Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-31
DigHity aHd Flights Of Labsr-Noyel Sug'
gssii0H about Criminals.
The Public Debt and How TO Meet It-GaH
q ever be Pald2

From the Knoxville Press and Herald
Addressing the mechanics Of East Ten
nessee az the industrial Exposition yes
terday, eX-President Johnson said:
Mr.. President, and Gentlemen of the Me-
chsnicaI Association:
I am here to-day on the invitation of
the mechanics Of Knoxville and OF East
Tennessee for the purpose Of addressing
them on & subject Involving their present
good and future prosperity and elevation.
In presenting myself on this occasion It
Is with pleasure and pride that I can say
I am a mechanic: not ideally and thsO-
reticslly, bat q mechanic in fact. Since
1876, when q boy, alone, and almost with
| out friends, 7 came into East Tennessee
and as a mechanic located myself in one
/ Of its villages, [ have ever had pleasant
recolleCtiOns OF the trade which first gave
me an honorable support. always paid
attention to my business, and strictly full
filed all my contracts. When my neigh
bOrs made me their representative I'm the
Legislature, and after, while in public life,
] frequently gave my attention to me-
chanics and mechanism, sometimes in
yindicstioU Of their rights, and at other
times owing TO the pleasure and pride j
had ia having been a mechanic. MY enc
mics called this d-6magOgueism. Thank
God, I stand here to-day. after passing
through political life, enjoying all its
A-ADA5s run LAo fAAAaEu hAAbEAAau 70 the
highest office within the gift Of the peo-
pie, and stand here to-day 8 mechanic,
proud Of my early profession. In address,
ing you to-day, ] will not address myself
to your fancy, neither "piease with a gew-
gsW, or tickle with a straw" Rather viii
it be my purpose to interest you in some
measures which are Of the highest inter-
est to the mechanism Of the country.
MECHANICS DEFINED.
In speaking Of mechanics We should
make the distinction between discoveries
and pretenders. The same distinction
exists IN legislation. One-half Of legisls-
ton is deceptive, because while it pur-
ports 10 benefit the people it really does
no good but frequently great harm. So.
half the 6o-csled inventions result in de-
c~eptiouH. We should we'll consider them
snd If we ascertain by experience that
any are profitable, adopt such. But. after
ali, we should turn 70 the discoveries.
Gcd, who is Truth, who is CO. extensive
with Time, has made laws for the control
Of everything. Let us 90 into the field Of
exploration As discoveries and conforming
to the great principle Of creation, we can
never err. There are laws which control
life. The same general law pervades the
universe. ] have endeaYOred to start with
the enunciation Of the idea Of a general
principle, an idea Of q general law In me-
chsnics.
ThIs association Of mechanics in East
Tennessee fsthe first effort Of the kind in
This portion Of the State. 1t is right.
They ought to secure that position Ia So
cisty TO which they are entitled by virtue
of their skilled labor.
CONVICT LABOR.
Mechanics have long been degraded in
society. I mean to say, the State by the
erection Of penitentiaries and houses Of
that mhaHurHaH hu-nar-uak~I 49, @ n~auH ]
principle, a sound principle, In the gov
erment OF men, sound also in the govern
Lleae OF the universe. Il has taken con- Z
NlcL lCbor in the penitentiaries and
Pta3to u 10 competition with the honest {
n the country, and it is ~ruinOus i
49, iof u iorces a monopoly of 7
sN0 "vLas character. The law Of mouon. I
~ ~ aitgsetner wrong. One reason f0r
yLy punishment Is by Furnishing G
the guilty 70 deter others from oriroa '
ne second reason is that the criminal q
VIZ mus ~ Lelotmeu' Neither ends are c
Bad men are not detarreJ 49,
committing crime, and the convicf III
serves his term tn q penitsntiarv ooroes G
)ut q hardened criminal. Neither does nj a
pey TO keep up these p~enitentiarjes 10 i
.hiE convict labor. Our State instituted Z
has met expenses but two years out of {
he f0rty-one il has been in operation. Tho
JOint wish TO make on this Hubiect is (
hat the State in pursuing this policy Is c
violating the great law which makes me- {
.hanis honorable. The State competes i
honest men who are taxed heavily
o sustain these convict laborers. The
tate furnishes the capital for this con '
labor which has been Wrung in taxes Z
the sweat and toll Of the working {
This is an abOmination-an E
niouity, nay I DO not care what eXple- S
I've you put to it. [Cheers.l
DIGNITY OF LABOR. (
Mechanics sometimes complain they D
annot succeed in life for want Of capital. y
81 ssIf-reliant. A man who is sober, in .
ustrious, courteous and honorable win q