Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-01-26
from he Saturday Eee,ing Pest.
on EETRoSpECTtoN
10 take view or ;:me well spen,
Gives TO TIE mind tlrat precious siIt, c


Gives TO Tire mind tl,at precious ailt Cnn,.n,.
Bat the retrospect presents Il vicious course
i'is is the min'' haunted by the fend Rruorso
/" '"Ar retrospective view of past conduct is some,
times productive Of pleasure, md Sometimes of ain
III vic". the past through the medium of retrospcc,;o
we md that we havc pursued that steady cou,sc
M"'ch uStce ana duty point Gu" an inv ard self approba
" Is ie' conscious recti'ndo is experienced and we
feel within us tina, mental tranquility ana case which c
sup"Ses every earthly treasure in intrinsic value Rn,
liz "n the contrary, find after mves,i,at;n, ou 80
cohH"c' that vrc has been predominant, that reason h.,
been envelnncd in the OF passion, thai IN. wa; 80
voicc az conscience has been stiDcd and Injustice .ohn
u'ehce an" immortality have characterized our ac,ions
then il IS that rciroSpcetion becomes ~; n,, IN ,h
then II is that our niad becomes tortured and i
~ '"I' "a'" aCeuSc cunse ence, which holds I'm IN on
"'s0efe" view the many acts of crime Of which ye
been guilty. The virious man is a,wo,. ,rn, rave
III reviewing the time which has passed away, I've discovers
with pleasing satisfaction that il has M, been ,nsne,
devoted TO VICIOUS pursuits. Ionce that calm tr,rcu;I
of conscience which he enjoys, and hcrce ,,,t nr;iS
treasure which he is in possession of-a con,op,ed ~;
lie may nave bcei, perhaps, injured by the inpy.,;, f
hoSe whom ne considered as his friends; or he NAV hav
experienced the Scorn and Contempt and ro,levoIr "
NV &C iS'oaS an" malignant but he feels inwariIv con-
vInccd that he nIerted such treatment
iceiinS' which guilty co,,scruce eyri,s lVb.os. So
r'"s man san never bc inwardy comencd nor hann,.
Notwithstanding all tic ciIacT!umcss and rai,v b;s
appearance may assume. Tile busy scenes of u,;nae
ma" Tor moment calm tie storm which ges in his brcos
VI '4e feS''n destroying bowl partially drown the voice Of
"S's"'e, out when relaxation of intercourse taLes
place, and nc is restored TO sober, and serous refc
then rs his mind toyccned aud aras:sd ,cp i. ,,
'ienta accuser holds la his inwata view the Ion, al
N catalogue OF crimes, the rerretra,ion of which he b,
been guilty; thus cmbit;eriug his nlcdatiye n,omerts
resueFin9 him stranger to those feelings Of pleasure 49,
delight which Gninc and enhance The leisure
those WHOM virtue guides. Armory never fails to ran,i
o the gcod or had actions he has DONE thus crea,in
ms ''H sensations either Of happiness or misery
" rn III tie reniucsc"nce ie discovers sume cnfs NJ J
ness which ne has reTiNmeiwhcn occurs IN him ,
lie relieved fuw being in distress administered . ,,
wants Of tine needy. the afflicted and a,
4
na'e'ow exquisite he feelings which bc ex,er;
; ," 10" enVi"ha that rcpoSe and tranquility of mind
w'i'h lie enjoys. He may bn cnovnq tho nomr 49,,
sp!'"o aho Inc ease ut tho wcalty, surrounded nv
train OF ciInging, Serve individuals whom yichss III
ana Who assume the name Of friends, but whose fenih;
v':"'S wIra fortune tfowns &c; he is possession Of
that inestimabe jewel which far exceeds in req, y.i ~
Inc wealth OF which CrCrsus was posy.sscda o,;a.
proving conscience. His sunbers ire unb,okcn ,a F
'a' FeI"Sc upon his pillow which his exhausted pa,nra
requires aud he reccveSit. On the contrary that ma, 80
be unhappy Indeed, before whose mental eve mc,por ms
seh'S series NJ ItSiiCcs, wrongs, Injuries which Il.
mas chnii'i when lie rrcoilects that he has derived
ieo" being OF his character by sanderous repor,s.,
S'"atea ny malice other motive enualjv hosa L
mas cieaV"ued to blast The fair fame of his ne;otho,r
ana c"Hsign his name 70 ohouy; that ne darted the ,i,,
fS ana malignant eye OF envy another good fortune
ana sgcved n his p.csnerity The man n ybor, '
'S pictures The past be happy 'ris i,nooxs;h
eShnf" lac Is dsposScsscG rf that which is inlsrcnc,bl,
caln nngUG'ed mind. 'J'
contcntcd mind is ti,e INNS. v,luo,I, 80.
man IN iis p obationary can TIC possessed r. ,h
greatest blessing he can I've bestowed upon him
With it. the clouds cf adycrsitT arc b;e Iicno,I d.,
% poverty rcndeed smooth ana agreeablc; tho ;Ils ard
F!cs'iiufes OF life lose half their poignancy oal,n 60
hiy I"ei'S within the breast, and cot seems paaco
"H'oh! no rank c: station in lifc however exalted
is a't' ndcd with peace harmony. Nm tna.ter 49,
splendid OF magnificent the trarrpns tno, tn ,r;,,
"hch tho G'7e!ing Is adoEed or decoracd-swcet ,,5
coCo"aii' music may iioai Though lis halls; and IFS
,aoIes may gioan beneath ie accumulated weight of
luxury and dissipation, yet lccen resides rot il,ero
Inc peace OF mind daarcr than alp has flown ,pJ I
IN lis s'ead uneasiness aud disquictudc aaudv
furniture assumes gloomy aspects tie music breaks
upon 'e ca "it unhar:ncnOus and discordap; sounds
The 'usc"us d"intics taste bitter and unDalatabIe
ahu we cow"y couch filed W III, tborns ,oro
II hanging i'rending danger, like the sword of Dame
y " ''s.e mar Content in cot is preferable
~ "tSc"h'ehl III palace Although tie former nv
De divesed Of the exterior grandeur and .lca,occ
WINCH reE3eiS TIE latter Attractive We: Ike sprapi
Tecc aUd us consequent attendant, hanoio:ss r,ion
thcTe, shedding blessing aTur:iid the loneIy otiS,
Oh' ana inpaFiIng C':eernntss and cai.y In +, ;u,
inmates whose consciences are quct and " hose ,o;
are pure and nnde!'ed The poor but honest man WIZ
' '""c surrey o. LIS past "cl!nns and derive nea
sing consolation ttIcTCfon, even sInuG prov;dcrra |
have destined him 10 !aiour Tor his st,sfcna,c ri
ne searching rays Of summers sum or amid the rr
ana 'nS'ciieSs gatherings Ci winters storm ia c,r
VIZ e"' '"0c caiacter Than the unjust ic man with
in TVS P1hp anu greatness The poor man after tho
tolls and !abGnFs of lie day arc over rc,p,ns 10 H.
peaceful home. partakes oil Ills frugal nea, arr at
10 ms 'fanq-'i PilF, there 10 c,joy re!resiin and
XIV ;oratEg roposc l;n which I've rises in Inc
" renovated strength and heart Il; case 4, resume
His dInrnai i"btu". The weakly rcruc arer ,c b,s
scenes oi the days business haze silsiled NAV aIsn
re Urn 10 his hoGne-bn not 10 enjoy those aprv feel
'"Ss which The viituous aHi oncst only feel 10 Ls
perturbed and weary mind i, haunted end or,oon,a
by guilty conscience which CHARGES bin will ,v;,
onht ms reputation upon te ruins Of another a,l.ssc
us wealth ny trauduienCc, Intrigue, deceit and Jsho
neStJ' ana tIat external show which nc makes Of t
moor and in;f gritty is only mask which hide lie 49,
ehncSS and v'ainy from lie woiJIs eve Ifi,e d,Iee
commune with himscfsD1 l.ols through tie class or
etrospestion he will there find these cr.oftno.s cLaryc
uhy and amply coTioboracj by The dariz and horror
'reai'ng picture which! he bclolds
DETAMES.
q 80 pleasure ofrcad;ug withou, application
dangerous pleasure Useless books we ought to Law
ti "" 10 pdSe al possible advantage those from
'uch we may reap some frnil.-CrouSaf.
DiFFERENcEs.-lt is remarkable that men, when ,tc,
lhsr ~ any thng considerable, OF witch hsu III 80