Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-10
THE ELEVATION OF MECHANICS.

THE ELEVATION OF MECHANICS.
There is perhaps no class of the community
that have been more generally benefited by the
Temperance reform, than the Mechanics of our
Country. A few years ago, the large majority
OF them spent their leisure hours in the grog-
shop, and their hard-earnings went into the rum
sellers till. But such is not the case now the
most steady, industrious and thrifty people are
the Mechanics and the time once spent in idle
ness and dissipation is now devoted to study
and the requirement of useful knowledge. This
is IS it should be. They should be among the
most Intelligent of our citizens for there is no
class Of our citizens. of whatever grade or pro-
~fession, 10 use the remark Of another, that are
really so valuable in society as our enrerprising
and skilful mechanics. As individuals and cit
liens. in point Of intelligence, virtue and useful
ness, they occupy a place as honorable and a
station as dignifed as the members Of any pro-
@fessioI in the land and as body they are in
dlspen'able in providing for our wants and ne
cessities, and a very great portion Of the COM
forts of the whole community.
In fact, our national greatness has been in a
great measure achieved through the industry,
enterprise, skill and intelligence of our mechan-
les. Thousands Of individual instances may be
adduced to sustain the position we have assum-
ed, and hundreds more of the same class have,
BY their influence, example and talents, verified
the truth Of our assertion. franklin, the prin-
ter, who worked many years at this honorable
avocation, and, perhaps, contributed more than
any other individual, to advance science and the
arts in his early life, rose high in the scale Of
usefulness and honor-became one of the most
distinguished statesmen and philosophers of his
age, and died lamented by the people of ''two
hemispheres." Roger Sherman, one of the
signers Of the Declaration of Ind ependence, ard
who long afterwards was distinguished for his
talents, it is well known, was a shoemaker
The late Hon. Andrew Kennedy, Of Ohio, al
the age of nineteen years, was a lahoring black
smith, unable to read or write. He dropped the
sIedge hammer and took to books, read law, and
soon became d popular advocate. He removed
to Indiana, was soon sent to the Legislature, and
from the assembly was transferred to Congress,
where he served three full terms. The late
Judge Martin, while a lad, left his '~paternaI
roof at Marseilles and arrived in North Carroll
ma friendless and nearly penniless, and TO avoid
starvation, became apprentice to a printer. a
the expiration Of his apprenticeship he worked
: as a journeyman three years-bought onFhis EN-
ployer-afterwards removed to Louisiana1be
came a judge of the Supreme Court-and, du
ring the thirty-seven years which he was retain
ed in office, in all his important decisions, il
which immense interests were involved, he ev
er maintained a character above the least sus
4 pictiOn Of reproach-was remarkable as a maj
Y of the sternest integrity, and died honored BY
all, with a fortune of 800, 900. GoverHo
Briggs, of Massachusetts, it is well known. wa
the son of a blacksmith, and apprentice to a hat
tel, but manifesting strong inclination for learn
ing, subsequently studied law, and is now tn,
chief executive of the commonwealth.
These examples are sufficient to prove the as
s~ertion of John Randolph, the eccentric orator Q
n Roanoke, that ''labOr is necessary to excellence
h This is an eternal truth, although vanity can
1t not be brought 10 believe, or Incidence 10 hee
it,"
This truth is strikingly verified in a host o
e instances, and should impress upon every min
n the deeply responsible relation which our me
chanics hold in reference to the, advancement
of the arts, the promotion Of science, and tn
true greatness of our country. Y