New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-30
aN7-7ETW
Observation-Disclosures FRIENDS.
We take the following paragraph from the Bato

III . ~
We take the following paragraph from the Baton
Rouge Advocate of the 9th instant
MEcHAN1cs.-we are accustomed to hear before
election such and such man designated as friend
70 mechanics Such remarks may be very proper
The mechanical interest is inferior to no other in the
United States either in responsibility talents or use
fulness and to affect to look on mechanics IS an ~
ferior class Of citizens would show shallow ana
selfish principle. But in reference to meclanlcs I,
BATON Rouge these who have resided here many
years have not forgotten 1s4s, ~ and 40, when me
chancs wanted friends when they were crusnsu nv
kept down by Pententiary andin az Of a
intlock all was done in that nsti'u m, ~
cheaper rates than could be done OUTSIDE. 1ne NY
chanics fought well. They caused the Leeisla,uIe 70
capituate in 1916, and do them Jusscs, anu me-
then thew have gone on their way prosperously. me
records Of those times will easily show who their
friends were in time Of ncea.
In everything that is said relative to mechanics by
our Baton Rouge contemporary we cordially agree. In
the mechanical classes are to be found as many use
full honorable and intelligent men-aye more in pro-
portion to numberas in any other division or sub
division of our population. The greatest and best
and most llustrious men this country ever produced
mechanics in their earlier days. The man would
be marked as downright fool who would dispute
the correctness of either Of these propositions
AS IL Is TtdSUuAult tudt VIC AuNoSaSSo es
ticle has some political reference applicable to the
immediate locality of its pubcationthe able editor
Of that journal generally means something when he
talks, which is than we can say OF all OF our
contemporaries propose extending the sphere OF
operations in order that the mechanics generally may
know "who their friends were in time Of need" We
think the mechanics of New Orleans, as well as the
mechanics of the rural parishes, are entitled to au
thentic information in the premises. At all events
we shall give it, and, the Advocate brings forward
the Penitentiary Of ancient days, we shall bring for
ward the Penitentiary of modern days.
We have always opposed the policy of bringing the
labor of convicted sentenced felons, in competition
with that Of honest men-skillful, industrious me
chanics-and shall always oppose it. We regard
such q policy as Ubiquitous and odious to the last
degree. I04r
During the latter part of February, 1857. 1--WE be
lieve) the Penitentary bill passed the Senate. Pend
ing its passage matters transpred of very interest
ing nature, far as the mechanics of Louisiana ar
concerned. republication Of an article respecting
this Penentiary BILL which appeared in the Crescen
of the 4th Of March last, will show to the mechanic
Of New Orleans, and the mechanics of Baton Rouge
" who their friends were in time of need.n The ar
ticle is republished below with some unimportan
alterations lt
"THE PENITENTIARY Billion the 9th ult.
Crescent, March 4th, 1851 in an article of some
length, we referred to bill then before the Senate
lit has since passed. to lease the Penitentiay on Ger
tain terms and conditions The proceedings to which
we specially alluded were had on the 2Oth and that
portion of them we deemed it orr duty, as faithful
journalists, to Indignantly denounce, was the voting
down Of an amendment offered by Senator Burlington
of East Baton Rouge, to prohibit the iessees from EN-
plong The labor of conoicts il, such branches Of me
chanical arts as ,could bring The products of hei,
labor in competition acih that of the mechanics o.
Baton Rouge and the mechanics of other portions o.
the State. We also promised to give list of the
ayes and noes taken on Senator Buffngton's amend
ment. We now redeem that promise. Here is the
list, extracted from the columns of Baton Rouge
contemporary:
Aues-De Russey, Defreese, Evans, Griffin, Hyams
Loc0ul, McMurdo, Martel, Oliver, Pellerin, Phillips
Richardson, Scott, Simms, ST. Paul and Stering-l6
Nays-Buff1ngten, Chew, Ducros, Gardere Heard
Layergne, Manday, Olivier, Pearce, Taylor and
Woods--1l. 5t
Three Of the senators-Messrs. Hyams, McMurdt
and st. representing, assuming to represent
the great and wealthy parish of Orleans, in which
nineteen-twenteths of the mechanics of the State
side and practice their respective callings roted
lay the saiuta1y pise and just amendment ire hau
described on the table--and it was accordingly laid
the table! One Senator--Mr Lavergne-voted il
the negative, and right and justice demanded, az
cording to our sincere conviction, and merits the az
planse of all good men therefor. The fifth Senate
was absent. , -
We have been thus particular in abiding to thi
odious and abominable transaction mean no pei
sonal offence, but can find no other words to expires
our meaning--in order that the mechanics of Ne,
Orleans and the mechanics of Louisiana may llno,
and properly appreciate the manner in which the
have been treated by the State Senate as well as til
names of those Senators who are in favor of degrat
ing their honest labor and skill to the level of th
labor and skill of Penitentiary convicts. We ar
much mistaken in our estimate of the intelligence
dignity and character of the mechanics of the CON
monwealth, if they fail to mark and remember thos
gentlemen who, by their votes, sought to inflic
directly indirectly to say the least, brand of d
grace upon their valuable and honorable avocation
Next to the agrcultursts the mechanics are the mos
necessary and important Of our industrial classes
What would the agrcultnrists say ii the same abhoi
rent rule should be applied to them There woul
not be particle Of difference in the principle of til
thing-the difference would only consist in its appl
cation. That is ALL alr
We hope no bill embodying this odious feature wi
pass the House of Representatives"
With two exceptions, every Senator voting agains
Mr.. Buffngton's amendment ,cas and is a Dem6c7at
Hence it follows, as natural consequence that tn
Democratic Senate of the State of Louisiana was
r..
chanics in competition with that of convicted and in
prisoned villains.
With this statement of facts we leave the mechanic
of the State to judge who their friends were in tim
of need.n Senators McMurdo, st. Paul and Hyam
we hand over especially to the tender mercies of I'll
parish of Orleans. 1t is the duty of the mechanics
the country to take care of the remainder
As we Predicted.
Shortly after the election of Mr.. Buchanan, W
predicted that he would encounter Southern DEM
cratic ouuOsition within twelve months aftar hS |;