The native American., 1839-11-16
INo.
DECISIVE INTEGRITY.


! The man who is SO conscious Of the rectitude
of his intentions, as to be willing to open his
bosom to the inspection of the world, is in pos
session of one Of the strongest pillars of drci-
ded character. The course Of such man will
be firm and steady, because he has nothing to
fear from the world and is sure Of the approba-
ton of Heaven. While he who is conscious of
secret and dark designs which if known would
blast him, is perpetually shrinking and lodging
from public observation, and is afraid Of all
around, and much more Of all above him.
| Such man may, indeed, pursue his iniquit-
! Gus plans steadily he may waste himselfto a
that he can pursue them with the same health
! inspiring confidence and exulting alacrity, with
him who feels, at every step, that he is in the
pursuit Of honest ends by honest means.
| The clear, unclouded brow, the open counten-
ance, the brilliant eye which can look an honest
man steadfastly, yet courteously in the face, the
healthy beating heart, and the firm, elastic step,
belonging to him whose bosom is free from guile,
and who knows that all his motives and pur-
poses are pure and right Why should such
man fater in discourse? He may be sandered;
he may be deserted by the world but he has
that within which will keep him erect, and en-
able him to move onward in his course with his
face fixed OH Heaven, which he knows will not
desert him.
Let your first step, then be, in that discipline
which is to give you decision of character, by
the heroic determination to be honest men, and
to preserve this character through every vicissi-
tude OF fortune, and in every relation which con-
meets you with society. do not use this phrase,
" honest men" in the narrow sense, merely, Of
meeting your pecunary engagements, and pay
ing your debts, for this the common pride Of a
gentleman will constrain you to do.
use it in its large sense Of discharging all
your duties, both public and private, both open
and secret, with the most scrupuIous, Heaven
attesting integrity: in that sense farther, which
drives from the bosom all little, dark, crooked,
sordd, debasing considerations Of self, and SUBJ
stitute in their place bolder lof,ier, and nober
spirit; one that will dispose you to consider
yourselves, as born, not SO much for yourselves,
as for your country and your felloW-creatures,
and which will lead you to act on every occasion
sincerely, justly, generously, magnanimously.
There is morality on large scale, perfectly
consistent with just attention to your own af-
fairs, which it would be the height Of folly to
neglect generous expansion, proud eleva-
tion and conscious greatness Of character, which
is the best preparation for decided course, in
every situation into which you can be thrown
and it is to this high and noble tone Of character
that would have you to aspire.
and meagre streamlets, which lose their direction
at every petty impeachment that presents itself,
and stop aud turn back and creep around, and
search out every little channel through which
they may wind their feeble and sickly course.
Nor yet would have you to resemble the head
long torrent that carries havoc in its mad career
But would have you like the. ocean, that no
blest emblem Of majestic decision, which, in the
calmest hour, still heaves its irresisess might Of
waters to the shore, filling the heavens, day and
night with the echoes Of its sublime declaration
of independence, and tossing and sporting, on It's
bed, with an imperial consciousness Of strength
that laughs at opposition. 1t is this depth, and
weight Of power, and purity Of character that
would have you to resemble; and would have
you, like the waters of the ocean, to become the
purer by your own action.-Wirt.
We can behold with GOODNESS the stupendous
displays of Omnipotence and be in transports at
the puny essays Of human skill; throw aside
speculations Of the sublmest nature and vastest
Importance into some obscure corner Of the mind,
to make room for new notions of no consequence
at all and prefer the first reading of an indiffer-
ent author, to the second or third perusal Of one
whose merit and reputation are established.
Great minds have their peculiar empire, their
renown, their dignity, their conquests. They
need not the sensual splendors of the world, be-
tween which and the things that they seek there
is little similarity. 1t is the mind, and not the
eye, which appreciates their excellence but then
this satisfies them.
| WINTER. The autumn is now about to leave
us, and cold, dreary winter to succeed We
look at winter now as if it would be welcome