Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-17
FROM THE AURORA.
THE yIsIoN


which is the eternity OF rivers /: my mind was
sensibiv impressed 10y the ex taordinary events |
which have so recently awakened the world
from repose OF ten months, after storm OF
twenty years--i sought TO trace human attic
tions 10 their sources and to Anticipate tuturity
was uneonsciou of existence. when there ap-
peared before me a venerable figure. whose tea
lures were familiar, but whom, could not ob-
tain abstraction 10 identity or question He
appeared to teei that was Disconnected, and
while his hand bsckcncd to me to retain my
place of repose, he addressed me:
you have rehsctea on vents, my son, under
The common impressions which are received in
artificial society; but the causes Of human
evils, ior.vhich you search, are before your
eyes--the causes are TO be found at every side |
IL is ~ vain that man attributes his misfor-
tunes to obscure and imaginary sgents--and at.
tributes the evils to which me 10 liable, to mys-
ferrous Causes; his cOrdVion is doubtless ex-
passed 10 incosvenieIccs, aud his existence Of
ten aifectcd by oyeT-Tuling Iowefs; but these
powers are neither blind DESTINY, ner the ca
price Of a fantastic being: man, like the woriI
OF which, he forms part, is governed by nata-
raj lxtrs, which, though regular in their opca
fatica. unsrFng ia their fleets, and immu
tat,e ~ their csnse and direction these laws,
the universal source OF goeG md epil, are ne-
thrf written IN zoe dista a stars nor concealed
ia mysterious codes, but iuIuerent in the very
nature Of terrestrial beings, identified with exN
istehee they are at all times and places pres ~
70 hc mind OF man they Let upoA his senses,
suggest q errSelves,to his ,ntellect, and annex
to4vc,y sct,on its good or evil consequence. -
II IS FOR rnGA TO study hose laws ard his own
nature, and 'he nature OF the existence in which
Re is placed, and there he will discover the
uasn;s b which his destiny is regulated, and
his fate determintd-the sources OF his happi-
ness, and ,he causes OF his Affections, and their
semsdlee.
when the creator of this hakitable globe,
gave animation TO his creatures he starnpt on
each the properties which were essential to
them scverally, ard these became their dis
tinctive charscters--ther several rules of &C.
tion---the bonds of their connection or depen-
dence-and the cause of collective harmony
III the whole. Causes and effects, principles
and consequences, were no longer the opera
tons Of a blind chance or accident the laws of
the universe were determnative, and effects
must uece ssariy follow causes /; but no effect
could be produced out of the sublime order OF
The universe, nor be, but as the consequence of
the pre- established principles or causes-.bus
the equilibrium Of the world was established
and order thus established, was left free to the
performance OF its part in the creation, Accord
ing to its natural existence Hence the elemen.
Larry principles OF a nature developed their pro-
perties, hire possessed motion and activity. air
matter density and weights metals were heavi.
G, than earth, wood less cohesive Than Steel
lame or iginited air wss made 60 ascend the
rock 10 iall from its elevation; and The trees
and plants vegetate slowly into life--to man.
formed TO encounter the impulse and the action
OF SO many different beings, and formed with
faculties anapted to the preservation of his frail
existence, was given tie properly of ,eaI6iiity,
and CONSEQUENCES OF beiHg, and the fncu!ty on
memory, reflection, and rcasoe. BY senaihity,
every action prejudcis to bis existence gave
nin the impression or feeling OF bGiz, and the
idea Ct e0iks every action favorable TO his ex
istence or its preservation, gave the impression
OF PisGSaye and the idea of good Thus led TO
shun what was offensive to his senses,y or at
trScted by objects which soothed or cheered
ttum, man perceived the necessity ofrefsc. ION
before he undertook to act of guarding against
error, in order 10 pre- serve ms existence thus
In examining tue means OF self preservation, he
saw those OF happiness ind the love Of his be.
ms he learned to avoid evil by his aversion
from pain; and exercising tile faculties of re.
Election on what he saw and felt, and the re
membrance of occasional pain, which he had |
suffered, his memory aiding his reason, taught |
him how to guard, ard lie formed the idea Of ex
peiience; he reasoned upon the past to the Gu. |
ture, and he found that Tie all.wiss Creator
had est Sbshed the laws OF his being ike those
OF motion IN the physical world, and that they |
were tie generatiye principle Of tie phenomena
OF the moral world. To, man. the althor Of |
nature, appears to have said, frail work of
my hands, thou art endowed with faculties
which arc sufficient for NY happiness, If thou
wilt but use them with secretion. owe thee |
nothing, having given thee lie and liberty: go |
use hem without any other restraint than the |
faculty which will teach the consequences OF
thcT use or sbuse-the word in which ihou
art Placed was not made merely for thee, but |
srsnt thee the use of it. Thou shalt fnd ia Il |
mixture Of good ard evils and it is in vain that |
thou search Into the cause but thou art invsst |
I'd with faculties competent 10 distinguish be- |
tween what appertalns to thy being, in the
state "a which thou art placed do not deceive |
Myself. What IS beyond this, liz faculties arc |
nst al. pted 70 comprehend thy path Il strey |
ell with flowers and thoIns, choose between
them, and be the free disposer ofthv own con.
duct thy ses;iny Is committed to thy sole dis. |
crelion-"
"This was my condition, my son, when Ike |
you, found myself launched upon the sea Of |
lite, an ocean trackIess, bur through which my /
faculties MUS be my conductof--good aud evil |
pain and pleasure before me, aud il depended |
soieiy oii myself 20 be happy or miserable-l
found nien-and became with them members Of |
a common society--we paItook Of The bountieg
OF nature together--and we were hsppv. Until
some smong us, covetous Of more dian 4 nenes.
saFy proportion OF toe goods Of life, sought TO
en8Foss them to the privatiOn of Others come |
WHO were slothtul refused 20 participate in the
trivial iator required to obtain them and otbers
stll sought to subject the will Of the rest 10 |
Their vii ard this was so long submitted 10
that II became an usage, which was not object
60 10 at hrst and il was too late 10 resist but
500 .r.aar 81 r#r -