The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-05-11

struct steam engine and adjust all its nice
parts and apply its power to spinning and
weaving, or the lawyer who could compre-
hend the rule in Shelley's case and cxpound
the statute de donis2
Ambitious fathers dedicate their sons to
the learned professions, and many thus sent
fall far below the fond anticipations of doat-
ing parents. They locate in town or vii
lage, and hang their sign upon the "outcr
wallis" Weeks and months roll on, and no
patients or clients come; habits of idlencss
are contracted, and, with them, pleasure in
dissipation, which soon ends in debauchery ::
then loss of sef.rcspect-loss of hope-that
last prop Of the falling man-despair and
rum, crime and disgrace perhaps, till the sad
hnole is at length reached, when he sinks
''To the low dust from whence he sprung.
Cnwept, unhored and unsungi"
The educated skilful mechanic is always
employed; he receives and husbands fairly
rcmunerating wages for his labor; he finds
III his profession an ample theatre for the
exercise of taste, invention, Judgment, and
every faculty of the proudest intellect; he
crowns his house with comfort and his table
with abundance. Is his domestic happiness
and his usefulness to society to he compared
with that of the brietless lawyer or the pa
tientless doctor?
ioi!ng men in our State arc commencing
to realize thai labor is reputable. When the
graduates OF respectable institution, sacri-
nee false sentiment, and 60 to the machine
shop to be educated in mechanism and en-
glncry, as some have recently dohe, it fur
n'slles the index of a hcalthful public opin-
lon' and gives bright prospects of an in
creaslng prosperity in the future
The great desideratum now is to give dig
nlty to mechanical employment by educa-
ting Its members, not only in the use Of tools
and machines, but in physical science; teach
them chemistry, mechanical philosophy,
mathematics, engineering, architecture, and
aii knowledge necessary to prosecute all
brhnches of their profession. This accom-
plIshed, we shall hear no more of their So
clal and intellectual inferiority. There
can be no inherent defects in any of the
elements constituting the man where his la
bors show such varied useful triumphs, as
mark the pathway of the mechanic, in min
Fistering to the conveniences and comforts of
civilized life. Their social influence has not
been equal to their numbers or services in
advancing the civilization of the race. Me-
chanlcs now is the time to commence re-
formation push it on with your wonted
energy; organize associations, not to regu-
late wages, but to buy libraries-to procure
lecturers who may instruct you-to inter-
change thoughts during hours of leisure
and soon your influence will be as potent in
the social and intellectual, as it now is in the
industrial and inventive world. ~ -,
Distinction is the pet Of no one occupation;
every useful path in life is an avenue to pow.
er, and opens doors of conquest to him who
has the moral courage to knock and enter.
1t has been nobly won by many of your
brethren. Franklin, Watt, Fulton, Ark
wright, Cartwright, Adams, Morse and thou
sands more have blessed mankind by their
inventive genius, and given bright page
III history to their own great names. A
gifted orator sums up your duties and re-
sponsibilitcs in the following beautiful Ian
guage: "Respect your calling respect your
selves. The cause of human improvement
has no firmcr or more powerful friends. In
the great temple Of nature, whose founda-
ton is the earth :; whose pillars are the eter-
nal hills; whose roof is the star-lit sky
whose organ tones are the whispering breezes
and the sounding storm; whose architect
is God; there is no ministry more sacred
than that Of tho intelligent mechanic"
With your genius and capacity, industry,
and usefulness, why may you not stand up
and exact recognition of your perfect equal
ity with the most favored and exalted class
of your fellow men.
If the State cherished in its bosom intel
| ligent mechanics in numbers equal to sup
plying all our necessities, as have present.
cd them, new fountains of wealth would be
poured out on every industrial interest. The
population Of our cities would rapidly in
crease, old towns would be rejuvenated, and
new ones builded, the merchants sales and
customers would be extended, real estate
appreciated in value, agriculture would no
longer languish: it is, no idle dream, the
1 horn of plenty would be emptied on the
land, and its refreshing dews would quick
en- and enlivcn its hills and3vales, mountains
and plains. Let us all unite cordially in
fostering profession which will beautify
thsFcountry, enrich the citizen, dcvelope the
resources and magnify the greatness, of our
much loved and cherished Carolina.
The patronage, Of this institute is not re-
stricted to manufactures and the mechanic
4 I'arts, but wisely embraces in its purposes
i ffsthhs promotion of agriculture, which now is
1 and must Continue the paramountindustria
iinterest Of South Carolina.ssIt is the basis
fofs all wealth. It's PRODUCES; Beyond the con-
j snnapt of the Iaborer becomes capital, a
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