The North-Carolina standard., 1840-08-26

those that adorn the person.
Could you require any incitement additional
to that of mere personal interest, to pursue the
course here advised, your sympathies might con-
fdently be solicited to that noble Inheritance un-
der the protection of which we live. Your coun-
try has claims upon you, which can be cancelled
only by instlling into its youth deep and abld
inc attac hment to its free institutions. The days
of bgotrv and oppression have passed away
We are not now to be operated upon by those
instruments with which the lower orders of Gre
alton are compelled 10 ackno Wedge the superior
power of man, and pursue the dictates OF his
pleasure, whether willing or not. Our reason
must be attempted, our convictions altered, be-
fore we consent to change those habits or opln-
ions which our judgements approve, and religion
sanctions Neither threat menace, nor wordy-
defamation are omni potent to make Us
comply with the views Of any set Of men, when
in direct opposition to our own solemn convic:-
tions of dutv. There is no power In this coun-
try which can ostraclse one from the social or
political blessings to which he is entitled, unless
he forfeits his right thereto by disregard OF
those moralities which bind US together and
cheer the dofnestfe>circle. To encourage arts
and commerce, to expand by liberal education
all our useful properties, and thus lay broad and
deep the foundations of social improvement and
political reform, and to establish the security and
happiness of man on an enduring basis. are now
the highest ambition of the patriot and the most
exalted qualification ofthe philanthropls. Mill
tary and naval renown, the endowment OF lite
rary and scientific institutions, the most eXquls-
ito taste in arts and learning, produced by ex-
cess of refinement, and the most polished ele-
gance of manners would nov be, in the eye OF
reason and philosophy, but poor and feeble
compensation for those ineslimable privileges
which were the price of bloody revolutionary
struggles. A welregulated liberty was deem
E,tbo 1a1
deseotism, disguised beneath the robes Of any
government, as abhorrenI to the feelings of the
patriot and felt little concern what species Of
slavery that might be which enchained them
when restrained from pursuing the dictates of
conscience. Indifferent, therefore, TO every po-
litical model which did not secure the utmost
possible liberty TO the subject, while it preserved
due respect and subordination; they wavered
long before adopting our present Constitution
and laws-a system which has. indeed, realized
the most ardent hopes of the philosopher and the
most visionary dreams Of the ina ination. Can
that be machine Of inferior workmanship, or
the result of slender reflection, which has for so
long period and with such wonderful elasticity
ada pied tselfto the necessities, comfort and con-
venience of a numerous, wealthy, and CONNER
cial people, which has yielded abundant protec
tion to every class of dealers in agriculture, me-
chanics, and manufactures, which has provided
for a population already immense and hourly |
increasing employment and occupation which |
has diffused peace, quiet, and conentment
throughout the land2 Can that be of trihlng
consideration, which dispenses such blessings
= equally to the poor and rich, which holds the
scales of Justice with so steady and impartial
grasp as to bes.ow profit, emolumeDt honor and
reward, on that which is indeed the only true
and genuine aristocracy-the arlstocracy OF ge-
MUS, labor and skill-that diamond star in the
coronet of jewels which adorned the heads Of the
ancient Republics II ever people had a right
to be contented, we are certainly that people
Our land teens with every product which can
add to the comfort or luxury of life. Let then
no subtlety of argument, no nice distinctions, no
refinements Of sophistry, induce US to trife with
acquisitions so great If disease appears, let US
expel at once its lurking and deadly poison be-
fore it penetrates TO the vitals A system Of
general education is in TRUTH the on y means of
perpetuating what we value so dearly 1t has
been observed bya shallow thinker, that it is
useless to demand greater latitude of discussion
or investigation and more enthusiasm in the dis
seminatlon OF knowledge, because, from the filthy
and polluted taste of the public press falsehood
and misrepresentation are quite likely to gain an
ascendancy over truth and fact. But this argu-
ment is too silly to need refutation, because the
very reason assigned should but incite US the
more to supply the intellectual wants fthe rising
generation. We should seize with avidity any op-
portunity to spread information that the people
may. easily detect the gross impostors who are
necessarily attacking their credulity for party
purposes and local triumphs. With what eager
pleasure ought we TO enlighten ALL that they may
be able 10 Withstand The attacks which party vio-
lence may, at no distant day, make pom their
liberties. In. an individual point of view, the
man of education and refinement has an unceas-
ing resource from the cares and anxieties OF life,
entirely disconnected with the whims and pas
sOns of his cotemporaries: very singular dis,
tinction this, by which these enjoyments differ
from all others. He possesses a power more
nearly allied to sovereignty than any other and
when accompanied with worthy motives and up
right intentions, attains and merits the gratitude
OF his country, He wields an Influence which
experience has proved to be fully capable OF
wrestling from "a Monarch his crown, and from
Bishop his mitre. Literature has, indeed. been
too long under the sway of bigotry and corrup-
ton, and the patriot should therefore, strain eve
ry nerve and use every exerlon to give it an
impulse which may result in benefit and advan-
tage to US and posterty The Press, which is !
the great channel through which learning is
drawn from It's vast reservoir to every part of the
body polite, must become potent engine under
ba of ell Ok; &.