Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-05-19

the Great Western, and the Great Western
With the now Great Eastern. But yesterday
there was snblimity in the power of the horse
hrs strength, his speed, his neck clothed with
tnnnder. his endurance, momentum. Now
now little Is the power of his wind and bottom,
compared with yon loGomotive, which
breathes, which perspires, which snorts and
nelghs and rashes on and on, dragging trains
OF tons upon tons of freight with lightning
speed, and never .tiresi No triumphs of
America exceed her gloIies of steam. One
day we behold handful of men behind au
array of cotton bales, awaitiny the coming
OF a mighty host of veterans from fhe we'll
fought field of Europe's Continental wars a
city was at stake There was a landing and
pause before the many attacked the few
Suspense was agony. The ordnance belched
forth their flames small arms ratified and
clashed there was the deadly assault, and the
bloody stubborn defence. Arms ceased. the
smoke of battle cleared away England was
arrayed against America, and New Orleans
was saved. (Cheers.) How did the Ameri
can heart oound. How did the American
voice shout Gladly, proudly every bosom
heaved and exulted with patriotic Joy.
Long since that day of battle, there was
another triumph no less swelling to the Amer
lean heart-a victory won in DAYS of pence
= IL,
presence of her merchant princes, her gentry
and her mobiles. There was problem in me-
chanics to be solved, a grade to be overcome
oy locomotive, with certain weight, to be
ira nsported. British machinists and mechan-
les and science gave it up. A premium was
offered in the form of a contract, the terms of
which an American observation-disclosures. of
PhIiadeIphia-took up. He engaged to over
come the grade bv his American locomotive
It was made; it was shipped; it reached
England and the trial railway was prepared.
But Jealousy threw every obstacle in the way.
What! American impudence to dare to do
what British skill failed inl The calm con.
seriousness OF strength seen in the mien and
composed bearing OF Mr.. Norris seemed to saw
he would do il without fail. The Custom
House lnterposed obstacles; combinations of
English artizans were formed against the trial.
AT last all obstructions were removed liberal.
ity and justice prevailed, and the engine was
allowed the test of its power. The day came
for 1t, and crowds of spectators went to the
scene. Apart from the great crowd. near to
the locomotive, stood few anxious hearts, a
group of americans, full of fear, but full of
hope. The locomotive was made ready.-
Norris applied the steam. The machine, like
living, moving, breathing thing, seemed to
become impatient. Put on the weigbts !"
said the master mechanic. Ton was added to
ton. What! no murmur of too much The
enVious critics were surprised. They expected
some Yankee plea for less than contract bar
gain, but no there Mr.. Norris stood silent
until the English ceased to add more. "Are
you content" said he, " gentlemen, that the
locomotive shall draw so much 2'' 1t will
never draw that, thought they, and so feared
the friends who looked on; but one moment
more and the friends had all doubts dissolved
but not by the engine. "Add on double as
much more," said Mr.. Norris. It was done.
de then calmIy took his station, gave signal,
and the mechanics giant, like a greyhound
on the slip, bounded at the wave of its mas.
ter's hand, and walked away with double its
burden like a thing of life. Oh then from
that little American group went up a shout
like that which bursted from American bosoms
when New Orleans was saved. loud cheers.)
The glad, the glorious feeling was sympathet.
lc-the English saw and shouted too A vic
tory OF arts, triumph of peace like this was
to the triumph of battle as the joy of two ma
tions, vanqnished as well as victor, is to the
JOY of only one. England walled at New Or.
leans, but England, too, as well as America.
was obliged to shout at this. (Cheers.) All!
England, marry old England Britain Great
Britain, you said that as long as the sea rolls
a biilow, you would be mistress of the ocean.
mistress mechanic of naval architecture: but
your sweet little Queen and her prince con-
sort, and all your eyes, have seen the scenes
OF your own coast-the gala day of American
sailors, when the model yacht of America
spread her swan like sails, and walked the wa
tiers like thing of life, away from every Ply
mouth built clipper. There was anoth er
shout that day. And you have been taught
01n ri hon IL Il r
the spindle, weaving the web and warp of
cotton. These are truly triumphs. And sci
ence, astronomy, mathena les, chemistry.
natural philosophy and the fine arts. music
and painting, and architecture, and ali the Or
dinary arts of peace aud war, are dependent
upon the mechanic arts for their utensils and
arms. Fulton was a mechanic. He not only
taught the secret to his country of APPLYING
steam, and the art to Nonis of winning the
victory OF peace, but invented, too, the most
dangerous engine of war. He took the torpe-
do to England, and as trial of skill, blew up
the brig Dorothea, in the presence of the
Board of British Admiralty. Cheers L.
When the favorable report was made to Mr..
Pitt he said, "Why should England aid
America in teaching how to defend her coast
against the British navy7". And Franklin
was mechanic aGd he taught his country
how 10 snatch the thundeIb boIts from Jupiter.
and Colt how to apply the lightning to the
" torpedo" so that now a single m .chanic
can sit on the bank of any river or roaGstead
by the side of a galVanic pile not larger than
a hat crown. and by atonch of a rope of wires
connecting Fuiton's "torpedos," send Frank
Inns electric spark to submarine magazines
which would blow the whole British navy out
OF water. And the secret once known, me-
chahism has not stopped at applying galvan-
ism and electricity 10 the arts Of war: but the