American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-24
AMERICA.N5TELEGR
.a $3.50, Communicated
WASHINGTON AND OTHER MECHANICS.

WASHINGTON AND OTHER MECHANICS.
Some days since there appeared in the 7ele-
gropha communication from q mechanic, which
seemed to bear against Mr. William Turner, of
New York, who, has contracted to paint the
Patent Othce, the Smithsonian Institute, the in
terror OF the Capitol and the interior of Browns
new hotel.
am sure the author of that communication,
who'll understand is highly respectable me-
chanlc, has no wish to convey the idea that the
washington mechanics are 80 selfish, ungenerous
orlllberal, as to desire to bar brother mechanics
elsewhere from coming to this city in a spirit
OF honest and honorable emulation, to prosecute
their calling. The mechanics OF Washington
are high minded, honorable body Of men,
Mr.. Turner, from New York, know to be also
a worthy, upright man. With Mr.. Mudd, the
late Commissioner of Public Buildings, he made
u contract to paint the Patent Office, the Trea-
sury Department., and the interior of the
Capitol. He afterwards rdinquished the Trea-
sury Department, as it was represented to him
that complaint had been made in the matter by
some Of the Washington mechanics. z l.".
After the death of Mr.. Mudd, new arrange
ments were entered into between Capt Easily,
the present Commissioner of Public Buildings,
and Mr.. Turner, under which Mr.. Turner has
since been acting. His aim is to do his work
Z,
lieve, no complaint has been heard in any quarter
against it. If he purchases his materials else
where than in this city, it is because he finds
the prices sufficiently lower in other cities to
warrant him in doing so, and because, even at
the prices asked here, he has not been able at
all times to find the quantity he required For
example, he at one time sought to purchase
five hundred pounds Of white lead, but could
not find at any of the places keeping it for sale
a larger quantity than one hundred and fifty
pounds. The price was $3.50 per hundred
pounds, when the same article could be bought
in New York for $3.50.
The fact is, honorable competition among our
mechanics is q good thing. 1t will induce our
add to the trade and fiourishing condition of the
Metropolis of the Union. PUBL1coLA
INTELLECT us. Observation-Disclosures power has
forced its own acknowledgment, and the world
at last is fain to do it homage. 1t holds, in
fact, the imperial sceptre, and makes every
other social element its vassal Genius pro
scribes its terms, and makes its own laws. A
gifted and cultivated intellect such as God often
gives to the poor mans child and denies to the
rich, is worth in the market, commercial or
political, round sum. When willing to sell
itself, it can realize at stroke what some would
and honor almost at will. When pursuing the
straightforward path of rough and rugged in
tegrity, it makes of its own life herald office,
blazoned over with memorials of all that is great
and sublime and glorious in human action. 1t
wants no stars and ribbons, and antique rust, to
immortaize or ennoble it. 1t sculptures its
fame and power on the history of the world
Men see that it has might Of its own, that it
can do what nothing else can that its magic
and tc ,,pe,,
tribute of admiration and respect. There are
those springing up from menial employment,
from the hovel ofpoverty, from homes of wretch
edness even, who become the peers of the land.
The nation listens to their voice Commerce asks
their counsel. They stand in the high places
OF power, and sway public opinion by the elo-
quence of learning and talent. Who will dis
pute their right or question their title Men
do them homage now that would have scorned
them once. The boy that derided them on the
playground because his father was rich, and
theirs was poor, has become perhaps a vagabond;
or with manhood's years has sunk into becom-
ing insignihcance, and is heard of no more But
their names are in the mouths of men to whom
their genius has made them known, and who
felt proud to acknowledge their merit They
are the nobility of the land. They head our
armies They frame our laws. They preside
in our courts of justice. They fill our pulpits.
They edit our newspapers. They become our
wealthy merchants. They make our discove-
ries. Obstacles vanish before them, for they
have been schooled in hardship. Fame has her
laurel for their brows, for they have proved
themselves worthy. The distinctions Of wealth
and rank fall before their way. The unnotced
fsher-boy, like Patrick Henry, imbues a nation
with his spirit, and carries Senates by his elo-
quence. The shoemaker, like Roger Sherman,
rises from the bench that was covered by avis
and Latin grammar, and leaves name behind
him among the brightest on the roll of fame.
The apprentice boy, like our own President,
works his way up from obscurity, teaching the
world that talent and industry are peculiar to
no condition.-N. L. San.