Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-07-21

81 N- A-a-.+lso--NAs ~ atE4 NlfN E-'l ever lie
pages 81. history from the creation To the present
time, 10 be convinced OF the truth OF tins statement.
laJeed, The hrst transaction which ve have on re-
cord. Is but sal exemplfcauon ct this assurance,
which resulted IA the conversion Of eur beautiful
paradise INTO a scene Of tot and sorrow from thence
We hnd the annals Of antiquity int rspersed with
the names Of wemen who have directly or indirect
~ exercised most powerful influence on aier az
birs. Whole nations have owed much of their ma
u0nal character To the influence Of their tmales-
some, impeiled by the most ardent devotion 10 the
virtues Of patriotism, courage and love OF liberty,
have won for themselves high and deathess names
on the records of Fame. But those nations sunk
in etieminacy, where woman was considered but
the slave of man-have soon lost their rank among
the nations Of the earth
Women exercised much influence in the affairs
of ancient Greece and Rome; much of the veal
and woe OF these mighty empires may be traced 10
this source. In three revolutions IN the government
of Rome, the influence exeried by woman was the
immediate cause and her power saved Rome when
her victorious though baniShed Carioinus appeared
before her walls as the enemy of his country. We
have also records 10 dspove the truth OF The asSer-
ton, that woman has not ability 10 govern. In the
earliest history of AsSyra, we have an account of
Lemramis ruling with despotc SWAY over pow
eriu kingdom, which, under her wise legislation, in
by an extraordinary course OF splendid actions, has
recorded her name high upon the list Of heroes and
conquerorS. Carthage, the rival OF imperial Rome,
owed It's existence TO the energy of woman. And
IN scripture, we read instances Of women elevated
To the most honorable stations of power IN the land
of Canaan. In more modern times, Notwithstanding
the deep-rooted prejudces against female DONNA
ton, many kingdoms of Europe rank their periods
Of greatest national prosperity under the relgnS oil
female sOverelngS-am0ng these are Catharne, OF
Russia; Chrlslana, Of Sweden ; and Elizabeth OF
England And even at this time, three powerful
kingdoms of enlightened Europe acknowledge a
female as their political head But in too many in
stances such power has been obtained by energy of
mind, united with those masculine qualities which
have been cultivated to the exclusion OF these vr
tues which adorn and beautty the female character.
In the annals OF literature, woman holds an eX-
ated station. BY the mighty power of intellect she
has enchanted the hearts Of cnraptured and admir-
ing nations by The simple but magic strains Of po-
etry, she has touched the spring which unIocks the
human heart--she has "spread beauty all around
our paths, " and has scattered many fowtet to
begui'e the sorrows of the way-worn pilgrim thro'
life. The character Of the sex has been wei SITS
tanned by the laborS of Genlls. an EdgeWorth,
a Hemans, SomerviIe Sigourney, and many
others OF our own day and country, who have
won for themselves an imperishabIe name There
exists great diversity of sentiment with re-
gard TO the relation which woman ought 10
sustain in society. Some argue that she is pos
| sessed Of intellect and capacity equal to that
of the other sex, and should enjoy the same rank
| and privileges; while there have been others who
seemed unwilling to allow that woman was pos
sessed OF living sou-they would leave US to sup
pose, that although the Almighty had formed
shrine 50 beautiful in its symmetry So exquisite in all
lie I1a baI npolarta1 IN plara
the Divinity worthy of homage. Some, Of both
sexes, have commended for what they are pleased to
call the rig hts Of women whose systems, were they
reduced 10 practice, would sacrifice those lovely
and amiable qualities, the exercise Of which constl-
tue the true influence Of woman.
| Woman is out Of her element when She contends
for empire mid the din Of battle or seeks to give
laws To nations; such scenes are incompatible with
the duties of daughter, wife, and mother, stations
of dignity and importance which woman is called 10
fill Her empire is the hedr--and, were the rela-
ton changed, how much of the beauty and perlec-
lion Of her character would be sacrificed The
change might possibly be elected, though Nature
seems to have placed an lnsuperable barrier such
| an innovation. But custom IS second nature -
woman, by training, might become an Amazon; and
man, by efFeminacy, the most delicate, sensitive,
and helpless being in creation-hut such state ul
things would fearluly dstort the most beautiful
feature Of society. Womans influence is mighty,
and no less powerful because secret and silent. It's
Legitimate place is the fireside and domestic circle
and there an impetus to action may be given, which
like wave OF the ocean, shall be unlimited in its
circumference. Such influence animated the Spar
tan soldier in the battle, TO which he bore his mo-
TIERS command, "Ieturn with your shield or upon
It," The same influence was eXered in the strug-
gle oil our own country for liberty; one OF the no
bleSt principles which can animate the heart o.
man. Had not that high and holy principle of in.
dependence implanted in the bosom1 of our fore
fathers, who, breaking asunder the ties which bounC
them to their native land, sought a sanctuary IL
the forests of the New World, where they nigh
worship God according to the dictates of their owr
conscience, been watered, nourished, and conse
Grated
"By the tears the anguish and the blood,
III those stern martyrs to the cause OF Goo"
and bequeathed, as most precious boon to the
children, found SO firm stronghold in the heart
Of our patriotic mothers, whose motto was LIber
ty or death;" had they not by their heroic exam
pies of secdenia, contempt of danger and Of death
SO strengthened the hands and encouraged thu
hearts OF the brave few resisting the power oil tn
oppressor, our country might still have been groan
; ing beneath the yoke Of tyranny And it was tn
exercise OF womanly virtues which has reflected
! such lustre upon the names of mother Of TN
Grncch, and mother Of Washington.
In the dark ages Of the world, when science am
literature were confined to the coister--when th,
the blessed light Of the gospehut dmly Illuminated
a portion Of the earth Swallowed BY the power o
superstition might was right, and coniu
sion and anarchy prevailed, our sex shared deeply il
the common degradation. But, when brighte
dawn cleaned upon the earth, and the mind OF maj
arose. bursting the chairs which enihralled wbeI
the truth Of God in its onward course dispeled IN
i shades OF ignorance and superstition wa
then elevated to her proper rank, which she ha
ever since in all Christendom retained IT. then, tn
influence Of woman is so extensive and powerful
and who will deny il, is it net a1l-important that tn
! principles which actuated her should be high an,
holy? That she should be Invested of passions AM
weaknesses which are but a degradation to her ma
{ ture' That she should live for others rather thai