The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-02-09

uish I give all honor to the spirit which many
mong us have shown in such circumstances; te
he manly fortitude and dsinterestedness of men
who have comparatively cared nothing for them
selves, but who have been almost crushed to the
earth by what they have suffered for their friends
to the heroic cheerfnness and soothing tenderness
of woman in such an hour, ready to part with
every luxury, and holding the very pearl of hei
life, in the unsullied integrity Of her husband.
know full well, that that lofty integrity is the only
rule ever thought of by many, in the painful adj
ljustment of their broken fortunes. And know
and the public knows, that if they retain portion
Iof their splendor for a season, 1t is reluctantly,
and because it cannot, in the present circumstan-
ces, be proitably disposed oE-and in strict trust
for their creditors. But, there are bankrupts of a
different character, as you well know. | do not
know that any such are In this presence; but if
there were congregation of such before me,
should speak no otherwise than shall now speak
| say, that there are men Of different character;
men who intend permanently to keep back pari
Of the price which they have sworn to pay; and
/ tel! you, that Gods altar, at which minister
shall hear nov word from me, concerning them, but
a word Of denuncaiou. 1t is dishonesty, and 1t
ought to be infamy. 1t is robbery, though it live
| in splendor and ride in state; robbery, say, as
truly as if, instead of inhabiting palace, it were
consigned to the dungeons of Sing-Sing. And
take care, my brethren, as we shall stand at the
judgment-bar Of conscience and of God, that ye
fall not at all beneath this temptation. The times
are times of sore and dreadful peril to the virtue
Of the country. They are times in which it is
necessary, even for honest men, to grid up the
loins Of their minds, and to be sober and watchfu;
ay, watchful over themselves. Remember, all
such, adjure you, that the dearest fortune you
can carry into the world, will not compensate you
for the least lota Of your integrity surrendered and
given up. Oh! sweeter in the Iowiest dwelling
to which you may descend, shall be the thought
that you have kept your integrity Immaculate, than
all the concentrated essence of luxury to your
taste, all its combined softness to your couch, all
its gathered splendor to your state. Ay, prouder
shall you he in the humblest seat, than if, with
ill-kept gains, you sat upon the throne of king
dom. ......@..
| come now to consider, in the last place, the
Limitations to be set to the desire of wealth, by
sober consideration oft too probable effects upon
ourselves, upon our children, and upon the world
at large. And here, let me ask two preliminary
questions.
Can that be so necessary to human well-being,
as many consider wealth to be, which necessarily
falls to the lot but of few? Can that be the very
feast and wine of life, when but few thousands
of the human race. are allowed to partake Of it ?
| IF it were so, surely Gods providence were less
kind and liberal, than we are bound to think it..
God has not made world of rich men, but rather
a world Of poor men; or Of men, at least, who
must toll for subsistence. That then must be
the good condition for man; nay, the best cond
ton; and see, indeed that it is the grand
sphere of human Improvement
| In the next place, can that be so important to
human welfare, which, if it were possessed by
ALL would be the most fatal injury possible! And
here must desire, that every person whose pur-
suit of property this question may affect, will ex-
tend his thoughts beyond himself. He may say
that it would be good thing if he could acquire
wealth, and perhaps it would. He may say that
| he does not see that riches would do him any
harm, and, perhaps, they would not. He may
have views that ennoble the pursuit of fortune.
But the question is, would it be we'll and safe, for
four-fifihs of the business community around him
to become opulent! He must remember that his
neighbors have sought as well as he, and in pro-
portion, too not far distant from what have sta
ted. They have sought, and had as good right
to succeed, as he had Would it be well that so
general an expectation of fortune, should be graf
fled! Would it be well for society, well for the
world? Only carry the superstition a little far
Their; only suppose the whole world to acquire
Wealtn, Only suppose IL Wefe Poasloo 'iia' viz io
sent generation could lay up a complete provision
for the next, as some men desire to do for their
chdren and you destroy the word at single
blow. All industry would cease with the neces-
sity for it; all improvement would stop with the
demand for exerton; the dissipation of fortunes,
whose mischiefs are now countervalled by the
heal!hful tone of society, would then breed uni
versa disease, and break out into universal licenses
and the world would sink into the grave OF its
own loathsome vices
| But let us look more closely, for moment. at
the general effect Of wealth upon individuals and
upon nations.
am obliged, then, to regard with considerable
distrust, the influence Of wealth upon individuals.
know that it is mere instrument, which may
be converted to good or to bad ends. know
that it is often used for good ends. But more
than doubt whether the chances lean that way.
independence and luxury are not likely TO be
good for any man. Leisure and luxury are almost
always bad for every man. know that there are
noble exceptions But have seen SO much Of
the evil effect of wealth upon the matchmaking
it proud, naughty and impatient, robbing it of its
simplicity, modesty and humility; bereaving it Of
its large and gentle aud considerate humanity and
have heard such testimonies such astonishing
Testimonies 10 the same effect, from those whose