Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-11
.THE CITY.
MECHANICS AND mANUFACrUR.
EIsS' ASSOCIATION.
Regular weekly Meeting.
Memorials tn the LegislAlure-E.G
ports and Discussions.

Memorials IN the Legislature--xRe
ports and Discussions. 3
eH 9-a
Tne Association met last nigot at the
usual hour, President Stoekell in the chair
MIR. Z. n Jones Secretary and large
number OF the members present.
The minutes Of the last meeting having
been read,
DR.. Atchison arose and stated that be
desired to make q personal explanation in
regard to some remarks he had made on a
previous occasion before the Association.
In those remarks he had made some state
nents which Mr.. Prewitt had understood
as rejecting upon him [Prewitt The DR..
stated that he did not dream that any such
thing had been done until Mr.. Prewitt had
called upon him afew days since and stated
that ne felt sggrieved. The Dr. remarked
that he was present 10 disclaim any inten-
ton Of casting any imputstion upon Mr.
p, as on the occasion referred to, he THE
| DIR. had attended the meeting ia the in
terests OF harmony and peace. He
| regretted that Mr.. Previtt had
not called his attention to the matter at
the time. The DR.. stated that in regard
to the remarks to which exceptions was
taken by Mr.. Prewett he did not well re-
member the exact language used, but he
could say that the feeling that prompted
the language was only one Of kindness 10
| Mr.. Prewitt and every member present
DR.. Atcaison stated further that the unfor4
tunate remarks were in reference to an ar
| tlele that appeared in the Banner and to
which he (the DR.. had casually alluded
That article stated, not Extensively to him
DR.. A either as man or an officer,
In general terms, that the prison was los.
ing money upon its cedarware productions
If it had not been that Mr.. Prewitt had
referred to this, and that he TDr. A. was
present at the time, he TDr A. would not
have felt called upon to refer to the article.
at all, as he knew that public journals had
a right to criticise the action of public Of
fcers. The Dr., after disclaiming any in
tention whatever to reflect upon Mr..
PfeBitt; stated that Mr. Prewit had asked
him to bring to the meeting last
night estimates Of the net cost of the
cedarWare manufactured by the convicts. |
DR.. A. stated that he had requested Mr.. /
Bowman, the Superintendent of the me-
chanical department Of the Penitentia1y
to furnish him with the date, but that, ow-
ing to sickness, Mr.. B. was unable to
comply; and then read a conversation
which he had with Mr.. B in reference to
the matter. The DR.. further remarked
that as soon az said data could be procured
he would submit the same to Mr.. PreWiit. |
The DR.. further stated that another ex-
ception had been made to the language
used by him at a former meeting of the
Association, where he had said that he
detied any one to prove to the contrary
what he had asserted in regard to the pen
ltentiary. The DR.. admitted that he had
used the word defy, and apologised for
it by saying that he SHOULD not have de-
fed any one, but should rather have invi-
ted investigation into the management of
the penitentiary
MIR. Prewitt then arose and stated that
he was satisfied with DR.. Atchison's ex
PLANTATION.
On motion, the clause in the memorial
to the Legislature, adopted at the
last meeting, and heretofore published in
these columns, rejecting upon the agents |
OF the Penlteutiary making purchases and |
selling articles for the inspectors was |
stricken from the memorial.
DR.. A. stated that the agents had no |
power to purchase any article for the |
prison except upon written acquisitions 1
made out by the inspectors. He further |
stated that the members of the Lsgisla- |
ture appeared to be SO much interested in |
the objects sought to be accomplished by |
the memorial, that several Representa-
tves had visited him Dr. A in reference |
to the matter. DR.. A. concluded by say
ing that he believed the Association would |
be successful in this matter, and that, |
when the Penitentiary should be removed |
from either real OF apparent sntsgonism
to outside labor, it would be one of the |
happiest moments of his life.
MIR. Warren-''Thst is a very pretty |
speech, DR.. Atchisor"
Mr.. Warren then proposed that en- addi- |
ton should be made to the memorial, for |
circulation IN Davidson county only, of a
statin9that the Inspectors pro-
posed to manufacture shoes and fiat cars,
and that while this would not entirely re-
move the evil complained OF, it would to q
great extent mitigate it.
After some discussion, themotion to add |
the smendmefl to the memorial was
lost.
Mr.. Brennan made some remarks in
which he took the ground that shoemaking
and car manufacturing in the Penitentiary
would come in conflict with outside parties
who might wish to go into the same bust
1ess. @
Mel. Nancy, one of the Penitentiary
Inspectors, then made some extended re-
marks, partly in answer to Ir. Brenn ans
statements
The press Of matter upon our columns
will not permit even an extended outline
)f his remarks, but it may be stated that
he Major made very handsome speech,
or which he was complimented by
'everal members of the Association. He
ook the ground that The skilled mechanics
md artisans, who had contributed to the
worlds progress in the arts and civilization,
we're entitled to higher praise and nobler
monuments than C9e laT, Blackstone, a
Ialen, Canovs, DeEosthenes or a Cic-
no. Such artisans and mechanics were
more entitled to wear upon their brows
he laurel wreath than the mjghtest hero |
If thousand blood-stained bsttle-hslds. |
n conclusion Major III. said that the in
pectOTs had determined to confne their
)rison manufactures to two branches of
abor, car manufacturing and shoe-makipg, |
md if cut off from these branches, what
would they do?
Mr.. Warren complimented Mel. Nancy
lpon the eloquenee Of his remarks, and
Japt. Stockell then asked the Msjor if
here had not been great difficulty ex-
serienced by railroad companies in OBJ
aiming fiat cars
Mai Nancy remarked that there had
,een great difficulty, and that most of the
lat cars had been obtained from |
he North; and it was in a great degree
wing to this fact, and for the purpose of
Keeping the money spent for these cars in
ne State, and preventing it from going
North, that the inspectors had decided to
manufacture these cars
After some further discussion, in the
course of which several members opposed
my kind of manufacture in the Penitentiary
hat could possibly compete with honest
abor, the memorial was left as heretofore
with the exception Of striking |
'ut the personal clause to which we have
eferred.
Mr.. Weskley, from the Committee on
he Exposition to be held on the 1st of
lay, gave an extended account of the |
Meeting of the committee on last Wednes-
lay night, the proceedings of which were
in last Thursdays UNION AND
AMERICAN.
Mr.. Jones stated that there seemed to be
misunderstanding among the mechanics
f the city as to the objects of this Asso-
istion, that it was established tocut down
he prices of labor, etc., and the Commit
ee on Publication was instructed to take
he matter into consideration.
After the initiation of one or two men,
Oers, the Association adjourned
Gambling and Shooting.
Ypsterdav ahnnt half mat Q O'clock |