Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-12
T. w. HAYNES, Sec'y.
- South and Examiner please copy.
ADDRESS OF GOV. WISE BEFORE THE VIRGINIA
MECHANICS INSTITUTE, ORGANIZED IN THE
CITY OF RICHMOND.

Especial Repor, Ter tho n. Y. Herhld.l
RICHMOND, VA, May q, 1857.
Gov, Wise delivered the following address before
the Mechanics Institute in this city, in compliance
with an invitation extended TO him ny that body
Like everything emaHalipg from him, il is marked
by excessive force, originality, eloquence and vgor
ard eminently Instructive withal. Being introduced
by the President of the Institute, he said:
THE ADDRESS.
The utility Of mechanics institutes Is at once pre-
scented to the mind by the wonderful Developments
Of the aye in physical Improvement. The Titens
uud the Cubal Cain. are at work among men, and
the Vucans are laundering on their anvlls among the
gods. The enterprises OF earth are so gigantic and
,honstrous tat pi.ty ia almost afraid lest human
power is exceeding the bounds OF humility towards
h,ayen. Never in any aye was there such n stir
amidst the atoms of natter material nature is vexed
in nil tb. dust of her dominion, and earth and air.
and ocean aud light, in oil their parts and tl.nsnis
are pu, into The whirl oil motion The years of old
1im- q::"seaa1 40 seconds the miles "i space
ar, shortened To y span power ia multiplied in tine
ratio from the mere might of animal muscle 10 the
fearful pocnce uf steam and electricity: iar;hlng
candle il turned into than the ,lnddiu's clamp"
which pnu!s its tunGs of lgh nver cities and along
pavement. ami highways; and the sun himself has
turned painter and printer, and the mighty waters
whether hyperborcan bound III ice. or ripping liquid
on the .Er.an, or lying hck and slab on the Dead
Sea- or floating in 'mists around the mountain curl
ed, the grea; deep, and the springs and the clouds
asked 'Is the sea &c have no secrets1 Is earth 10
have no hiding places! Is there 10 be no unknown?"
The result nj hs is plenty of food sud raiment, and
oromotiuu without limit, and habitaiioDs up to crys
tai palaces. and ali The world for Immediate neigh
borhood by quick intelligence end human com.
forts and Injuries of mind and body, which exa and
dignity us with civilization which the world has
never known tefur", and which, guided by sound
Christian philosophy, ioreshadows peace on earth
and good will to man. CHEERS Wonderful! won.
.C,,I lai fran nj
mechanism! Every humble operative in the world
contributes 10 the grand result Tu on, then. pa
tent aud lonely laborcr. To invent, TO apply. {"
control. to guild. this magic power. il the Necessity
for :necEa,.c institutes. They are founded OIL
F.rst. Th- cooperation al labor aad
Secondly. The prihc!pr that Industry is essentially
social. Tile here rsad passages from Wakefield and
Everett, bearing upon these views
The objects o the institutes are-tirst, to perfect
the mcchauc arts. )" important is this that every
sources of power and production depends up them.
aud the penp. who do no' keep pace with their i'm.
pravurnrmt, aud who do not make their products o.
themselves will fall back in the race %! nations. ag-
rcul:ure depends upon them ii their perfection for
ali liz impements-it. pougis ts chains it, sowing
and planting and reapng mtchines. Manufacturing
aud mining and the forests depend upon them for all
their Neutrality-suspicious. engines, their levers, their
shafts, ;!er spinning enni.- Their planning mnchnes.
their sewing seam.tress-s. their sawml- their grind.
ing mills their every variety of cog. and wheGl. in
ali the mazes ot minute and mammoth construction.
Commerce is dependent upon them tor irs ships aud
its cars aud for all the appliances al transportation
and navigation BY land and by sea- And what pow
rrs Of iocomocn tler. in this country compared
with what Columbus manned 10 discover this CONT
uept1 Then spain was the prnudest maritime
power. And look back TO the most gallant
vessel of her Armada, ana compare il with that iner
chnnt clipper of modern days. built in America. and
APPLY called the White Cloud. But canvass is no
longer the mighty motor. Compare the White Cloud
with the tiTs' model o: o see steamer Compare that
mode. witt. the Great Western, and thu Gruat West.
ern with ths HOW Grrat Eastern. But yesterday
there WAS subiimity IN the power OF the horse, his
strength his speed. his neck clothed with thunder. his
endurance, N oneutum Now how little ia IL. power
of his wind aud bottom, compared with you locuin".
tive. which brrsthrs, which persp;res, which snurts
and ncyhs and PUSHES on and on dragging trains ui
tons upon tons of freight with lightning speed and
never tires No 'r;unohs o; America exceed her
plories rf -;tan. One day We behold 2 handful NJ
men behind nu array OF GOTTEN bales, awa''in, the
coming al I: mighty host o. v.:crlni from The well
fought field OF Eur"pe5 continental wars; city WAS
NJ stake. Thcrc landing AMI pause before
the many attacked tho lew Saspsnao was agony
Iue ordnanre belcst forth th-ir flames: small arm
ratified aud ciashed there WAS the daddy assault, and
the bloody stubborn defence. Arms ceased, the
smoke of battle cleared away; Eug land arrayei
aganst America aud N-w Orlelns WINS saved
tCi,-ersl How did the American heart bound
How did the American voice shout. Gladly, proud
lr .yery bosom .eaved and exuIted with patriotic
joy.
triumph no less swelling 10 tho American hearth
vi,:;ory won in days o' peace by America .n old
Enrland's own -o, in the presence OF her merchant
nriuces her gentry aud her nobirs There n
nroblom in mechanics 10 be solved, grade to be
overcome by locomotive with certain weight to be
TRANSPORTED. British machin'sa and mechanics and
science gave it up. premium was offered in the
form Of contract the terms "f which an American
observation-disclosures of Phiadelp hia--toOk up. lie
gagged 10 overcome the grade b. his American loco
motive. II was madr; it was shipped; it reached
England and rhe trial railway was prepared. Bu
jealousy threw every obstacle IN the way What!
American nnpu'eacs 70 dare to do what British Skill
failed in The calm cunscuu.ness Of strength seen
in the 1ni.u and composed bearing at Mr. Norris
seemed TO say II. would do il Without fail. The Gus
I'M House int.rposei obstacles combinations of
English artisans were formed against The trial. Al
last all distractions were removed iioerainy anu
Justice prev allied aud the engine allowed the test
OF lis power. The day came for II, and crowds
OF spectators went TO the scene. Apart from the
great crowd, near Ia The Locomotive, $1,000 n lew
anxions hearts, group OF Americans iuii OF 'ear'
hu, fall of hope Tire locomotive was made
ready. Norris applied the steam. Inc machine,
Ike living, moving, breathing thing. seemed
10 become impatient. Pat on The weights, Sail the
master mechanic. Ton was added 10 ton. WHAT no
murmu. Of too much The euNious critics were sur
prsvd They expected soma 1onkee plea icr less
Than couifact bargain; tn. there 3i9 Norris 5000"
slim, un';! tn" Engiist ceased 10 add more Are
YOU con.en;, said be. gentlemen. that Inc ocoho
,v. sIG,. draw r2uah p Ii viii never Draw mat
hCuu ht they an. so feared the friends WHO looked
on; but ous mon"nt more and the i'iendS had All
doubts dissolved, nut not by tine e0su-. add on
double a.. much 'nnr..' .ai Mr. Nor,s. Il Was done.
lie then calmly took his station gave s:gns!, aid the
mechanics giant, like a greyhound on the slip,
bounded at the wave of it's master hand, and walk
ell away with double It's burden like thing Of life
Oh, then from tha, little American group went up
shou; like that Which burS,e from American Blossoms
when New 0fleaas was saved. tLoud cbeers The
g ad. the glorious feeling symps,heic-tac Eng.
lish cav and shouted TOO. : victory OF axis t.i.