Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1839-05-11


his thirst at the fountain Of knowledge, in
manhood drinks with delight its sweet re-
freshing waters. To such one the studies
are prison.house-its rules as disagreea-
BILE as the restraints Of civilized society to
the wild and untutored Indian.
Mans Author has endowed him with
faculties capable Of progressive and con-
tinued Improvement and expansion. BY
idleness they are kept stationary, by in
dusiry advancing. Thus encouragement
is given to labor, and punishment to sloth.
That improvement and expansion are ef-
fected by education: in acquiring educa-
ton the mind is brought TO think, reason,
annalize, compound. 1t is first engaged
in simple lessons or questions, and by de-
|grees is led into abstruse and complex
ones, the process is ingenious and admlra-
BILE. The first is lever TO move--a key
to unlock the next. The mind by this
means is trained, Observation-Disclosures is
made habitual. The course of study in the
higher schools, especially, ARE eminently
calculated TO make the mind logical. II
is here taught how to sieze difficult sub
jects and carry Son long and connected
chain Of reasoning. Whenever the mind
is accustomed and habiuated 70 close and
severe thought, it is in tHU@ay and path
to excellence. Each cay its powers ore
strengthed--its stock of information and
knowledge increased. have yet 10 see
the first man who cannot bear long and
Iaborious thought, whose intellectual pro-
ductions are worth notice; and observation
firms that most men, who have not receiv-
ed an early education, are impatient of
thought; mean such thought as is neces-
sary to make the accomplished, the dis
eliminating and learned judge--the cru.
dte and profound lawyer-the skillful
physician-the eloquent argumeniive and
effective divine-and the instructive and
philosophical author. One may possess
native intellect Of high order, but like the
plants of the garden, unless cultivated they
will yield but little fruit. To this there
are Of course some distinguished and ac-
knowIedged exceptions.
Human life is at best but short. The
necessity ,herefore,o of indusriously spend.
ling the early portion of it in the acqusi-
ton of learning, must doubtless, suggest
itself to every one. lfchildhood and youth,
the flower Of life, and at least one third of
il, is passed unimproved, the chances Of
distinction are curtalled one third; add to
this the dlstaste for books which will usu-
ally exist, and the hopes of brilliant ca.
reer of fame will be delusive and cut off.
The desire of distinction, to be esteemed
by man, to hold Offices or posts of trust,
honor end power, is certainly commenda-
Bile. Education and know ledge are the
portals through which you may pass into
these offices or posts. Fill, store, enrich
your minds, address the youth,) with
science, knowledge and learning, and you
may attain the highest places in your 90.
vernment. Thank God, intelligence and
merit are the only necessary qualifications
for office in this country" the land Of the
free and the home of the brave" Obscu-
rity of birth is not here as il is in the
hoary and enslaved nations beyond the
Atlantic, a bar to political preferment
Knowledge not only assists in gaining, but
also in competently filling distinguished
stations. Without it, a dignifed and re-
sponsible Office seems for no other purpose
but to display the ignorance and imbecility
ofthe incumbent-to render him contempt
ible and ridiculous.
In no State in the Union, is the general
diffusion of intelligence so necessary to
effect wise administration Of It's govern
ment, as in this. The number of our Off
Gers is very great, and their terms Of Office
are, perhaps, much shorter than in any
other State; the consequence is, that a
large proportion of our population, at some
time during their lives, will be in authority.
1t, therefore, our citizens are not generally
intelligent, we must have many ignorant
and incompetent rulers. Farther, all Of
our elections, with a few exceptions, are
made directly by the people. If, then, the
latter are uneducated and grossly ignorant,
are they not liable to be misled and de-
ceiyed by demagogues--and will they not
raise to power those who are unfit to ex-
ercise it, and disposed to abuse it.?
Three-fourths of the Infamous and dark
crimes which disgrace our species, are
perpetrated by the ignorant and illiterate
The reason is obvious. They cannot SO
| clearly nerceive the henio,isness IF crima
as the more enlightened. Ifyou improve
the intellectual, you Of necessity improve
the moral character. Farther, the igno-
rant have not the reputation Of the intelli.
gent to loose, consequently the former have
less ability and inducements 10 act honestly
and virtuously than the latter. Education
is then great moral agent.
Our enioyments are two-fold, physical
lind intallact,,al IT, lo.... -: :,