Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-05-19
ADDRESS OF GOV. WISE BEFORE THE v1R.
G4N4A MECHANICS INSTITUTE, ORGANIZED
IN THE CITY OF RICHMnNn

Gov. WISE delivered the following address
before the Mechanics Institute in Richmond.
in compliance with an invitation extended to
him by that body. Like everything ema-
mating from him, it is marked by excessive
force, originality, eloquence and vigor, and
em'nentIy instructive withaI. Being intro
duced by the President of the Institute, he
said:
1.-The utility of Mechanics Institutes is at
once presented to The mind by the wonderful
developments OF the age In physical improve
ment. The Titans and the Tubal Gains are
at work among men, and the VuIcans are
t numbering on their anvils among the GODS
The enterprises of earth are SO gigantic and
INDUSTRIOUS that piety is almost afraid lest bu.
man power is exceeding the bounds of bumil
ity towards heaven. Never in anv ACE was
there such stir amidst the atoms of matter
material nature is vexed ia all the dust of her
dominion, and earth and air, and OCEAN and
lIgut, In all their parts and elements. are mt
into the whirl OF motion. The years of old
lime are quickened into seconds, the miles of
space are shortened TO span, power is multi
Piled IN the ratio from the mere MIGHT of ami
NAL muscle to the fearful po:ence of steam
and electricity; farthing candle is turnad
into more than the '' 'Aladdin's lamp" which
Pours its floods of light over cities and alone
pavements and highways; and the sun him,
self has turned painter and printer, AMI the
mighty waters, whether hyperborean bound in
Ice, or ripping liquid on the Egeau, or lyino
th'ck and slab on the Dead Sea, or floating i9
m's's around the mountain curled," the
great Deep and the springs and the clouds,
al, al are made to give up, give up, uatil it
Ia fo hoy
earth TO have no hiding places Is there 20
be no unknown 2" The result of this 10 ,Ian
ty OF food and raiment, and locomotion with
out limit, and habtations up to crystal palaces
ana all the world for immediate neiphborhood
by a quick intelligence, and human comforts
and iuxurles OF mind and body, which exalt
and dignity us with civilization which tho
world has never known before, and which
guided by sound Christian philosophy. fore.
shadows peace on earth and good will 70
man (Cheers) Wonderful wonderful
and all these wonders come from the wand of
mechanism Every humble operative in the
world contributes to the grand result. Toll
on, then, patient and lonely laborer. To in.
vent, to apply, to control, to guide this magic
power, is the necessity for mechanic institutes.
They are founded on
First. The cooperation of labor, and
SNO"u'y' tHe pTIHclpI' tnat industry is
essentially social He here read passaoes
from Wakefield and Everett, bearing upon
these views.) F"
The objects Of the institutes are frst-First
to perfect the mechanic arts. So important
IS this that every source of power and produc-
ton depends upon them, and the people who
DO not keep pace with their improvement, and
who 40 not make their products of themselves
VIII fall back in the race of nations. Apri.
culture depends upon them and their perfec.
ton for all its implements-its ploughs. its
CHAINS its sowing and planting and reapinp
machines. Manufacturing and mining ana
the forests depend upon them for all their ma
"h'nery-thsir engines, their levers, then
shafts, their spinning jennies, their planning
machines their sewirgSsearstres es, their
saw-milIs, their grinding mills, their every va.
Tieiy of cogs and wheels, in all the nazes of
minute and mammoth construction. Com.
merce is dependent upon them for its sb;ns
and its cars, and for all the appliances Of trans.
portation and navigation, by land and by sea
And what powers of locomotion are there in
this country compared with what Columbus
manned to discover this continents Then
Spain was the Proudest maritime power
And look back to the most gallant vessel If
her Armada. and compare it with that mer-
chant clipper of modern days, built in Amer
lea, and aptfy called the White Cloud. But
canvass is no longer the mighty motor