Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-02-14
REMARKS OF MIR. LEWIS,

Or Wake deferred in the House If Commons, ."
the bill 10 protect mechanics anil ld6orers, dc.
Nix. SPEAKER: In presenting my views upon the
bill under consideration, confess that feel some
degree of embarrassment, arising from two causes.
In the first place, majority Of the committee to
whom it was referred, thought proper to make an
uniavorab'e report; and dislike to press upon this
House any subject upon which that committee, able
and learned as know it to be, has thns reported.
In the second place have heard whispered about;
yea, sir, have heard it upon the high ways and the
hedges, that this was popubr measure; and as l
had the honor to introduce it, my motives, in these
times Of ds,rust and conjecture, might be impuSned;
but sir, regardless Of the opinions of Others III ela-
ton to this matter, or the suspicious Of distrustiul
minds as to the motives Of gentlemen, shall fear.
lesSly but briefly, give my views in regard TO the
provisions OF this bill.
The design OF this bill is to protect the laborer
and mechanic in the work which they do, and for
the materials which they furnish, when such work
and materials add to aud enhance the value OF the
real estate, by giving them lien upon the property
thus improved and the work done for the payment
of the same according to contract In order to
more fully appreciate the object of this bill, and to
illustrate the wisdom of its provisions let us notice.
for short time, the class OF to whom it re-
la,es
First, There is no class of men more 'oorthy OF
projections; and this proposition is established from
the following considerations /. They are arrh0Hest
/
detract from the honesty of men generally, but only
to establish the fact that the laborer and mechanic
are peculiarly so. Their business is well calculated
to promote honesty; for, in the main, there is no
temptation to the contrary, either to elude, to de-
c,ive or to induce but still more, their success is de-
pendant in n great degree, upon this principle
il the mechanic is to gain high reputation, and be
promoted in his trade he can best do so by an hon
est execution of his ,,ork, by faithfully discharglng
every duty, and by making each and every lick as
though the eye Of his employer was upon him.
This trait of character, therefore. is somewhat pecu'
liar to the laborcr and mechanic as It's cultivation
promotes their success in business and entities them
to he, what all men should De ambitious OF, 1.-THE
mobiles, work manship Of God" 3 They are an in.
dqstrious class. What is more contemplate than
the surgard? what is more praiseworthy than the
man who rises with the morning sun, and tolls all
the day long :" to make an honest living? y. lhey
are useful class. 10 them we are indebted in
great degree Tor all that is comfortable as well as
ornamental. Look around and contemplate the i'm
provcmcnts VIII ch have been made by their bands,
and contrast Til, state OF cultivation with Mat OF
"nanres wild," They have, in truth, made the
desert places tn blossom the rose, and the wilder
ness to bin. forth her abun,laucc-the have dot
ted this earth 10y Il cir handwork, and made it orna-
mental, profitable rs.u, and delightful to look up
ON. Towns and cities, railroads aud canals, oina-
mental grounds AMI cultivated fields meet the view
u; every glance, aud burst upon the admrlng gaze
with equal wonder aud delight; and sir for all this,
and much more, we are indebted /" the strong arm
of the luborer and mtchanic. For these reasons,
therefore, conclude that this class OF our fellow.
c;lnsnS is worthy of protection, and should DC Ia
vorably considered by this Legislature.
Second, There is no class mare in need OF protec-
ton They are generally poor class of men, while
those for whom they work either rich or so con-
sidered and these two conditions place the former,
to great extent, in the power OF the latter. The
humble aud unprctcnding mechanic docs not ven
ture often times, 10 ask his employer for bond to
secure him in his contract, for this would he con-
sidered presumption and even offence enough TO
cut him out Of the job; but rather he goes forward
in the execution Of the work, aud alas, too often
finds that in the end trust has been made, and, as
matter of course, he po)r mechanic is lett entirely
out, while the breaking man secures some rtch one,
in order curry favor with him in future; and thus,
too, when the hard licks Of the mechanic have ad-
ded very much to the value OF his estate.
Aud again. IL is generally true that those who
wish work done either actually very good Tor
their contracts, so considered. Now, with
this rcpution, whether true false, the aborer or
mechanic does not deem it necessary to 20 to the
trouble and inconvenience to procure a bond or GOV.
enant with surety; still these men of large reputed
estates, Of high character in a community, land
these are those who are most likely to have eXpen-
sive Improvements madc,) most likely the very
persons who break and leave this very class and
their families to suffer. Then it is trne that they
to some extent in the poSe, of their employers,
and therefore need protection.
Again: Of this class it is true in most instances,
that they poor and their families, often times
large, entirely pendent upon their daily earn
ings for support; that it is absolutely necessary
for their sustenance, for them to receive their pay
uniformly aud without delay,--a failure to do so,
therefore, in single job, would go very Far to their
oppression, and in cutting Oft their necessary sup.
plies. For this reason alone, if no other, should
be in favor of this bill.
have thus given my reasons why this class OF
men should be specially noticed by the Legislature,
to'wit; they are worthy Of protection and they are
in need Of protection.
come inquire why il is that this bill should
not pass and under this head will notice the objec-
tons to it, And first, it is objected that this is class
tegislati2n; then reply that much, very much, OF
all legislation is class legislation Look at our stat
ute book, and you will find that the railroad men,
the bank men, the professional men, and many 9TH