Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-31

always remembering that, where truth
is the object, those who have the worst
of the argument, gain most by discus
sion.
And, let no man be censured or con-
demned for his opinions on any subject
-" TO err is human" Men who were
deemed, and Justly, among the wlsest Of
their day, held sentiments to be unques-
tionable on various important topics,
which We believe to be erroneous, and
even absurd. What, indeed, is our own
individual progress towards truth, but
the discarding of previous errors ? To
despise the ignorant or mistaken, is to
despise our former selves.
The man who, unpractised in public
speaking, rises with difficulty, and under
the pressure of embarrassment, contri-
butes his mite towards the common
stock of entertainment and instruction,
is entitled to our especial indulgence,
and deserves our thanks to the full as
much as he, who, with a more hardy
front and voluble tongue, pleases him
self at the same time that he gratiiles his
auditors.
| beg to make one further observa-
ton OH the common, but, in my view,
| repr oh oooible Praetice of arguing with
seeming earnestness, on that side OF a
question which the speaker believes to
be the weakest Ingenuity, exerted in
support Of false opinions, is mischeY-
Gus in proportion to its success. A Sc
ries of advantages, So obtained, over
truth, by sophistry, might peryert this
institution into a society for the fr0fa-
cation of error--of which there have
been, and still remain, too many exam
pies.
In these remote aud lately uninhabited
wilds, it is delightful to lend hand in
planting the germ of civilization. 1t
may seem to be a very little thing that
we are busying ourselves about--but it
is seed: and it is thus that institutions
| began, which, in the old world, have
risen to greatness, and have become the
pride Of nations.
Gentlemen, in offering to your cousi
deration the sentiments you have just
heard, if have seemed in any degree
10 assume the air of dictator, crave
your forbearance; nothing could be
further from my intention. Strongly I'M
pressed with their Importance, may
have appeared by the positiveness of my
expressions, to take to mysetf the con-
sequence which only belongs to the
principles | advocate; but ! beg to as
sure you that feel no such presumption.
1t may not perhaps be impertinent,
on the present occasion, TO make re-
mark on our mode of transacting the
business part of our Institution. A con
siderable time, at the beginning of our
meetings, has been consumed by discus
sions on matters of detall--triles, bul
needlul to be adjusted. On these occa-
sions difference ofopinion has, of course,
appeared, and the llsion OF sentiment
on these trif1es has brought on debates,
which have been, to say the least, unin
teresting to all but the individuals en-.
gagged. A little warmth, has also been
excited, as is generally the case on such
subjects, (tor the lighter the materials,
the more readily they are set in motion)
and thus the temper of the assembly has
been somewhat ruffled, and we have
found ourselves less prepared to con-
duet the succeeding discussion of the
Order of the Day with that suavity of
feeling and of manner which could only
render it either profitable or pleasant
| trust the Society will perceive the ex-
pediency of an arrangement to obviate
this inconvenience.
Our Society is composed of speakers
and hearers--and belonging, myself to
the latter class, am sensible of con-
siderable tendency to provide for the
qualification and benefit of the hearers.
have the Ladies', too, on my side; for,
Notwithstanding their knowledged pow
ers of shining in elocution, they are con-
fined, by the sway of custom, and the old
fashioned aristocracy Of the other sex,
from aiding our discussions, excepting
by their benign influence; which will,
however, do more in preserving urbani-
ty and decorum in our proceedings, than
all the regulations which our ingenuity
could devise, or their tongues, eioquen,
as they are, could recite.
Their presence | consider as confer
ring both an honor and benefit; and |
snail hardly arrive at truer or more
gallant conclusion, than by hailing them
as the Guardian Angels, of our Institu-
ton.