be thus distinguished by
government favsr; and it is Just that the
aisinterested patriotism which stimulates
such multitudes Of laboring men to sacrifice
their private interests TO public cause on
fields Of battle and 1t the musings, should,
have the evidences Of the respect and con-
sidsfsticn ofthe government bestowed upon
setne member of The elass whenever Il i
compatible with, the nature Of The trust to
be % bestowed. Clobe. IS
s.---<-- - - ------- VI ~
Tie cost q getS;ng out 1850 copies of
Capt. Wilkes Narrative. Of The Exploring