Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-12-04
ADDRESS,.

".
ADDRESS.
In the pursuit Of Knowledge, there is
something so refined, so ennobling, that,
to amind capable Of cxer,ion, ordinary
pleasures compared with If, sink into IN
sigaiicancy, The soul of man cannot
be confined to the mere mass Of matter
in which she is lodged. She roams
abroad in search Of something more con-
genial with her high powers. Sensual
enjoyment may iascinale for moment,
but intellectual joys fix the attention,
and awake the energies Of rational man.
It was this noble thirst for knowledge
! that gave rise to the Forum.
Determined to be no longer confined
to the dull routine of fatiguing business
and sensual pleasures, the members Of
this society have resolved 10 devote a
portion of their time, TO that object,
marked out By the rational faculties with
Which they are endowedby their Creator,
as the noblcst--
"The feast of reason, and the Flow CT soal.'
And, while we spend the passing hours
in the most delightful recreation, we
hope to acquire such lasting benefit, as
will cause US ever. to. hail the day that
dawned upon our association.
The power of speaking with ease, in
public, is itself so desirable that ii were
worthy ofmuch esertion. Many are the
occasions, in a republican government
especially, lii which the exercise Of this
faculty becomes necessary. Every citi-
zen is eligible to stations Of high trust
aud respellsibility, Where he canno, al
tain 10 that eminence, or enjoy that ill.,
iluenco, which, for the benefit oi his con-
,s,ituents, he ought, unless he can eff
cicnt!y advocate theircausc before pub
lie assembly.
And it is not only important that he
should speak with confdcnce-it is Of
the utmost consequence that he should
reason with propriety and with cogency.
The most tluetn orator, whose. elo-
squence consists alone in Reclamation,
may indeed excite momcntary applause,
but he iails5to produce conviction. His
auditors may hing Oh his words, and
listen with the same rapture to The, me-
Io,ly OF his weli-turned periods, as 10 he
sound OF iine-loncd instrumeni--aiid
when he ceases, feel an impress ion only
similarto that which sncce eds .anogatolio-
or concert. Bul, when we hears,rong
reasoning, and profound research, per-
ispicuonsiy arrang ed---and I" rendered 10
.nusic"--,Ee mind compartments, the
Judgment approves, and every faculty
yields delighted assent.
Such is our ainl-so high, do we as
pire.! Let not The sheer ofcynics, nor the
.Iidicule Of fools, check US il our career.
Though we may advance by slow, and
almost imperceptible steps, yet, il indus
try and perseverance accompany ave
shall surely find in our Improvement,
more than ample compensation for all
our eSerlions. Nay, it we shut our eyes
to the future--we shall discover such en-
ljoyment in our very labors, that unless
we are sordid indeed, and contcnted!y ig-
.norant, we shall have constant reason to
congratulate. ourselves on the establish
ment of the Forum. Every question
proposed, will elicit examination into its
merits. The page Of history, the field
of science, the arcana Of government will
be explored, and arguments drawn from
the research will be adduced. Thus
the mind, while it receives present gra-
LITIGATION, becomes familiar with subjects
of which it might otherwise long remain
in ignorance, and accustomed to attack,
ing and defending opinions, and deciding
on them. ,..
h Already have historians and biogra-
pliers been put in requistion TO refresh
the memory on the subject Of this escn-
ing's debate, Already have our polti-
cal and commercials relations with South
America, been examined with earnest So
licitude. And look forward with pleas
ing expectation TO The debates, the con-
temptation Of which has stirred up SO
noble an emulation in my fellow menl-
hers.