Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-24
STATE SENTINEL.
snsecb az Gov. JoseDh A, Wright.


THURSDAY, OCTOBER Z, 8 AND 9, 1851.
Mr. President, and Gentlemen Of fs Wagne County .3g'
r~icuLaraI Society:
The pursuits Of my life have been as much varied as
most men, yet in accepting your kind invitation TO adj
dress YOU, 4 did not suppose that il was possible for me
TO eniighten the practical farmers and mechanics OF the
county OF Wayne. Yet when | consider the efforts now
making TO excite our fellow citizens on the subject oil
labor, 10 arouse the la6oring men OF the State, the spirit
Of emulation that Is being kindled every where, L could
not do otherwise than by my presence contribute my
mite to urge forward this movement.
My only regret is, that my time has been so occupied
that | feel almost entirely unprepared 10 address 50 large
and Intelligent a portion of our fellow citizens. What is
wanting in me, yOu have well remedied in the Exhibition
that surrounds Us, Of the labor, skill and production oil
the country.
within its borders an abundance of the precious metals; It
may have a world wide commerce; il may have at its
command a powerful Army, and a Navy second to none
on the seas; within its Territories Arts, Science, Me-
chanics, Agriculture and Manufactures may be all carried
10 high degrees in the scale of perfection; its Lakes,
Rivers, Canals, Railroads aud all its public highways
may be thronged with busy men Of enterprise, and the
various productions OF genius, skill and labor. But lhese
evidences Of national prosperity are not enough Great
Britain presents them all in a strong light before the
world and yet millions who compose the main body Of
the nation are laboring in her mines, her factories, her
work shops and her fields; and the greater part OF these
millions are suffering under the evils of ignorance, SER
Witty, petty tyranny and u~nrequited toll; and IN that con-
dition generation after generations OF men struggle
through a cherries life of homeless and hopeless power
". Hundreds of men thus live, labor and die in order
that one unproducing Dives may be "elothed IN purple
and fine linnen, and fare sumptuOusly everyd day. There
may be prosperity among classes in Monarehles and even
Despotisms; but true national prosperity, in its most en-
larged sense, cannot exist under such forms OF govern
ment.
reach all the means necessary to enable them TO estab-
lIsh for themselves the highest state OF national prosPeri.
ty. A spirit Of freedom, equality, independence and
se,Erelianoe, is the Inheritance of every citizen. The
laws maEa M privilpOad ola <seS HE roads to useful
ness, to wealth and 20 h honorable distinction are open TO
all. Aided by the indispensable qualities OF virtue, M
dustry and knowledge, the farmer boy, or the apprentice
boy Of to-day NAV N q few years be the President oil a
Republic stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and
holding the first rank among the nations oil the earth:
National prosperity IS the aggregate OF individual
happiness, caused by the distribution of the blessings Of
government under equal laws, by which each man re-
oeives The due reward of his own labor.
The true basis of all national prosperity will be found
in an universal system Of PRACTICAL learning, by which the
youth of the land shall be taught to understand and per-
form their political, civil and religious duties, as mem-
bers of this confederacy. Among the youth OF a nation
he is not only the orphan who is left without father or
mother that youth, whose government neglects to pro-
vide means for his advancement in knowledge, Is surely
IN the most desolate state OF orPhanage.
There is no one thing, after religion, virtue and knowl-
edge, that contributes so much to the permanent pros
perity OF a nation as that which / call the iarentivs tai
snt. II is this that has contributed much TO the wealth,
commercial Importance and prosperity OF England; and
II IS the same principle, operating IN a held more Tree,
that Is now doing 50 much in our own Republic.
We are behind no people on the face Of the globe Ia
mechanical genius and skill, and this is mainly IN he at
tnbuted to our free Institutions. With rs, 4 a mechanic
has a hundred hands at work in one shop, each man does
not regard himself as a mere copying machine, compell-
ed to follow, without question the precise directions CIV
en- 10 him by the master mechanic; but he thinks while
at work, and he takes the liberty of making suggestions
as to the ~Propriety or exPediency of changing this wheel
OF that cog. He does not feel himself To he a mere SER
want to do the bidding Of his master; but he thinks,
plans, reasons and suggests. Thus the powers OF many
minds are brought TO bear on the investigation OF every
proposed improvement in Mechanics or Agriculture.
In this consists the secret OF our success. You may
machine shops, plough factories, Sc, of Richmond, and
you cannot distinguish the Foreman or Boss from the
other laborers.
The success that attended the exhibition of American
skill and labor, at the great Worlds Fair at London, is
well calculated to make an American proud of his conn-
try.
a friend Of mine, in reading of those exhibitions and
trials, made the following suggestion: He remarked
that he was in favor of changing our favorite national
song, Yankee Doodle Doc" The inquiry was made
for the reason. His reply was, that we had beat John
Bull IN steaming and sailing, so much so, that the Col
fLRs line were now engaged in towing over the CUnGyd
line that we had defeated John Bull from Colts Re-
yolver to that great labor-saying machine OF the day,
McCormack's Reaper; that therefore we should no lon
ger sing-fYdRkee Doodle DOo," but Yankee Doodle
Did" Yankee Doodle Did,"
1t is very remarkable, that up to the present time, to
q great extent, the American Farmer and Mechanic
have neglected to form associations. There is no class
Of men more interested in associations for mutual bene-
Mt. all other classes have their associations ,-rei-
gious, moral, mercantile, &c.
The mechanics have the advantage of the farmer in
this, that they live in towns and cites,-can exchange
views and opinions freely together farmers, separated
In the cultivation of the soil, raising stock, Sc, should
have these exhibitions and associations, that they
may meet and consult together with the mechanics
for the common good, the effect OF which is, that you
stimulate industry, bring together the most distinguish
ed mechanics Of the State, who bring with them, not
only the work Of their brain and hands, but they come
together to inquire into the wants of the country, that
they may return to their workshops TO perfect the inven-
tons that have been suggested by these means. The
farmer thus makes himself well acquainted with what
Is new and useful, as well as Witnessing for himself the
Of other portions Of the country.
The advantages are so numerous that result to the
and mechanical interest Of the country, by
together periodically, at some point, the rarest
and most valuable specimens OF science and art, and
especially the encouragement that is impaired TO useful
Of labor-saving implements Of husbandry, Sc.
by endorsing the value Of the implement, awarding pre-
NUNS IN money, diplomas or medals, for such as may
be Of a highly meritorious character, that | cannot on
THIS occasion more than merely name them.
In the hTst place you bring together men Of different
views and feelings on religion, politics, and social pro-
gress. They are made TO act together the kindest
feelings are thus produced in the great zeal and energy
displayed TO advance the interest and welfare Of the
State.
The grounds within this enclosure are dedicated TO
advance the arts, sciences, and the Industrial progress
Of Indiana You may walk around and mingle with
this immense crowd Of our fellow citizens, and YOU will
not hear a word on the subject Of politics or religion,
but the great struggle is making, by each man, TO Guido
his neighbor in some branch Of Industry.
During the last month | have attended the State Fairs
New York and Ohio; at the two exhibitions more
than a hundred thousand people were in altendance-an
army greater thar that with which julius Caesar conquer.
ed Gaul, but it was an army without bloody banners IA
army. gathered together to celebrate the tri-
nmphs Of peace. Their spoils" were the richest trea-
s1res Of Nature, their trophies the mightiest mechanism
Art their triumPhai chariots the steam cars that out
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