The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-26

| tending TO the independence OF MS country.
The ancients of Greece and Rome, certainly
number some great and wise men; but, beyond
the circle in which these learned men moved
how few received a glimpse of science, how few
ever learned to read and how difficult it was
to obtain instruction books. Now, through the
agency of printing, our means of acquiring
knowledge are unlimited, and its dissemination
is'universal. The consequence is, that great
cr number labor to unravel and make useful the
secrets of nature and the progress of mankind
! towards perfection is thousand tig2es more
rapid.
The printer, as an individual, comes directly
under the constant influence of the instructive
and liberal art he processes. The printer reads
more varied and general information, than the
| theologian, lawyer, or avowed philosopher. 1t
is the printers tradeto read constantly, day af.
ter day, during his whole life !; he earns his dai
ly bread by reading-ay, and reading slowly
and carefully, for he must follow and put the
works we read into type letter by letter he
must dwell awhile upon every sentence Does
the merchant know the prices of cotton and 9TH
er goods in distant countries-the intelligence
isperused by printer before merchant touch
es it. Does the politician discuss the affairs of
nations he owes his knowledge to the printer
who is always ahead Of him in points of infor-
nation Does the physician study the work Of
some profound Esculapius--let him look at the
title page, and he will see that he owes the work
to printer, who has read It over and over to
see that not letter is wanted, not n comma ont
Of place. The same may be said Of The lawyer,
the minister, and the scientific mechanic. Ihe
printer stands at the door of all their learning,
and holds the keys which open it.
The printer is great traveller. There are
few printers in the United States who have not
visited every State in the Union. They are
sure of finding printing Office in every village,
and consequently do not hesitate to travel whcr-
ever their fancy may lead them, sure Of finding
in their brother typographcrs, friends ready to
assist them, give them work, or obtain a situa.
ton for them. The printers are consequently
thoroughly acquainted with their country, in
general and in detail; none can know better or
speak of it more correctly. Sometimes he
crosses the Atlantic, and, while he prints geog-
raphies and books of travels, he takes occasion
to view with his own eyes every part of the old
and new world.
The printcr is always 4 good granlmarian and
it frequently happens that men whose produc.
tions are esteemed by the public, owe it to the
printer that they are not written down asses
Often, very often, does it happen that manu-
script is put into the hands of the type-setterfu
of gross grammatical errors, sentences devoid of
sense, and without single poiut or capital let
ter. When this has passed through his hands,
the errors are corrected, the punctuation and
capitals are all set in their proper places. The
conceitcd author finds himself all at once a
grammatical and logical writer, and basks in
the sun otpopularity, which he owes to some
unobtrusiye son of Guttemburg. Hc takes care
not to give credit to the proper person; but Oh
the contrary, should some of his blundcrs re-
main uncorrected, he is sure to lay them all to
the charge OF the Ignorant printer" such is
the ia Se and unjust phrase ignorant writers ire
quenty use.
No trade, class or profession, except those of
law and rhysic, Las furnished greater proper
ton OF flcarned and distinguished PERSONS than
the printers craft From the day Of Franklin
to the present time, our Legislative halls, our
places of honor, have been ornamcntcd by tai.
cnted and eloquent printers. The bar is often
indebted TO the printing office for some of its
ablest members; in this city we have living and
prominent examples of the fact.
The printers, wherever they can unite Il su(-
ficicHt force, generally form themselves into 4
society for the mutual protection, and for the
purpose Of assisting each other in cases Otnccd.
These societies fix the rates of wages, the hours
of work, and provide for the sick and untorn-
nate. They bind themselves by the strctest
Al 4.