Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-11-24
CHARACTERISTICS or rae AMERICAN
PEOPLE

CHARACTERISTICS or rHE AMERICAN
II seems 20 be the condition of al
things earthly. that good shooId never
exist without an sdmixture OF evil. II
THE Be true Of the works Of nature, how
much more must il be Of those Of man.
The visionary. indeed. dreams OF the
perfectibility OF human institutions, and
the speculative politician attempts 10
realize the idea; but the former wakes
70 disappointment alone, and the latter
often inficts untold evil in The attempt
TO eradicate il altogether. Perhaps The
greatest privilege secured 70 us by our
Tree Institutions. 10. the political equal.
ty which embraces, within It's annie
circle. every member OF the communi-
". In this country, 70 use the phrase
OF an eminent statesman. there are no
hevisonfaI divisions Of society. An
stand upon the same level, and set out
rom the same point. The career of
honor and OF fortune is alike open 10
every competitor. Here, every man il.
OF can be, faber SUR forfxne. No man
10 born to political distinction NO man
comes into the world q prince, or a
statesman. What are called the adj
vantages OF birth and fortune, are al
most disadvantageous to the political as
pirant IL is novel form Of society.
which leaves every thing 10 personal
exertio0. which hens in no man or
class, with the rampant Of legal privi-
lege or prescription. The effects Of this
perfect equality, in a political sense,
which is the distinctive feature Of the
Polity by which we are regulated, are
striking. IL is the grand secret Of the
universal activity that agitaies the Anne
rican community, and, more than any
other, explains the wonderful progress
which half century Of national exist
ence has exhibited. It's obvious influ-
ence Is to elevate the character Of the
citizen, and 10 difuse, through every
walk OF life, q noble ambition. IA a
the greatest Of all incentives TO exer-
ton; the spur and spirit Of that active
enterprise, whose achievements, alrea-
dy 90 vast, are but the earnest Of greater
things TO come. II Ne this, which aqi-
Eating society from its surface to its
depth, maintains the community in n
perpetual ferment II is this, which
makes our country one vast hive, teem-
ing with life and activity; IL 10 this,
which levels forests, builds cities, calls
vast provinces into cultivation, opens
new routes, devises novel systems OF
industry, explores distant COMMITTEES
and ell with the suddenness of magic
the power Of creative fat. Stimulated
BY this influence. the marvel Of yester-
day dwindles before the wonder Of to-
day, and this shall shrink into insignifi-
canoe beside the miracle Of Tomorrow.
But, great and beneficial as are the ef-
feets which We have attributed TO THE
cause, Il is not 70 DO questioned that
their concomitsnt evils ere Of no slight
magnitude. The restless anxiety Of
change. the insatiste craving after some
underlined good, which 10 80 distinctive
OF Athe American character, may be
traced TO the same root from which has
sprung such hourishing national proc
perity. No man, in this country. IL
contented with the situation in which
ne was born all are sctuated by q rest
less desire TO melioraie. or rather 70 adj
vance, their original condition. We
live IN the future only, through which
our hopes are projected without limit
and without restraint. We are no near.
% TO the goal GoF which we ssrove, to-
day, than Ne were yesterday. The
horizon expands as we advance, until
our view has no limit, our prospect no
bound. Contentment, which l., after
all, the great secret Of human happi.
ness. is almost unknown among us.--
Here, imam never is, but always 10 be.
blest-" Hence we pass our lives in q
pursuit which has no end; we waste
our hours IN . chase whose object ever
reeedes As we advance. Hence, pre-
sent and actual good is constantly Fssk-
ed and sacrificed for that which is fu-
ture and untTied. Hence there IL no
community IN this world, where, indie
pendently Of national calamities, chan
gee Of fortune and individual calastro.
pies, are 90 frequent. Hence, heart
buEnings, jealousies. iBordinate nmbi.
ton, and unreasonable hope, sxitHie 20
many bosons, and torment so many
minds. Competence, domestic bliss.
peace Of mind, the greatest blessings
which can be enjoyed upon earth, are
daily jeopssded and throwa away. IN
the pursuit Of some vague and unceF-
tain project Of advancement. Home is
forsaken, domestic ties are broken up.
the ordinary and respeclable puFsuits
q life are deserted. Every one nust
seek out some shoh cut % fortune,
come new road 90 wealth, o. disiinc-
ton. Men compass The earth in the
vain pursuit q that sbich hes unheod-
ed before them. Add what is worse.
the moral sense Is ofen perverted end
corrupted By lhis all-absOrbing thirst fog
advancement and men stake repusa-
ton and honor, and forfeit their self
es,esm. Coz The qualification a. eTimi-
nal ambiiioa. The dcmoraIising info.
ence II this cause cannot have escape
the atiention q The alosl casual CO
server. Who has Witnessed tie progress
of society for The last few ysars. fts
pernicious effects have drives ac,rae b
he eoaclssion. that that form 81 socis-
~ which divides 2 natioa inlo sssfioaa-