Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-06-25

est and honorable laborers who may chance
to see this, to their own experience, and all
others to their testimony. IF he who knows
that he is living in the faithful and honest
discharge of his duty, who knows that he is
fulfilling the desi gn of his Creator, that he
supplies the want of himself and of his fel-
low-men, and that he is contributing to the
happiness of others, cannot and oug ght not
to be contented and happy, who, in the name
OF reason and Of common sense, beg to ask,
ought to be?
AS the weary farmer plods his way home
ward and reflects that his time has all been
employed; that he is providing for his fami-
ly; that his fields are waving with rich grain,
and his barns Will soon groan with the weight
of the productions of the harvest, that every
thing around him is abundantly supplied
with food and all are comfortable and happy
he surely must be contented. He enjoys
calm and contented spirit, as well as a
quiet conscience .s
But while the laborer promotes his own
happiness he likewise contributes to the hap
piness of his fellow man. He it is thatpro-
vides means of support and comfort and
luxury for society. He is continually con-
tributing his mite to supply the wants of the
poor, alleviate the sufferings of the afflicted
and distressed, promote the welfare of So
clety, and increase the enjoyment of all.
Who is it that furnishes the means of sus-
tenance and food to us all Who is it that
supplies the rich man with the many con-
veniences by which he is surrounded? It
is the laboring man. It is he that supplies
the various rich and splendid articles of fur
niture that adorn his parlor. It is that in
dustrious, upright, honest, honorable me-
chanic, to whom the ':upper tens" as they
delight to style themselves, the aristoerats,
not deign to speak. a
Who is it that builds our railroads and
digs our canals? that annihilates space and
brings mankind together almost as one COM
mon family? It is the laboring man. He
it is who is continually making improve
ments in arts and discoveries in science
He it is that digs from the bosom of the
earth, and collects from every quarter of the
world, the many valuable and precious min
erals, that are made to supply our wants
+e-aar~ Happiness In a thop-
sand ways. 1t is he who fells the forest,
shapes the timber, constructs our ships and
conducts our commerce. It is he, too, who
very frequently investigates the truths and
discovers the hidden mysteries of science.
How many valuable additions have been
made to supply our wants and contribute to
our happiness in thousand ways. How
many valuable additions have been made to
science by the discoveries of the laboring
man truths which would otherwise, per-
haps have remained hidden for centuries
from the greatest philosophers and scientific
men ever known to the world The labor
ing man has performed his part, too, in dis
covering the laws of Nature, and bringing
the elements in tame subjection to the will
Of man. Has the lawyer, the doctor, the
so-called gentleman, the politician, the ar
test, the aristocrat, the millionaire, the lord,
the prince, the monarch, often done this ?
But very seldom.
Who are our geologists, and chemists,
and astronomers? They are often among
our most Industrious laborers. Their work
is by no means entirely Intellectual They
perform as much physical labor as any other
class of men, save the regular day laborer,
who confines himself to manual labor. What
class Of men can be found who have under
gone more privations, suffered more hard
ships, and performed more severe or more
efectual labor than have some of these p
Even the chemist, in his laboratory, can
testify to the truth of this statement. Ask
him how he prepares bis chemicals, obtains
his gasses and analyzes compounds, and he
will tell you it is very frequently by the
hardest labor.
After all this, can any one say that the
laboring man is of no Importance in society,
or that he does not deserve to be as much
esteemed. respected and honored as any
member oft? Surely not It is upon him
that society is dependent for food, for the
comforts and 1uxuries of life, for the con-
struction Of our railroads and various inter-
nal improvements, for the building of our
cities, the carrying on of our commerce, the
support of our manufactures; and, finally,
for every improvement in the arts and sci
ences. He is the man upon whom society
is most dependent; he is the handspring of
its action, the vital spark of its existence.
Take away the laborer, and you strike a
death-blow at its very foundation. There
is no character without which it could not
better exist. Though he may be but little
noticed, and less cared for in times of peace,
plenty, and happiness, he is the one to whom
we all turn in times of emergency of need