Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-09-29
APPEARANCES ADDRESS.

MECHANICS ADDRE5S.
 The mechanics of Little Rock, through the undersigned, their committee. present, for the consideration of the ensuing General Assembly and their fellow citizens at large, the following address.
 They publish it. first, that it may serve as distinct annunciation of their views upon the subject treated of Correcting. by this means.l any erroneous impressions that may have gone abroad as to their position and statements touching the questions referred to.
 SecoFlly, they hope that dispassionafe ex- aminatio, of what is here put forth, ma tend to inducathe legislature to reform on9fof the evils herein complained of. as we hurF'bly con ceive, it IS slike highly suicidal to tho imechanc and to the luhic prosperity of town land coun- try. We asign it as one ef the q lief reasons why our cits lacks that progressivf prosperity, which thus fa she has not attaineA, but which her natural advantages 50 clearly fsutitle her to-
 We premisea that we hold 1t t5 be true, that the mechanic art is in itself. respectable, and important to the country, an,s entitled to such legislative protection as may be necessary, to preserve it from dsgredation ahd humiliating contact.
 From the remotest leriohs of enlightened an tiquity, architecture 3ad/ mechanical pursuits, have been sedulously boked to, and held in high esteem. by the wAe men and public bene- factors of all enlightsHed or civilized nations.
 Before the lawyeEsan be admitted to the bar, he must be certifeatSo by others, in high posi- ton, that he is Tot only versed in his profession but of good moral standing in the community. h most States in the Union, the physician must be run through the same crucible. before he can administer me dicine to his patients.
 These precautionary measures, confer two fold advantage, one to the practitioner, the other to the pubic. The former obtaining thereby immunity from competition with those who are morally and professionally his interiors. The latter immunity from the practice of knavery and ignorance liable to effect their pockets or their bealth; thus giving elevation, tone and dignity to those adopting these pursuits as a busipess.
 But the artisan mechanic" is doomed to meet with an endless variety of degrading com petition. The outlaw and felon in our State rrison-the free negro, and negroes worse than free. hiring his own time, is his equal, and successful competitor The existence of these facts operate as social hardship on the me- chanic, but more than this, they deprive him of his living.
 The inmates of the penitentiary are daily employed to the number of say fifty, in the building and constructing of every variety of mechanical product. They work in iron steel, silver, wood, stone, leather, and perhaps others of the raw material. Amongst them are found carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, shoemakers, upho'sters coopers, wheelrghts, painters, car riage makers and trimmers, turner's teamsters and school masters, each producing every variety of article in his department for sale or barter in town and country.
 That the free mechanic can compete with penitentiarv convict labor, is impossible. The rem ainder, therefore, of what cannot be done in the penitentiary is left for him.
 He is by this competition, kept out of regu- lar emplovment, and thus under the necessity of exacting from. his patrons higher rates for what he does do, than would otherwise be ne- cessarv For necessity knows no law and him. self and family must have substance
 But it may be said, that if the fifty mechan- ics were not supplied by the Penitentarv, there would be a deficiency, which would be fur nished from abroad Let them come, they would prove valuable acquisition to the city and country-population in Arkansas being perhaps more desirable than any other single element of political strength.
 But we wish to be understood as rehecting upon ua individual officer or party, when we comp ,i1 of this state of things. The cond- tion of the buildings, and the want of means in the State treasurv rendering it impossible up to th. present period, that the convicts could be employed u any other department of manual labor. But if we are not at fault in the legis- irtive history of Arkansas we have precedent and authorltv TOT recommending the estaDIlsh- ment of wool and cotton manufactories in the penitentiary.
 The penitentiary system, if we read aright, has always met with strenuous opposition in the legislature. During the sessions of 1846, 18f8 and 1850, this opposition was more than for formidable, and well nigh attained to a control- ing inhuenc,. The objection urged, m .nly to perpetuating the system being in consequence of the large annual expenditures found neces- sarv to sustain it in it's then wretched condition.
 But the friends of the measure, during the session of 1850 urged additional expenditures, promising ultimately, ample remuneration to the State, in the erection of workshops, suitable for the manufacture of cotton and wooden goods. Upon such assurance the opposition yielded. The workshops have been erected and are now complete and of sufficient dimensions to en- ploy every man within the walls profitably, in the spinning and weaving coarse cotton and woolen fabrics. An abundance of the raw ma terial-wool and cotton are produced at the very doors of the institution, and when manu- tured will find highly remunerative market, without cost of transportation of any kind.
 In view then, of what appears above, we ap- peal to the members of the ensuing General Assembly, to relieve us of this unworthy and degrading competition by diverting, in future, the convict labor of the penitentiary from the mechanic arts; employing them hereafter as operatives, in a line of business that will amply remunerate the State for its outlays, and prove beneficial generally to the whole country.
 Another of the moral and political evils affect ing Little Rock and vicinity, retarding the growth and prosperity of the place, and extend ing it's baneful influences into every ratification of societv--is found in the accumulated num- Der of free negroes, occupying squares, half squares and fractional squares, throughout our city.
 Endorsing fully the sentiments contained in the "citzen's address," published recently, by their committee we add--that the like com petition, offered to the mechanic by convict labor is furnished to the white laborer by the free negro.
 Our barbers, confectioners, resturant keepers, hackmen, wood choppers, are free negroes.-- They are exclusively the gentlemen of perfect leisure, and superflous means. They drive out of the city (because out of employment) hon. est white men equal to their number, who would add to the population and importance of the place. They are useless drones in society, hay ing no vote, giving no political strength or wealth to the country. But consumers, corrupting to the slave, and to the whites as well. Their presence here induces de. parture from moral rectitude amongst our young men, producing a mongrel and mixed bfooded race, neither white nor black, having neither "habtation nor home." unhappy in their condtion--undefined in their identity: advantageous to no one, misery to them selves, and in worse condition every way than their most undeied African ancestor.
 All admit an evil in their presence, the oues- ton beiug-what shall be the remedy?
 That for those of them, who have, in long and faithful servitude. won golden opnions'' from their masters, and for thier fidelity, have been given their freedom, we do not hesitate to express a sympathy. But that even these, could be amply repaid by emigrating to other countries, we can entertain no serious doubt. But they form exceptions, and might we'll be provided for in the expulsion of others
 Our motto is--henceforth--le no negro be n, sd la fraa or rop,ain if ha i froa ;, rI,,,s,,