Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-28
MR.. H8iTToN AND THE LABoRYG GLASSES.

believed that, in Government, the man shOuIu De
regarded as subordinate to Capital, and, following
out the idea, proposed system of legislation that
would foster and protect Capital leaving labor to
take care of itself And hence followed the old
idea that Government should take care Of the rich
and the rich would take care of tae poor"
These old Federal notions have still their represen-
tativesin this country and Notwithstanding theirun-
popularity with the American masses, such is the
absolute power Of Capital and the superior adroit-
ness Of Capitalists, that they have always received
two-thrds not four-fths of the legislation of the
country to the neglect and detriment Of Labor The
artificial classes Of sOciety-the men who consume,
but produce nOthing-the men who live, as it were
upon their Wits-have managed to make themselves
the favOrites Of Government; while the hard-work-
ing, tOiling million, who, by the sweat of fheir
brOws, feed and clOthe the world have been meas
urably uneared for and overlooked.
The public record of Mr.. Hatton, and the ques-
lions Of policy which he advocates upon the stump
shows him already to be of this school politicians
As legislator he has gone farther than the farther
est favOring Capital While, upon the other hand
he has manifested for, but rather an IN
willingness to protect Labor Railroads, Banks and
Corporations Of every character excited his liveest
interest and received his most Jealous support For
instance, he wiling as we have shown, to vote
millions Of dollars Of the common credit of the peo
pie to internal imprOvent companies, many of which.
we're for the benefit Of local enterprises than
the general good, and yet he was unwilling to re-
quire of these companies so much as simply to Gre
ate sinking fund to meet the bonds of the State as
they should fall due. He willing to vote special
privileges to incorporate companies of every char
acter and sought to perpetuate the system Bhenthe
Legislature should adjourn, by constituting local
tribunal for the purpose in every county Of the
State. Heis now advocating the policy of taking
common llsd from the Federal Treasury, and sppro-
Priating it in part to the liquidation of the debts of
these Railroad companies.
And yet with all this Hberality towards capital
and classes, what has h ever done for Labor? VIII
some one run through the Journal of the House of
which he was member, and show us where, in a
single instance, he ever proposed any action for the
benefit Of the Farmer or Mechanic What zeal he
manifested to provide greater security for their
rights and to foster their interests? Upon the con-
trary his votes indicate that he was contracted in
his views and ilIiberal in his feelings with regard to
every thing but Capital and Corporations. There
were propositions made by Others by way Of afford
ing additional security to the laboring man. It
cannot be shown that Mr.. Hatton was the special
advocate Of any Of item. Upon the contrary he
was the incorporating opponent of those that
melted out the greatest justice
For instance A bill was introduced into the Sen
ate, entitled "A bill for the benefit of Mechanics"
1t was referred to the committee on the Judiciary,
composed of able lawyers who reported it back to the
just we're its provisions that it passed that body on
its third reading with but three Senators voting
against it, and all of them Know Nothings. The
following is a literal copy of the bill. Let the
reader examine it carefully and while it is intended
simply to afford some additional security to the
mechanics, let it be shown where it could have
worked the least hardship others:
BILL FoR THE BENEFIT OF MECHANICS.
Be enacted By The General assembly Of the State Of
Tennessee, That hereafter when mechanic or under
taker shall have lien upon lot or tract Of land for
buildings made Of materials furnished which said
lot tract Of land shall at the same time be sub
ject 10 the lien Of the vendor and said vendor shall
enforce his lien then said mechanic or undertaken
may sue said vendor and recover the value of the
actual benefit derived by said vendor from the labor
materials Of such mechanic or undertaken Pro
ylded, That such mechanic OF undertaken will
bring his suit within II months after inaiudrmeDt
in favor of the vendor against the vendee and pro-
vded further, that if the vendor viii give such me-
chanic or undertaken notice at any time before or
after the commencement Of the work that he wiz
not be responsible therefore, then he shall not Sc
liable for work done materials furnished from the
date Of the service Of such notice.
When this bill came to the House, the more eectu-
ally TO guard against any abuses that might grow
out Of it, it was amended as follows:
Provided further that the vendor state in tbetile
bond or deed, which he makes for said Iand--and
that title bond deed is registered that he will
not be responsible for materials furnished or work
done thereon, then he shall not be liable in any
manner after the registration Of the same. And
provided, gso, that the mechanic may take the land
or lot at the original bid Of the vendee, providing
the vendor ls unwilling to pay for the improvement
The original bill was thought to be entirely I'm
Objectionable but these amendments we're consented
to with the hope Of removing all grounds for Oppo-
siGOn whatever. But Mr.. Hatton was not satisfied
and voted NO, and aided in defeating the bill
Why should he have objected? 1t simply pro-
vided thatthe tOiling mechanic should recover from
the vendor he SELLER in the event he enforced his
lein against the vendee (the purchaser and thus
got the land back upon which the mechanic had
been employed to expend his labor and material,
the actual benefit" the vendor would derive by
reason Of the improvements and nothing more -
Against hardship in any possible contingency, there
was ample and complete guaranty in the provisoes
attached. Without such a law hardships are daily
occurring to plain and unsuspecting class of men,
who live by their labor, and have not the time and
opportunity Of enquiring into the titles Of property
Mr. Hat'on saw no injustice in creating irrespOnsi-
BILE corporations, comforting special privileges and
freed from individual liability, but he saw great
danger, we suppose, in providing for the mechanic
this simple act Of justice.
Again. The raising of stock is getting to be one |
Of the most important interests in Tennessee. The
prevailing sentiment of the country is that it should
be fostered and encouraged. By an act of the Le-
gslsture of lS4S, in assessing the revenue Of the
State, it provided that stations and jacks, in
stead of being taxed like other property, should be
taxed as Prrlsgss, a discrimination without reason,
and unavorable to the stock raising interests Of the
State. bill was introduced into the Legislature |
that so much Of said act provides that yearly
specific tax shall be assessed upon the keeping of
jack OF stallion for the propagation of stock, as
PTraege, be repealed, and that the same hereafter
be taxed only as other property" sc. There was no
reason why the farmer should pay greater tax up
as foo +l,,-