Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-19
The Dignity of labor.

Gov. HARRIS, in his recent address at the OPEN
ing Of our State Agricultural Fair very truly char
acterises as one Of the grave errors Of the tme ga
want Of proper appreciation Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts as UocahoRs IN life" In which con-
nection he further remarks: 'It may be set down
As an axiom throughout the world, that man never
exees, indeed he succeeds, in any vOcatien where
he does not feel that his pursuit in life is in every
way worthy Of his respect, interest, energies and
highest efforts These truths are worthy of more
than passing notice. They deserve to be seriously
wondered by the thousands Of intelligent minds in
the country to whom they have direct application;
for strange may such is the force Of habit
and prejudice that errors so evident and absurd as
to admit Of no defence often fasen themselves upon
the most intelligent minds.
The laws of justice emphatieally declare that labor
is the source Of wealth that industry is the parent
Of riches that it is, therefore, honorable to be in
dustrious and useful, and dshonorabe to be idle
and useless; that those who build houses, con-
struct our highways, improve and cultivate the
country, furnishing all the necessaries, comforts
and even Injuries Of life, the most useful, and
consequently the most respectable classes in society.
These are selfevident truths, and yet in pres
ent artificial state this natural order Of things is
almost entirely reversed. The idle class is most
Responsibilities who do nothing but live, are often
recognised Rs the most genteel. And yet no one is
so much deserving Of pity as he that does nothing
and has nothing to do. The ider is guilty of per-
manent fraud upon society; he is not only absolutely
good for nothing, but he is more than useless. His
existence is positive evil iDasmuch as he dimnishes
the wealth of the country, by diminishing the NUM-
81 md he cd
to support him by their toll and fatigue into the
bargain An eminent writer upon Political EeOno-
my has taken the high ground that those who do not
work themselves have absolutely nothing in common
with labor, the laws that govern it, nor with the
interests that direct il. Whether the position be
strictly not, society would be greatly bene
flied if it could in great degree, be acted upon, to
the breaking down of unthrift and the building up
Of the rights and interests of Labor.
LISA singular contradiction that while all inelli-
gent persons frankly admit the high responsibility
Of Labor theoretically, the very same parties will
deny il practically. We often speak Of the labOTer
as Naturers noblemau receiving his patent from the
Deity himself; and refer to the proudest names in
ancient councils belonging to the tillers Of the
ground And yet in practice We deny all this, pre-
ferrng the and sttraeGveness Of idle gentiliy
and splendid laziness And thus it is that wohirds
Of our young men Of passable education had rather
be fOurth-Fste lawyers without practice, than sue
oessfpl mechanicsor recognised quacks IN the pro-
fession Of medicine, or gambling bankers without
cal ital or adventurers in q thousand other ways,
in preference to becoming farmers or engaging in
any Of the simple but honest pursuits Of labor. 1t
is melancholy infatuatiOn, Pernicious as ii is
false and unfoUnded 1t is species Of madness and
folly which if not checked will sooner or later
our land with desolatiou. Without a wholesome re-
form in public opinion in this respect, the hardy
virtues, which alone can preserve our hallowed in
situations from decay and corruption, will have passed
away forezer.
The remedy suggested by Gov. HARMS is the true
one, to establish in agriculture and the mechanic
arts high standard Of ezcssncs, and then iuculcate
the axiom, recognised by thinking men throughout
tie world, that man never excels, if, indeed he
succeeds in any on where he does not feelthat
his pursuit in life is in everyEay worthy Of his re
spect, interest," energies and highest efforts. And
that "hence, the agriculturalst or mechanic who
feels that bis position in society is compromised by
his calling, enter upon lis duties with that
singleness of purpose, united energies, and fixed
resolve absolutely necessary to eminent success in
every department Of the business Of life; and that
the effort which may be made by this character of
hesitating reluctant hand must result in the fail
ure of the enterprise and the degradation of posi-
tion which the individual is unworthy to fill" Let
these truths be taught by fathers; let these be
taught in schools and by our mOrslists; and let
farmers aud mechanics, upon the theatre of
action, give them practical application and begin
the work Of illustrating their moral force and beauty
to the world and the real philanthropis and patriot
will soon have occasion to rejoice the workings
Of reform more important in its results and lasting
in its consequences than any which has yet improved
or ameiorated society in the entire history of our
country.
The Anti-LecOmptOn Organs Echo the
AbOlIIiOnisIs.