Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-11-22
FoR THE VIRGiNIAN

For THE VmGiNIAN.
Mr.. EdltOr In addressing myself To the
Mechanics Of my native state, upon the sub
Ject oi the past and present condition Of the
Mechanic arts, feel well assured that how
ever feeble my efforts may be, the subject it.
SELF deserves 10 be, and must become one Of
intense interest 10 every man whose daily
bread depends upon the sweat of his brow.
When we look around us in Virginia and
view the depressed condition Of the mechanic
arts, compared with their condition in other
parts oil our country, and when we see the CON
scqnent low moral and social condition of the
mechanics themselves, the quick blood man
ties our check, and we feel ashamed; and vet
how many desire To see change for the better,
IN this matter Very few We have seen
again and again efforts made To relieve the
other great interests of the State by means of
associations, conventions nc. and always with
pleasure, aud we have thought it strange that
not one move had been made, not the first step
taken, To relieve or aid that interest which has
been so properly called the "bone and sinew
interest OF the land. Why this is so We cannot
tell; and yet we are sometimes led to believe,
that the cnuse is to be found with the mcchan-
les, themselves. 1t must be that they are eli
Their, too ignorant, too incident or too indi1er-
ent 10 the HONOR of their calling, to move
properly in this matter. And while the Legal
profession is sacred to the licensed attorney
strenuous efforts are being made TO throw
legal protection around the icgitimate prac-
titoners Of medicine, and while the ag-
ricultna and manufacturing and mercan.
tile portions of our people are calling,
in very unequivocal language for recogni-
lion of their rights, the poor and unedacated
mechanics are left TO that protection which
their workshops afTord-and to a recognition
of those rights which their strong right arms
may enforce. Mechanics of Virginia, is thus
rightl know that it will be said that it is
impossible 10 alter or help this state Of th:ngs.--
All yes, and | know too that abusive languae e
never yet caused any one to see truth the ces r
or, and yet there those whom it is almost
! impossible not to abuse, those who, when you
vedcstroyed their limsy arguments set about
with the most commendablc industry to build
another Just like t-of one Of whom Pope said:
Break one cobwcbb through"
He SPINS the same self-ploasing thread anew,
Destroy his hhb sophisrv in vain
The creatures Ut his dirty work again.
These are they-these wiseacres, with
whom any change for the better is impossible;
| these are the men who are opposed to seeing
! the upright mechanic take that social position.
to which his worth man and his merit as
n workman may entitle him.
The imposslbility of heI ping the present
state of things rests oftentimes with those who
having crept into some trade, or into the prac-
tae OF some mechanic art, for which they know
they are not qualIficd-and having Obtained
nome TO which they know they are not emil.
tied, are satisfied to let matters rest as they are.
or IN other language, (thc 9ony If mhich Hev
ca@7ot understand say "let we'll enough
alone | know that there are-those who
think that the present state of things is owing
| to the amount of slave labor employed in the
| various branches of mechanic arts This doubt.
less has had very great influence, but the
dbSenccof all honorable inccRtircS 10 y0uag a,,c,
Just entering upon their apprenticeship, is tie
cause and the idle, dssoute apprentice, and
low blackguard journeyman the legitimate
offspring OF the present SYSTEM create in the
minds OF most men more sovereign contempt
tor the class to which they belong--than anv
number of slave workmen, and TIE riagers-;n |
to trades and calngs damn those trades and
callmgs more efcctually than all the slave Ia.
Dor IN the Union.
In my next | shall endeavor to elaborate q
plan by which, believe the mechanics of Vir-
ginia may greatly benefit themselves and their
poserily, if they will. Inns