Southern telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1834-1838, 1838-10-31
OURSELVES AND oURDUTY.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF STEAM.

Express, upon the subject Of the great a.
chIevements now made, and to be made, by
steam, and the impetus that the successful
navigation of the sea has given to the furth-
er Developments Of the uses of this agent,
in bringing together the different nations Of
the earth. The article gave brief, but We
Try comprehensive view of the principal
works now in operation in Europe, and Of
others partly completed, with some sugges-
tons as to the probable effect that would be
produced upon our people and institutions,
and those of foreign countries, when brought
into such frequent and close proximity, as
must necessarily follow from such great i'm
provements in the facilities of intercommu-
nication. The conflict of opinion is contem-
plated as one of great moment, which must
produce many and great Improvements and
reformations. Yet, the writer seems not to
doubt that any other than "conflct ofopIn-
ion" will be the result of the commingling Of
Earring elements, and POUNDS his conclusion
upon the influence of reason and calm dis
cussion, which, like wand of peace, is 20
be all potent to still the troubled ocean OF
human passions and conflicting feelings.
And not only so, but for all future time while
this world continues world, human reason
is to be the source and the centre of all i'm
prOvements, and the great impetus to all
reformation, for such seems to be the result
the writer deduces at the close of his re-
marks. He says-"Whatre reform, the world
works, is to be wrought By appeals to mems
heads and not their hearts"
The influence of the press is somewhat
hacknied, but nevertheless, it is not the less
important, because it is often IN mems
mouths and spread before their eyes. Wheth-
or we write and speak of it, or whether we
refrain, it is daily and hourly working In Sc
cret upon the minds of millions of people,
and in no part of the world is it more an en-
CINE of good or evil, than in our own coun-
try; and among the newspaper press, none
partake more largely Of the public conf
dence, and consequently none are so much
relied upon for correct information and sound
views, as those published in the large COM
mercial cities of our Union. How import
ant is it that all, but more especially those
of the most extended influence, should en-
deavor to disseminate correct and sound,
wholesome views, food for the mind, where
that mind extends to the utmost limits OF CT
vilization. would fain believe, that the
writer ofthe article, now under consldera-
ton, expressed himself undesignedly, rather
than from conviction of the truth OF the
conclusion at which he arrives. Cherries
would be The prospect, and dreadful w"uid
be the condition of this world, II man, SO
long protected by beniicent and kind Pro-
vdence-so ongguided by Wisdom from on
highs now TO be left alone IN this moral
wilderness, to grope his way, as he can, un-
aided except by the glimmering light OF IN
teIectual powers. How many centuries IN
the early period of the world was man iei'
to the influence, and the full influence, which
the head could exercise, in working refor-
nation ofhis moral condition; and instead
of any improvement, not only the head, but
the heart became so full of corruption, the
earth became offensive in the sight of God
This experiment, permitted in the first ages
of the world. has been confined by all the
past history of man, and so confirmed that no
enlightened statesman Of the present day,
when the influence of the Bible is so fully
acknowledged, would contend that without
it any people can be prosperous and happy;
and those nations which in their history and
condition present the reverse OF thls, and
those who either have to depend upon ap-
meals to the head only, or are sunk in lgno-
rance and superstition. The oft quoted ex-
amples of republican Greece and Rome, pre-
sent TO us. as we look down the long vista OF
time, as but splendid images OF mental gran
deur. proud monuments Of mans greatness,
but containing within them the cause OF their
own destruction, being at heart full OF cor
uption. while the head was endowed with
much of the worlds wisdom, and from the
Inns of their sons proceeded maxims. Their
religion was made by them, and like all hu,
man inventions and devices, was subjected
to changes and mutations, to contradictions
and expansions, to Gibbs and flows ike the
tides Of the sea, or the troubled ocean OF an
prv and contending passions. Their heads
were full, but their hearts were empty, VOID
of the life-civing principles which alone can
give stability, prosperity, and comparative
happiness and peace 10 any Pe"P'0' "'o"'
which none are capable of selfgovernment
the eenial influence Of christianity--the re-
Epion of tho Bible. The heart and not the
head is the seat Of its empire, and its Infiu-
onco properly felt there, and the whole mo-
raj system is renovated; old things pass a
why. and all things become new; the pride
ofintellect no longe is as cloud, shutting
out the bright beams ofthe Son Of Righteous
ness. but ike the influence Of the sun upon
the natural world, it dispels the clouds and
mists. and we behold the clear light, the glo-
nv of the Father shining forth in all his ways
and works. The heart is the seat OF empire
to the body--the source Of the affections Il
| is the fountain from which flow all the streams
of life, and, as it is pure or impure, so vii
he the influence diffused, dthe effects pro
| ,J I'll, ~ rouch certainty as the eifecl