Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-26

sand folds, and the whole man sinks horrd vic, IN
rum Then too late he his error; then
'he chans which seemed at first but garlands flowers
are metamorphosed into scrpens whose breath is rank
poison, and whose touch destruction. Vany he strup-
eies III their nauseous embracc-sezes their sippery
iors IN Inns useless grasp attempts To control their
oilowy motions, and trarnple them beneath his shrink
ing feet-Aas! the creeping folds have encirclcd his
oody, anu imprisoned every limb gaspng, he is cnveo-
pea In their countless tolls, and yields conquered and
shuddcrlng, to tormcnts horrible hell! The course
OF vice is steep descent and pass with accelerated
velocity down its dreadful abyssa false STEP heed
less turn, may plunge the lions dcn and tn
Spirit OF God dwcl!s not with the abandoned one 20 pa
city their rugged natures soften down their lie.
Let us on the other hand observe the noblct work of
Eod--an honest man. 1t is the constitution of iumani
" 10 endure every sorrow which not the result of sim
ana the good turns shielded breast 10 the ills of
he, which rattle like harmless al.s,ones Oh an armed
heh. virtue 10 The mind Is more mpersiablc pro-
lection than Spanish steel the BODY and he no has
equipped himself in her sacred suit walks gigantic and
immortal amid the oudcst lin and ferccs dangers of
tumunuous war. The greatest monarch who has gain
cd ms magniticencc by the sacrifice of honour has no
uShy tocouparc To this: and LAFAYETTE his plain blue
coat surrounded by the entertainments which virtue has
bestowed an object comparahly OF interest and
adiratIon than the sultan half buried in the treasures
OF the east. MANY weak minded norta!s nj the onset
oil their career vaiuy suppose possible tribe little
with the pleasures of vice, and afterwards erect them
III ie strict practice OF all that is JUST honorable
ana good They would amnsc their tastes by slipping
iorodocn sweets, being careful not To drain the poison
Gus bowl 10 the BOTTOM and uny mae they possess
resolution i'll which daily experience proyss their fell
io"-inortais so miseraby tcfcieut-to allow few rncr
ry ganbos on tc brink of The rrccircc without tlc
risk OF being betrayed into the ah,ss. very few by
INC peculiar blessing of fortune, may regain their equ
Ibriun, and establish themselves in the road TO han,
pness outfnany, and By far the majority find their veins
swelling with incurable naady when they believed tl,r
yeuonous goblet only touched their lip: or dizzy ami
ocwidercd by the witcheres around them, lose their
hol!, and are hurled into the gaping chasr when tbcv
| only intended a glance tie edge
an honest man is rarely to be found There is no
iack oil those sort OF beings who abound in negative
virtues, who delight in religion, and detest the devil
VINO go 10 church three times the Sabbath and nev-
er dcinolsh meal without a good long winlcd trace
The excellence OF these consist in dec arations of WIN,
leafs they might have accomplished if circumstances
mad not prevented, and how noble they would be-f
they could They grow up like brutes deficient il, tho
cultivated passions ofcivzcd societv-cxhbitne their
stated periods OF youth, maturity and dccay-renoc
aHhc from The virtues and the vices the rewards and
e pchalIo5, the delicate pleasures and refined pains of
active eXistcncci and after having undergone the vac
eS Oh animal lie at last quietly rePosc themselves in
'elr narrow bed; Ike small pebbles for moment dis
ro'nG Tie peaceful tranquility OF the water with their
ali, silently they bury their names and their natures in
an oblivion as deep though tler had never bccn-
hese compose one OF the three classes of the human
Shi. The other two consist of active beings whose
LOUD voices heard ana whose 6mures arc eoa, ,o1
rc'snhercd on tie great stage of the world conspcu
uS Is lc benciactors enemies, tc glory or shame u
'e' race Augustus Is one I'll the former. In him are
coiphen al ohcc enthusiastic admir- liiua of honesty
win VIII and power To practice it, Viruc consists
scarcely more IN acting than in resisting The impulse
Vi moment may urge young warm disposition into
oHe glorious undertaking. but requires firm rc3sou
ing philosophical morality The most dJicpt I'm a,.,n
70 ue} temptation rock dccs tire waves ,vic, are
forever beating at lis base and for ever in vain Til,
great characteristic distinguishes Aurust,,s trn, t
rest oil ncn He pursucs his varied path with an IN
"afcTing moral courage, which, will; c foprcr, nc mn
necessary display, Is faithful in the hour of danGer ad
rises IN ratio to the tunuIts Ii, which bo is osaoeed
strengthening HMM proportion 10 ;lc oppressive weight
II sheds glory around his way, when ovcrco viii,
e goohieSt shade and when he is brought 20 Tie test
"hen Ice stands on enc side, arraye her robes of
gacty, with her long train Of false phanoIns I'm rr,,o
her requests, and Offering gold, ard clorv and all tie
carl can afford for smile OF lis lin or a ouch from,
MS NANCE Snd the plain unadornCd form Of Truth on the
other call with her silver voice and bids him hnara
teh does tins Invaluable charm close his oar h eo,i
'hat would betray the urary, and soften visions t
would ruin the thoughtless gay. Indeed his mind i
beautiful piece OF moral mechanism which proeonts
barrier 10 shield from almost every weapon or afford.
remedy Tor every wound What Ills il cannot palli,te
'c"ciIeS hih 10 endure, and when fate bansics him
o" '.c prosperous rays Which often shine on the vi
cious 1t enables him tread The dark atrrjrts viii
iSht step and fearless heart confident anl arr
Joy awaits him at the end - ~
lie possesses a thousand resources for aorcoolic
honGht, WINCH bushes his bosom into serenity ,nrc,
Vlous 70 the storm. Chccrlulncss perpetu,
us heaFt from which he has wisely shut the greatest
IHcHY 10 man. no matter what tcmpests brool over
ms ed O" WiE!t teTrors start up at his feet, whether he
ioat on The tuil tide Of Triumphant prospcrv or s,nn
~ row hIi little boat, irdus rious TO the o,roet;a
nus ana "avcS--he happily meditatcs, that # his
oaquc IS overwhelmed, he beat the surres ,yi hi;
arms or 10 means of security vary the waste arounG
'e ""'' 'it can bcfal him is the ,nomcntary crisis
HTp NOT an creation could much longer have avcrtcd
% ~ 'HHe- 'hc cruelty OF the angry storm, by causing
lG very winds which wreck lis vessel to watt him 10 v
e'uhSPe"ce. haniius, on the contrary pursues peas
oieoVcF Tie path OF vice. aud, for few conlcnriil ,l
throoS OF Joy, pays price, than which far
Tess would nave purchased an eternity of DELIGHT TO
,'e i !c"i' iiG rTened into tiC energies of nanhooI
uc c"G"t &c pei ceivcth many whereby he r,irI,
uh'Sc IN Idiencss, without making the results visible
IN Tie tenor o his conduct, the rccariops of his tall
bal lie vas at length discovered in a flseiool Which t
va" ''chtci 10 excuse C1inc. and, in addition TO te
az ""gcS nc 1ad lost tIc experienced the napeation
Oh MS IUtor tie dsaIecior of his companions and t
'eP'o"'S ard contempt Of al his friends. When the
""tH presented broader path. and tie had grown IN l
i mover III wider sphere, his propcnsics for evil in
creased ID proportion To- the Importance Of his situation
'iht' nc was elevated from tie rneanness of bcir lie
P'lcd, TO Tire dignity fbcrg hated. Ty thousand nm
Pr"crlci actions lie has accumulated a fortune which
ne VShcS 10 SaiDPjcasurcs hc caDuo enjoy and friends
- impossible for him 10 preserve The very hiycliur
WHO dtJCD on hs abundance F,,,