Washington telegraph., 1851-06-11
The Camden (Ala.) Phoenix thus justly
rebukes practice TOD prevalent through
)ut the SDuth:


rebukes practice TOO prevalent through.
out the SDuth:
SOUTHERN MECHANICS.
Much las been written about the de-
pendence of the South upon the North
for many OF the articles necessary to carry
| on the valous branches of business in
the Southern States. And while we hear
the most bitter denunciations against the
Northerners for their interference in our
domestic institutions; their refusal to have
enforced the Fugitive Slave Law, and
other matters, we behold the authors of
such anatnemas, the foremost in en-
couraging Northern workmen, to the
injury and ruin of Southern mechanics.
Does a planter wish to purchase wagon
or buggy-does he wish to buy dozen
axes or hoes-a few dozen shoes or
blankets for his negroes-does he wish
to buy fine suit of clothes or purchase
a fine dress for his wife-does he want
saddle or set of harness-is he building
fine house, and wants a set of binds!-
why, forsooth, he must neglect his own
neighbors who are depending on different
branches of mechanical business tor their
daily bread, and instead of supporting
them in their honest eXertions to make a
livelihood, he sends his orders to Philadel-
phla or New York for the very articles
which he might obtain from those whose
interests are Identified with his own
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are thus
sent on to the North annually, for articles
which could be obtained of Southern
mechanics. Can the South prosper so
long as she neglects her own sturdy
mechanics? Their position is hard one,
truly; for they have TO compete with free
labor on one hand, and with slave and
penitenlary on the other.
But perhaps no class of men suffer
under this state of things to greater
extent than the printers and publishers
of newspapers in the South. All know
Tor ought to know that the subscription
lists alone OF most Of our country papers,
will not support them; and yet, we see
clabs of ten, twenty. or forty subscribers,
in every village of the South, combined
to support some such trashy, wishy-
washy sheet as the universe, of New
York, or some other Cheap (0 paper,
whose conductors are in heart and soul
opponents of Southern interests, while
they will not encourage paper publish
ed in their own county-papers which
furnish them with useful home statistics,
advising them of what is most calculated
to interest them, If mechanic wants
a few hand bills, or bill heads; if drug
gist wants lew labels or a lawyer or
wants a hundred professional
cards printed. or a teacher wants two or
three hundred circulars or concert bills,
he must send to Northern city, where
he can procure them lille cheaper,
(rot always) than at home. Merchants
are satisfied to let the newspaper publisher
perish rather than give him little ad-
vertisng patronage. This spirit of gross
neglect and downright opposition to the
mechanics and pr,nters, extends through
out all the rami6cations of society in the
South. And so long as this course is
pursued, we drive from among US those
men who in all stages of the world have
proved themselves most useful to society.
We moreover keep from among us as
many more who would gladly take their
places in our midst as good citizens, in
building up our towns and ornamenting
the country. by their mechanical skill and
If we would prosper we must
our own workmen. We must
become independent Of other portious of
the country, to a certain extent, Ivy build
ing up manufactures, supporting our own
giu-rights, shoe makers,
tailors, cabinet worknlen, painters, print
ers, &C., &c, and then we will advance
steadily and securely on the high road to
aud wealth.