Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-07-19

| 'nt heiVeHs, ana ilc inventive genius Uf Fulton
tinmphnntly apply the power Of steam to naviga-
ton England may boast. if she chooses, of her
"NrsrrnS STEAMER;" but the first passage across
the Atlantic by steam was made by the j" Savannah"
OF our own co tutfy and Illus has America the
prize. Mud his she To Tier Fulton fot whom
the poet should string hls Tyre, and " whose na,no
should he sung in immortal verse"
Thr temple Of fair science has unfolded 10 us her
sacred archives; discovery crowds upon discovery;
and al on smiling land, We behold the fruits
Of glorious independence. Here, in our own be-
lsed Anrtira Nature h1s acted upon her most
magnificent scale. ii 10 afford iii theatre for tho
exercise oflhc nntrammccd genius OF ircnen eve-
~ incentive 10 enterprise aud industry ia cxiendcd
every thing combines mako trioice that o,,ircs-
sion drove our Pilgrim Fathers to tie viii
derness, aud TINT Heaven has blessed with these
beautiful aud fertile shores, No where we find
morn ycldat fields pellncd lakes. and majestic rlv-
crsllcfc the Poet may finds theme for everlasting
song. and heuccofward tho Antiquarian may nun
his attention from the dceasing temples and lofty mo-
nnmtnis nj Greece ;--hem imperial Rome's splendid
anrhtheJrrs and superb eoseums; from the
Egyptian pyramids and eaaeofnbs, aud sphiuxes
and The faded ustte of Ialmyiene glory, and ponder
over the remains of American Antiquities. Let him
20 INTO GENIAL America, and view there the decay
Ing temlle the ornubling pyramid and wide. prcad
drsoliIon, 1hc faded glory ol people who once in
hlhed tins vast continent. but who lave passed away
aud lelt MOI rccotd To tell their tale. Beyond tho
possibility oil doubt, know that sneh a people
once noutiahrd through continent and the
mole we conjecture, The more oui wendcr aud ad-
mitalon nrr, ascd, and the more lmpcnetrable
appears lie veil which hides then fate from view
Here, then, is uxutant field for the Antiquarian
Here is enough 10 cause every son aud laug hter II
America To fcIoieethat tins easl country lms been
again peopled by civilized race, aud y mighty IN.
ton has sprung into existence upon tile remains Of
which has nourished before u.s. and whose ruin,
suon lonely wilderness would have ohscurcd f5rcv-
er We SEE great Milton aenin nuufishing IN ihs
recently extensive Wilderness heaulIul aud napu-
lous cities which have sprung mp rs il by magic
aud every lliug echoes aud re. echoes Liberty and
Peace Dlher lands may be fertile other suns may
shine with spcnner like onr own. other people may
be industrious aud ehtcIprlsing but here, the Angel
OF blhcity Las presided and mind untrammeed ex.
efed its majestic power
traveller at the North Is scarcely for moment
beyond The sound Of the ,ong bell. Noble and
majestic eiues continuity present themselves 10 his
asonlshed gaze canals. snrpassing IN extent any
upon the globe railroads, constructed in the gran
l'st style with 1her locomotives gliding swiftly
along and emitting Their br gllt scnlillations; all
combine Ia add onthautnent to the sccnr 10 inspire
HIM with renewed love Of freedom, and to impress
upon tho mind the value of the legacy bequeilhcd
us. and the importance OF ils preservation.
lluc, them the question might suggest ITSELF how
~ this rich inheritance 10 lie preserved How arc
the invaluable privileges which have been handed
down to rs, 10 be retained
That those IN whom power Is eonGdcd should be
watched; that an cyo should be closed and in
'
Education, winch is the great bnlwark of y fiea row
ernmeut It's tins which keeps its seils always scr
at which Tho tyfsnt shudlcrs, aud which he en,ea-
Vonfst suppress. In arbitrary governments, kings
aud nobles find II ihcr interest 10 keep the people in
ignorance and degradation; for where ignorance ex-
lists, there loo must be the reign of Slavery. Inclli-
gcncc is the life Of liberty the grand incentive 10
vrtnous and patriotic deeds II sows the seed Of vir-
tue aud ofratosn aud upon the virtue Of its cifi-
Hfns, does the safety Of republic depend. As long
people are vlttnous. long will they he free and
happy. In The bosnus al such persons the spirit of
freedom mtst dwell. The affection aud ,lcera.
,ation OF nation will assulcdly follow national crime
aud wlch edncss Whenever the morals Of u people
become corrupt, The nation is involved in misery aud
wfetchcdne8s.
Greece Vas subduea hy tho Romans, only
when her ezeus had bteomc lioculious aud cor
rupt. As long rs their morals wffe pure they defcd
all the Efforts OF ther enemies snhYeft their bet-
ties. Ncrxes was ba1led with all his power and
skill; the intrigue and cunning OF Philip wrought
no effect; The people rrtuous and patriotic, rallied to
their country support, aud were nvincibe. The Ro.
mans too were ngincibe, ill corruption pervaded
the public nlOrdis when the hordes OF Cloths and
Nandals poured down upon them from the North.
overwhelmed them almost dcenccless. and the world
was shrou1ed ia pail Of universal darkness and Of
horror. But Rome had lost her liberties, long be-
fore she became prey to her Northern Batba,ans
As soon as her citizens became prongate and
corrupt. a Cusar passed the Rnbcon and usnrped
the supreme authority; aud from that time, Rome
knew what liberty was. SO has il Leen will, eve
~ republic that ever existed. II we traverse the
shores of llmc and view the wrecks OF fallen repuh-
lies VIE viii find HAT they all undermined by cor
rupliou. That The breaker upon Which they
split and Il we would escape, must sllun the
ioek upon which they were wrecked We lave
the past of guide; aud the experience il aolds
IS The only means of providing Tor the future.
If then, the foundation Of every free government
has been sappedby corruption, b6hooves us, in the
grand experiment, 10 guard against the cause which
produced the downfall ofocrs and to provide for the
pefnanuuey ofour own by keeping the public morals
pure. The diffusion olknow ledge abroad, is the on
lymeans which can guaranty the pcfmanency of our
republican Institutions. This Is the incentive 10 viz
tue; 1t is this Which fans the ,esal flame Of lib
ctty.
Behold tie noble foreigners, Who, prompted by
thai enthusiastic love of freedom which educ alton
had nurtnred ia ther bosoms, came from distant
lands 10 Fl hit the batlle of the American Heyolu-
ton, Willie portion ot our own countfymen in-
capable OF approaching the value of freedom were
assisting the tytant 10 ilvet 10 chains of slavery
upon their own county. Among those who
came from distant lands 10 fight our battles,
there was one who stood pre-eminent among tho
rest. AGtuaed by that ardent devotion 10 our canse.
which u knowledge of the lost rights Of man had
kindlcd 10 a flame, he left his peaceful mansion and
delightful country and enlisted in the cause of an op-
pressed people, when the tempest was sweeping a
broad III lis fury, and despair oyersliadowed land.
1t was then lie offered his bosom TO the shafts OF
battle aud joined the lltle palaux Of freedoms vo-
tories. With them he rushed into the midst of dan
gets; with them his blood WAS split, and with them
he Struggle in the glorious cause, till at last the in
,i.T, I'LL