The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1871-06-01
INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION.
Immense Rally of Mechanics.
Speech Of Ex.President johnson,

Immense Rally Of Mechanics.
Speech Of Ex.P President johnson.
Last Saturday was u grand day in
Knoxville, it being the third and last
day of tho Exposition. The most i'm
portant event was the Mechanics Pro-
c%ession, which extended near n mile in
length and embraced every department
of mechanism. On arriving at the
grounds, theprocession marched around
the building and disbanded to enjoy
themselves rs they saw fit.
A little past eleven o'clock, q stand
was erected in Floral Hall, aud occupied
by the speaker, Ex-Presidcnt johnson ;
Mayor Van Glider, the Chief Marshal,
Mr.. Shepherd, Messrs. Richards and
Browning, assistant marshals, and a few
otheIs.
Mr.. Shepherd introduced the distin-
guished speaker in a few graceful re-
marks, W. present a synopsis of his
ADDRESS.
MIR, johnson sud he was here by in
vitation Of tho mechanics, for the pur-
pose OF addressing them on subjects for
their prosperity, He was II mechanic,
not ideally or practically, but in fact.
Thrown on the world without money or
friends, he came to East Tennessee rs a
mechanic to make an honorable support,
Having made this his home, and being
prompt to customers, he acquired conf
dence and was sent to the Legislature.
He made his advent when a very young
man. lie vas proud of being n mcchm-
ic, though tainted and jeered on that
account. He was even accused of CO.
tering to the prejudices Of the masses.
Had gone the rounds of office from the
smallest to the highest. He stood
among Ut as q mechanic, asking nothing
from any one He did not TUX to please
the fancy with o gewgaw, or tickle them
with o straw. The same species of
quackory existed in mechanism as in
polltics-half the State and Federal leg
%islation was trickery to deprive the peo-
pie of their liberty. The greatest wrongs
were often inflicted On q people by OPP
pressive legislation, but those who made
a mistake and corrected an error would
be rewarded. In mechanics there should
be discoveries rather than inventions,
which were generally the merest eentri-
vancss. God made laws coeval with
time for the government Of organic mat
ter. We ought to study these laws, and
strike out in the field of exploration.
Follow nature i'll al things-be govern
ed by principle and the idea Of general
law.
This demonstration was the first effort
on their part in this section to place
themselves i'll their true position. Evil
associations had injured them. He took
ground against State monopoly in the
employ of conyicts to compete with hon
est labor. [Cheers. The house burn
er was sent to the penitentiary. What
reason was there for p~unHhiag crimi-
nails? Not for him to suffer, but to de-
ter others. The penitentiary was not a
house of reform-the inmates came out
confirmed in crime. The criminal stone
mason chiselcd inscriptions on the tombs
of famous men with fingers crimsoncd
with the blood of innocence, and so on
through the different trades. The insti-
tuition wa not self-snslaining, except fol
two out of forty-0ne years. While the
State competed with the honest labor Of
the country, vet mechanics were TO sup
port criminals, He felt the stigma as a
mechanic, and his motive in speaking
wonld not be miscontrued, as he was il
search OF no favors.
He used the views expressed in his
messages to the Legislature in regard tc
the Mechanics Institute. Hethen stood
alone, and, forsooth, was denounced as
a demagogue. No appropriations fol
the Mechanics Institute were made, but
plenty for criminal mechanics.
Tho power of mind was all-controlline
and carried the force of Archimides, Will
which he claimed that if he had a full
crlm whereon to place it he could move
the world. The ideas, too, Of Seryiul
Tlllins, the great commoner Of Rome
We're embraced in that great instrument
the Constitution, before some fungi hat
been tackled ON to if. -[Crios of That,
SO" But he was talking to mechanics
Deity was the master mechanic, and con
taolled tie minds of those who formed
the Constitution Of the country, and hi
bloed ran. cold when lie saw saercligiou.
hands upon IT. %Hi aeasf3
"' Mr.. johnson here made Il graceful al
lusion to the stone cutters Of this city
and spoke Of the master minds in thei
ranks Socrates was q sculptor, and i
was his chisei that sculptrred those o
the graoes. But he was. as. famous 70
his wisdom as for delicacy Of touch. H,
it was who, through his disciple, Plato
first taught the idea of Immortality, AM
could train and elevate the mind, as wei