The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-14

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ney might tread on the prosrats columns of our
magnificent structures, asthe French traveller did
over the ruins of Palmyra, and exclaim With him,
.sThis was once the seat Of powerful empire. y
Have we not, then, great reason To congratulate
ourselves that the U nion, the Union Of our eoun-
try, Is out Of dangerl Let us take the proper
plaiform-Norih and South--let them be united
together and II will be impossible that this Union
should be rent asunder. lOne of the guests ex-
claimed, it depended more upon the North than
the SOUTH True; this Union is peculiarly in the
hands of our brethren of the North. Let them do
their duty, and the Republic is safe.
Blu. will pass from that subject TO the order of
the night. What is to preserve this Union Is very
much, too, in your own hands. IL IL the Pass.
II is the of the Press that is to secure the
salvation Of the country, have not come here
tonight to deliver euogy on the Press. have
not come TO explain the ten thousand advantages
it has produced in fourhundred years. Since that
period, when the only way of transmitting thought
was by the pen the stylus, few pieces OF metal
and single machine have accomplished revou-
ton upon the face of the GLOBE Now, copies can
be multiplied with ease by means of a few types
and simple machine press. From conversa-
ton with my very intelligent foreman this day, l
learned to calculate the value OF the Press. We
have in our service seven presses, four double
Napier and three Adams presses understand
that in the course of ten hours they are enabled TO
strike off ninety thousand sheets.
IL there were no presses-If all these copies
were necessarily multiplied with the pen--i would
be impossible that any man could copy more than
two OF these forms, making thirty-two pages. We
have in our employ nearly one hundred wOrkmen,
and they can make ninety thousand copies in the
course Of ten hours. II would take forty five
thousand pens, then, to make as many sheets as
we can print off by these seven presses IN the
course Of ten hours. In your hands, then, gen
tlemen, the astonishing power Of the Press is to
multiply copies at the rate of four hundred and
fifty for one by the pen. Without the Press this
great Republic OF ours could not be carried on.
1t would be impossible for the people to under
stand the acts Of their servants here in order that
those might be checked by the will of the
sovereign people at home. 1t is the Press that
sends intelligence to the remotest part of the
Union, and back from its extremties to the repre-
sentatiyes here.
Gentlemen claim for your profession--and ]
am sorry that am not u practical member of it,
the palm of superiority to any other art. l honor
the telegraph, because it crcuates scntillations OF
thought with the rapIdity Of lightning. honor
the rapid car and the steamboat. honor the ma
chinery connected with the manufacture of oul
clothing honor the art Of the sculptor, and the
art Of the painter; but contend that without the
art OF printing of these could be improved
to the extent which they have reached. The ar
ofprnting is not only the conservator Of all arts
but it is the creator Of many, and the improver Of
all. A thousand honors, then, to the noble arr
which has called US together this evening. -s,
| With these sentiments, beg leave TO give you
| the toast: s,r.ts.sq y seIs .Ita asfef aassir
| The Genius of Guttenburg and Faust-To
whom, under gracious Providence, it has been
given to say: "Let there be light, and there was
| light" ale'i aiftNa
The Committee of Arrangements next proposed
| The Hon. James l.. Orr, of South Carolina, q
distinguished Representative Of the Palmetto
State Maj he dat M yer W he i'm fhp lin
of the United States, the name of South Carolina
shall be iefi out. at'
| Mr.. ORR, in response, said: ~ sHN
| Mr.. President and Gentlemen: am sure that
am Indebted to the kindness Of personal friendship
for this manifestation Of your regard, rather than
| to any merit of my own, or to any ability exer-
| cised possessed by me in promoting the inter
ests OF your profession. But beg to assure you
that feel lively sensibility in your personal and
professional advancement, and will ever hold my
self in readiness to show my faith by my
works." when suitable opportunities offer.
! For brief period in former years was asso
ciated in an humble way with your craft, as editor
and proprietor of country newspaper; that asso
citation taught me knowledge of the arduous la
bors required of the compositor, and the poor re
wards he received for patient, indefatigable indus
try. Nay, more; it taught me that the nfuenc
of individuals, The intelligence Of communities
the prosperity Of the country-so far it de
fact. the rapid civilization Of human society, de
pended upaSs the compassion and the printin.
press-upon the printing Office.
Your profession, then, makes you great bene
factors Of your race; and whilst you are advancing
others, it is your own fault If you fail to secure
in its prosecution, your intellectual and pecuniary
promotion. Every hour YOU labor you are com
muning with the thoughts ofthe learned, the wise
and great. Observation and memory are the only
faculties taxed to lay up store-houses of know
ledge, which may be used in subsequent life ir
whatever sphere you may be required 10 act Ma
ny of those who have preceded you in your call
ing, have improved these facilities for acquiring
| knowledge, and the voice of the humble printer
who commenced his at the compositor' Z
stand has been heard in the forum and Sennt,
chambers faithful servant of his country, and
brilliant ornament TO his profession. The associa
ton whose anniversary you this evening ceebrat,
was established to protect your pecunary inter
ests, by securing unity and concert amongst tn,
members of your profession. Its long continu
ance--this being your thirty-sixth anniversary
is the highest evidence that it has not failed in il
object; aud the bright faces which surround Thu
social board attest the generous fraternal feelns
which pervades the profession in this city. MAJ
it be perpetual. t
This is not the appropriate occasion for me IL
enter into an exposition or vind.cation Of tn,
| opinions and principles Of the people Of South
|
am. She will take such action as sic thinks ne
cessary to yndcate her rights and honor; and nc
son Of hers will cnrry out her resolves with NOR,
alacrty or frmness than the humble individua
who now addresses you. But this is a fesiv,
board, and will not violate it's prophecies by dis
cussing deeply exciting political question: which
is well calculated TO mar the harmony and gooC
feeling of the occasion.
Some mention has been made OF the contrac
system. having reference, | suppose, to the sys
TEN adopted by Congress for having the publ,
printing executed by the lowest bidder.
There are grave objections to the system and it
workings. the most prominent of which, to you
at least, is the decided antagonism produced be
tween the contractor and the compositors. Tn
contractor undertakes the work too low, and de
ponds upon recompensing himself by fixing wage
/, of labor at the lowest point, and furnishing in
ferior materials. II the contractor makes an ad
vantageous contrac, with the Government, where
| by he realizes enormous profits, it goes into hi
pockets, and the type-setter, who tolls night nn'
| day to execute the work, is not allowed to shar
in the munihcent prices paid by the Government.
4 If the objections to the contract system can
not be removed-and am inclined TO the belle
that they cannot-the question presents Itself