MARRIAGE.--ELECTED TO LEGISLATURE.--ENGAGES IN
MANUFACTURES.--REFLECTIONS.
In April, 1821, Mr. Lawrence was married to Mrs. Nancy Ellis, widow of
the late Judge Ellis, of Claremont, N. H., and daughter of Robert
Means, Esq., of Amherst, in the same State. His children, who had been
placed with his parents and sisters at Groton, were brought home; and
he was now permitted again to unite his family under his own roof, and
to enjoy once more those domestic comforts so congenial to his taste,
and which each revolving year seemed to increase until the close of
his life.
Mr. Lawrence was elected a representative from Boston to the
Legislature for the session of 1821 and 22; and this was the only
occasion on which he ever served in a public legislative body.
Although deeply engaged in his own commercial pursuits, he was
constantly at his post in the House of Representatives; and attended
faithfully to the duties of his office, although with much sacrifice
to his own personal interests. Very little is found among his
memoranda relating to this new experience. As a member of a committee
of the Legislature having in charge the subject of the erection of
wooden buildings in Boston, he seems to have had a correspondence with
the late Hon. John Lowell, who took strong ground before the committee
against the multiplication of buildings of this material, and backed
his arguments with some very characteristic statements and
observations. On one of these letters Mr. Lawrence made a memorandum,
dated March, 1845, as follows:
"The _Boston Rebel_ was a true man, such as we need more of in
these latter days. The open-mouthed lovers of the _dear people_
are self-seekers in most instances. Beware of such."
The following extract is taken from a letter, dated January 4th, 1822,
addressed by Mr. Lawrence to Hon. Frederic Wolcott, of Connecticut,
respecting a son who was about to be placed in his counting-room, and
who, in after years, became his partner in business:
"H. will have much leisure in the evening, which, if he choose,
may be profitably devoted to study; and we hope he will lay out
such a course for himself, as to leave no portion of his time
unappropriated. It is on account of so much leisure, that so many
fine youths are ruined in this town. The habit of industry once
well fixed, the danger is over.
"Will it not be well for him to furnish you, at stated periods,
an exact account of his expenditures? The habit of keeping such
an account will be serviceable, and, if he is prudent, the
satisfaction will be great, ten years hence, in looking back and
observing the process by which his character has been formed. If
he does as well as he is capable, we have no doubt of your
experiencing the reward of your care over him."
For the several following years, Mr. Lawrence was deeply engaged in
business; and the firm of which he was the senior partner became
interested in domestic manufactures, which, with the aid of other
capitalists, afterwards grew into so much importance, until now it has
become one of the great interests of the country. Apart from all
selfish motives, he early became one of the strongest advocates for
the protection of American industry, believing that the first duty of
a government is to advance the interests of its own citizens, when it
can be accomplished with justice to others; and in opposition to the
system of free trade, which, however plausible in theory, he
considered prejudicial to the true interests of our own people. He was
conscientious in these opinions; and, in their support, corresponded
largely with some of the leading statesmen at Washington, as well as
with prominent opponents at the South, who combatted his opinions
while they respected the motives by which he was actuated. He tested
his sincerity, by embarking a large proportion of his property in
these enterprises; and, to the last, entertained the belief that the
climate, the soil, and the habits of the people, rendered domestic
manufactures one of the permanent and abiding interests of New
England. During seasons of high political excitement and sectional
strife, he wrote to various friends at the South, urging them to
discard all local prejudices, and to enter with the North into manly
competition in all those branches of domestic industry which would
tend, not only to enrich, but also to improve the moral and
intellectual character of their people. He watched, with increasing
interest, the progress of Lowell and other manufacturing districts,
and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to any scheme which tended
to advance their welfare. Churches, hospitals, libraries, in these
growing communities, had in him a warm and earnest advocate; and it
was always with honest pride that he pointed out to the intelligent
foreigner the moral condition of the operative here, when compared
with that of the same class in other countries.
On the 1st of January, in each year, Mr. Lawrence was in the habit of
noting down, in a small memorandum-book, an accurate account of all
his property, in order that he might have a clear view of his own
affairs, and also as a guide to his executors in the settlement of his
estate, in case of his death. This annual statement commences in 1814,
and, with the exception of 1819, when he was in great affliction on
account of the death of his wife, is continued every year until that
of his own death, in 1852. In this little volume the following
memorandum occurs, dated January 1, 1826:
"I have been extensively engaged in business during the last two
years, and have added much to my worldly possessions; but have
come to the same conclusions in regard to them that I did in
1818. I feel distressed in mind that the resolutions then made
have not been more effectual in keeping me from this
_overengagedness_ in business. I now find myself so engrossed
with its cares, as to occupy my thoughts, waking or sleeping, to
a degree entirely disproportioned to its importance. The quiet
and comfort of home are broken in upon by the anxiety arising
from the losses and mischances of a business so extensive as
ours; and, above all, that communion which ought ever to be kept
free between man and his Maker is interrupted by the incessant
calls of the multifarious pursuits of our establishment."
After noting down several rules for curtailing his affairs, he
continues:
"Property acquired at such sacrifices as I have been obliged to
make the past year costs more than it's worth; and the anxiety in
protecting it is the extreme of folly."
* * * * *
_1st of January, 1827._--"The principles of business laid down a
year ago have been very nearly practised upon. Our
responsibilities and anxieties have greatly diminished, as also
have the accustomed profits of business; but there is sufficient
remaining for the reward of our labor to impose on us increased
responsibilities and duties, as agents who must at last render an
account. God grant that mine be found correct!"