The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-02-11


according to agreement, intend leaving tomorrow
morning, provided l am alive and well and the wind
don't blow too hard on the East River! Since I ar
rived here have reflected much on the very broad
and comprehensive injunction, cove no man any
thing" and have arrived at the conclusion that peo-
! pie may something besides money, and that
could mechanics and arzans, as well other class
in community but feel the force Of this aud would
! but conform to the requirement Of paying, vast
amount Of trouble and expense would be saved
Many people entertain the idea that there is q vast
difference in the obligation to pay borrowed money,
and that to pay note promptly, which is given for
goods or other articles of barter This idea has been
imbibed from education, and not from an investiga-
ton of correct moral principles. Suppose A. has q
thousand dollars in cash obligations, payable on the
first day of June next, and in order to meet his liz
bilitie he must hire half that sum, and promise its
payment at the time named; if the obligations are
not strong from his debtors they are from him
to his creditors, he will find himself in bad fix
when payday comes. Some men, too, from some
cause, seem to feel obligation resting on them to
pay promissory note, given for goods, at, or near
the time it becomes due, but seem to feel no special
obligation to pay mechanic as agreed Some me-
chanics are tolerably prompt in paying merchants
for goods at the time specified but when they prom
ise to perform mechanical work, they mag get the
work done when the customer has expended suf-
ficient time in going for the article to have earned
the price of it; or lie may continue the promising
until the customers tax is doubled, and no COM
Function ofconscience is manifes:ed in the premises
This, too, is owing, at least in part to the ranngo Of
the mechanic. But is this mode Of doing business
right? Can custom change a moral principle? |
have felt fully the force of this wrong mode Of
dom business Of late than formerly, and this be-
cause more damage has accrued to me than when
my business was different. Now am away from
home and mourning heavier expenses for my living,
than when at home, and wishing to return soon as
my business viii permit, but must have machine
models and drawings made before my return, and to
get these things performed must employ three or
four, or halfa dozen different men to do the work
Well, to begin WITH the Blacksmith says he vii.
have his part performed on Tuesday. I go to the
machinist, telling him what the first says, and
ask him wi ether he will commence on Wednesday,
morning, or put good hand at it. He says yes
ne DEChSlltl UuSlcS lillSe!l VIII OlucE WOIhi 81
that he keeps me till Wednesday noon before get
ting my work ready for the machnst. When /
take it there, the hand designed for my work is OFF
mile, repairing mill, and this because my work
was not there in the morning. The next morning
comes--the machinis begins, ard says he will have
my work done the next Wednesday. write to New
York. saying have the promise of getting the work
I l.. ,ol,1- I,4 I,o
on Friday or Saturday of that week. The machn
ist leaves the business wholly, one day, and keeps
me waiting till Thursday night. 1t is not then done,
but he says it shall certainly be done the next day
leave, telling him shall be there for the model on
Saturday morning. l 60, but find it is not then
done wait till the afternoon stage is ready the
work still incomplete, but take it to Troy and the
fist of the next week come here with it, thinking to
get the finishing part done while some Of the draw
ing5 are being made. l go to the machnist to see
when he can finish the model. He says "not till
Saturday; bring it here that morning, and will do
it that day." The model was taken there, wheH he
says, ~ can do nothing to it until Monday SEEM
ing to feel obligation whatever to fulfil his en-
gagcment l go to another shop, but can get no
WOLh uOllc Ol lIlitt Scl piSlii1SC tht'b IL
shall be done on Monday and seeing the other man
had lied to me- concluded to try the latter and &C
cordingly leave the work there. Monday and Tues
day come and pass away, but the work not quite
donc-almost, though, and Wednesday finishes it.
The next work is the drawings and writings, which
arc to he done without fail on the following Satur
day That day arrives, but the promiser made IL
of 1rggLT Whan along n
of my taking up my quarters in his
shop, and putting him through one night till twelve
O'Clock he succeeds in getting the papers ready
ConsM certificates must next be obtained, whchhas
occupied this day, and now, so far as the matters
named are concerned, am ready to leave for Troy
where must tarry awhile f0ranothcr piece of work, I
before leaving for home. When wrote some four !
weeks ago, thought should reach Brandon in
about two weeks from that time, but have found |
it useless 10 promise any thing which depends on
the promises of half dozen mechanics, especially of
the kind have had some deal with of late.
WhatI have written is not so much to tell people |
Of my dsappointments, as to try to get delnquents
to feel the importance ofPromPness in fulfilling their
engagements for ,ro,k, as well their promises in
other respects. For no one knows how much de-
pend. on the delay of day or half day, when
thousand other things are nearly or remotely con-
nected with the first neglect to fulfil promptly; and
| am of the opinion that much more practical |
benefit would accrue to community, should punctl-
atty in meeting enga cmentS be inscribed on the |
minds and in the actions Of men, than can be real
izel from subscribing to some portions of religious ,
creels. Could those corning Oh the stage of action
but feel it religious and solemn duty to make no
distinction in the obligation to pay debts for cash.
tho. h,r4nr pI 70 trUt