The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-08-04

The lee haniCs' Institute.
In the eloquent address of Gov. Wise before the
Virginia Mechanics Institute recently published
by the National htcItgcHcer, occurs the following
paragraph, which is Of peculiar interest at this
time, when a spirited effort is being made to build
a suitable hall for the Institute
few professions and voCations in a nation will
not and cannot support dense population, and
raise people 20 wealth and power. and sustain
them in any grand progress. Virginia has hereto
fore been peopled by planters and lawyers doctors
and manual operatives She has not been distiT-
guished at all for mechanism. and has relied main
~ upon one power only of production, the source
If agriculture. The mechanic arts have not been
honored fostcred and promoted as they must be,
and as our best interests require. | rejoice that
Richmond iindT. ynchburg Petersburg and Wheel
ing. are beginning to lay hold on this lever of
power and progress Never was there such a work
shop for mechanics as Virginia now is. She has
incXhaustiblc mines of iron. coal, copper and salt
and nterminable forests of timber. Wood. iron
and coal all that mechanics want. All he
wants is for the popular mind to he aroused, and
for the proper beginning Ill the right way To be
made. And though We have reason proudly to
thank some benetactorss such Anderson, Of
Richmond. proprietor Of the Tredegar Works and
"a sweeney. of Wheeling. and others, their fellow
laborers and c0adu for pioneering in the work,
yet we can hardly he said to have made a begin
ming. The ghost of Jefferson would vanish with
shame were it TO come and be told that still
buy our household furniture. and utensils, our
plOuglS, noes. axes anu nerves, NOktS, morse
buckets, broom handles, brOoES and clothes Plus,
and carriages and harness, and clothes ha. III 1cs.
boots, coats, vests, pants, every thing something
of everything from Old England and New England.
How il our independence of this necessity to lee
achieved ! answer but in one way, by school
for mechanics.
Such school has been established in this city ::
has been in efficient operation for several years,
doing, with its limited means, great amount of
good. and, TO widen the sphere of its usefulness.
and place it on permanent foundation, now ap-
peas for aid to erect Mechanics Hail. suitable to
its purposes, and which will be an ornament to the
city. Some Of our citizens have responded to this
appeal with iberality and public spirit which
does them honor. Shall not their example be imi-
tatcd, so as to enable the mechanics to put up
hall which will proclaim in its stately exterior and
its internal adaptation to its purposes, that the
tropois of Virginia knows how TO appreciate the
value and Importance of the mechanical interests
Gov. Wise has spoken of the shameful dependence
Of the South upon the North for the commonest
articles of household furniture, and for agricuitu
raj implements. The North has cultivated and en-
couraged mechanical industry in every shape and
form. 1t has established such institutions that
laboring hard to build up here in almost every
city and village. Its mechanics are generally men
Of intelligence, sometimes men of classical educa
ton and graduates of colleges; respected and self
respecting We need such mechanics here
and it Is by such efforts IA are now making in
Richmond that we can have them, and thus enable
our portion Of the South t1cast to supply IFS
own wants, and be independent of the North
Mr. Sweeney, of Wheeling referred to by Mr.
Wise, presents an example of successful energy and
thrift in practical mechanic, which deserves espe-
caf commemoration. The life of this man, if writ
ten ont, would present illustration of the power
of strong will, combined with intelligence and
sagaciy to overcome the most formidable obstacles
which might be read with both profit and pleasure
by every mechanic In the State Let our wealthy
citizens initiate the llberality of Anderson and our
mechanics the resolution and perseverance of Swee
ney, aud the result will be of more practical bene-
fit to Virginia than all the Southern Rights resolu-
tons and eloquent speeches in Southern Conyen-
tons that were ever made