The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-09-26
Oh. FRASkLIN-Eriracts

.
as contained in sanderson's Biography q
the Sisners to the declaration of Indtpen
denoe:
"rhe exisencirs in which Franklin had
passed his early youth, aud the exp.dicnis
he was forced In employ, that he might
improve his fortune, drew him from all
barren speculations towards those only.
which might tend To amcliorate the cul-
dition and happiness Of his species. All
his leading enterprises appear Ia have
been undertaken with view to III, publ,
good and even 10 those which might seem
indifferent, he gave the same tendency -
From incidents however minute, hc ex-
tracted some sautary moral which had es-
cnped vulgar observation. Topractise yir.
tue, and TO propagate ii amongst mankind,
he considered as the common business of
his life, nor did he suffer any effort which
might contribute to that purpose, To remain
unemployed. Like Lyeurgus, he wished
that the praise of virtue and contempt of
vice should he interviewer with all the ac-
tons and diseourses Of men, aud that such
images as tended to elevate the fancy aud
enlghtcn the understanding, should be
perpetually exhibited To their observation.
Even upon the current coin Of the country,
as it was exposed to the frequent inspec-
ton Of the multitude, he advised that in.
stead of the image of King or an emperor,
some pious or prudential maxim should be
ingra,en. which might leave u salu.ary inn
preston upon the mind"
" II may not be amss in this place, TO
remark, how essentially, and how far per-
haps beyond what men are APT TO imagine,
ATE the interests of states influenced by the
wlsdtm, the virtue and industry Of few
eminent individuals, To seek our exam
pies from the history of antiquity, we shall
fnd That in Greece, the cities of Argos and
Mycena. with equal industry and greater
advantages Of position than Sparta, perish
ell III Turbulence and faction, without ha-
wing achieved any memorable action 10
perpetuate thrlr name ; whist the latter
country. by the wisdom o. "a single Legs
fator, ilnulishcs with everlasting glory -
The influence of the instruction, and the
example of this one man, formed the
minds OF the multitude 0l statesmen and
warriors of his country, who succeeded
hun, whose eminent virtues and heroic
actions have been Transmitted TO memory
as the p;ide and ornament of the human
species. But for Epaminondas and his
brave cornpecr, Thebes had been known
only as the birthplace Of Pindar and Plu-
tarch. Rome was indebted for her free
dom, and in the most critical emergencies
of her history, for her preservation, to the
suspicious Intervention of individuals ; and
when her republican virtues were almost
extinct, one man kept alive the expiring
embers Of her liberty, and sustained for
while, the totierlng fabric of her osc.prown
power. Modern history furnishes not less
pertinent examples, which it may be super
fluous or in.idous 20 cnnmerate."
at was the Notwithstanding Of Frank
lin, from his earl y youth, to have mingled
business with study and speculation
Such was more frequently the education of
the an"ienis Some of their most famous
poets were generals and admirals. Keno
phon, Thueydides and even Socrates,
fought the battles of their respective coun-
tries and enjoyed the highest trusts in the
administration of their governments. In
modern manners, the scholar, from def
cheney OF practical experience, ora love of
solitude, is mostly unequal to the humb,est
employments, and often sinks under his
load of erudition to ohseurity, whilst more
superficial qualities rise te the first honors
of the State.
In 1853 he was sent by the provincial
assembly TO conclude treaty with the
Indians at Carlisle; and in the following
year YVES appointed on a more important
mission to Albany, where the British go
vernment had assembled Il congress of
commissioners 10 confer upon plan of
defence for the Colonies, against thc threat.
ened ho5tllites Of tie French, and the in
cursions Of the saYages. While on his
journey to this place, he devised and re-
duccd to writing, project for the coalition
ofthe colonies, as far AS might be requisite
10 their defence, under single admins
tration. A President ior this general go
vernment, according to has plan, was to be
appointed by tha crown; grand council
by the provincial assemblies aud amongst
the constitute nal dutie3 Of the assembly,
that Of laying taxes WAS especially assign
ed 10 the representatives of the people.
Bot this mcascre, notwithstanding the
unanimous concurrence Of the congress-
WAS, by The provincial legislatures, almost
unanimously rejected, as ahording to the
royal officers an authority too ample and
dangerous and the British ministers on
the other hand, had too much disccrumcnt
not TO discover that the tendency Of such
an union, was uniavorahe 10 their designs
OF government, which, at the same time
that it afforded to the colonies ,gor aud
protection from their enemy, flraishod
them, by placing them in military pos
tnre, the me. ns Of resisting the sovereign