Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-10-09

may not attain. Without some progress
in improvement, you can neither discov-
er nor correct your own errors. Indus
try, thought, and reflection, are necessary
to keep the mind vigorous, to give it
proper direction, and enable il to act
with energy on the subject ii IS pursuing.
Mental stupidity is generally tAe effect
Of suffering the mind to be UNEMPLOYED;
and mental depravity, the effect of suf-
fering it to be engaged in improper pur-
suits. The mind cannot take a proper
direction but in the pursuit Of proper
objects. The pursuit Of ,iesue alone
can raise the mind TO superior cine
ment; and this alone, without any other
restraint, is perhaps caleuleted TO accom-
plish all the objects Of, ciyii cation. We
can know no other positi. standard of
right or wrong, than the GOD or evil
done to mankind. That wb h shall tend
to the positive good Of amy being in ex-
istencc, is good, and the co trary, if any
being be injured. But if 20 beng be
injured, no harm can be done.
The progress Of mental improvement
is SO gradual and imperceDhble, that it
must commence with the 1rst dawning
of action. 1t is therefore Of the highest
importance that the first settlers CT new
country should found the basis Of i'm
provement in principles the most scru-
pulously correct. Examples of virtue,
aided by the mildest possible mode Of
coercive discipline, are the only sure
means of raising mankind to the sum-
nit of civilization; and these can exist
only in societies where the virtues are
in full exercise. In such societies it
would be impossible for vicious person
or a criminal to exist, CT at least,
TO be bred from infancy; ard the reverse
viii apply with equal certainty to socie-
ties of contrary description or charac-
ter. OF this, the history of mankind
furnishes tie most positive evidence
Witness the ecclesiastical history Of
Spain. We there see the mind sunk in
ignorance by the nostrums and intrigues
of interested ecclesiastics, delighting in
human suffering, and when half score
Of victims were TO be inundated, stages
were erected, that the nobility might en-
Joy the entertainment without mixing
with the gcneralmass OF spectators.--
The hest syatarA Ia refine fnanhn,d 10
doubtless that which has in its character
the least cruelty. Capital or corporal
punishments Of every description, in or
der to advance civilization, ought to be
done away. Punishments ought to be
Of such description as would tend to
soften the disposition and humanize the
feelings. TO hang man by the neck
till he is dead, is an act OF cruelty, and
is congcnial only with feelings which
ought to be suppressed. The vengeance
of government or the law beng executed
in this way, difuses its spirit through
the whole community. Hence, where
punishments are the most sanguinary,
crimes are the most frequent. This re-
mark is equally applicable to all orders
and degrees Of government from the
family to the empire. Mildness in all
cases soitcns the deposition, and cruelty
has contrary effect. 1t ought TO be the
object of mankind to devise the best
means to prevent the commission oil
crimes, rather than the best hodc1 oil
punlshments. To raise the mild above
vice, is better than to be undei the ne
cessity OF suppressing it by cod'cion.--
But the measures for the improvement
Of the mind, in all societies, must be
suited to the respective degree Of refine
ment and civilization. The same rule
cannot apply to the savage in tic forest
and the seat of refinement. But there
are such variety of consid CREATIONS, con
nected with the rise and progress of a
new country, that were C pabieI could
not discuss them ali within the limits
prescribed by this letter. The next OBJ
Iect to the establishment 81 the manners
Of country is Agriculture, which must
always form an important trait in its
character. Adventures that emiGrate
to a new country for the purpose Of in
dulging in idleness, from lis natural fer
tiiity, can be oil no use to it. The hun
ter may generally be considered Of this
class. The object of every adtenturer
ought to be to advance his property by
the advantages the country presents, and
the aid of all such means as are consis-
tent with the principles of rectimde and
honor, and to avail themselves of these
requires industry and information.
MARQUIS DE CASA YRUJo.
The recent misfortunes of this noble