, 1840-08-22

are mightier than the passions. To awaken
them IS the highest Office Of education. As
yet it has been little thought oil. The educa-
ton of the mass of the people has consisted in
giving them mechanical habits, in breaking
them to current usages and modes Of think
ing, in teaching religion and morality as ira
ditions. 1t is time that a rational culture
should take place of the mechanical; that
men should learn to act more from ideas and
principles, and less from blind impulse and un-
discerning imitation"
Mr.. McDUFFrE.-About $500 persons Gel
ebrated the Fourth of July at AbbeviIIe,
South Carolina, with much spirit and enthu-
siasm. The Hon: George McD ufie, presid-
ed assisted by Thomas G. Perrin, Thomas
Thompson, and ID. J. Bee, as Vice Presi-
dents. Many spirited and patriotic toasts
were given, and speeches delivered. A.
mong the toasts, the following drew forth
Mr.. McDufie.
By the Committee of Arrangements
George McDufie-The President of the
.day-Our former distinguished, long tried
and faithful representative in Congress, the
champion Of the Constitution of the South
and Of Southern interests. In statesman
ship, talents and integrity, equalled by few,
surpassed by none. He now devotes his
time by his own choice solely to the pursuits
of agriculture, but South Carolina, still with
pride points TO him as one Of her most cher
ished, most gifted sons.'
To this MI. McDuffie, says the Charles
ton Mercury, replied by a speech Of about
an hours length, which was enthusiastically
cheered.
After his thanks to the meeting for remem-
bering him in his retirement, he entered up
on the topics which now agitate the public
mind, promising that as he had when in pub
lie life never concealed from his constituents
his sentiments upon any political topic, even
when he differed with them most widely, he
trusted that he could not now, when a pri-
vate citizen, be suspected Of any sinister de-
sign, whenhe declared his opinions.
He explained what the Independent Treas
ury was: and enforced the propriety of its
adoption, as a means of making the public
Treasury safe, of rendering the government
wholly independent, Of promoting economy
in public expenditures, and of furnishing a
secure currency. He had before supported
the u. S. Bank as he found it existing, be-
cause he deemed it then useful as y regulator
of the currency; but the same bank if now
existing in the same form could not regulate
the State Banks, increased as they had been
in number and capital; and a greater delusion
never possessed any people than that Of those
who supposed that the establishment Of q
New National Bank, such as might be hoped
to furnish a sound currency, would afford any
relief to the present distress.
Upon the Presidential question, as to the
men merely he was Indifferent, however
great he might suppose them TO differ in a.
bility-but looking upon them as the repre-
sen.atives Of divers parties and interests, he
could not doubt the propriety Of the South's
supporting Mr.. Van. Buren,. He had thought
i'll Of Mr.. Van Buren,, but had never been
more disappointed by any one than by him
since his election. To Mr.. Van Buren, no
one could now impute non-commitaI; his
course had been open, firm and favorable to
our interests; he had always been of the Re-
publican party, opposed as now by the Fed
~eralists, and he seemed to be fairly acting up
to his professions.
Gen. Harrison was the representative of
the money influence, known to be superan-
uated and imbecile, but set up by those who
would use him for their purposes, and sustain
ed by pageantry and boast, addresses to the
passions made by designing aristo-
beer barrels and log cabins,b but no dec
laration OF principles. He examined and
the claims of the two candidates
to the favor of the South and concluded by
expressing in the strongest terms his surprise
and astonishmcnt that any Southern man
with republican principles should hesitate
one moment in giving to MIR. Van Buren, his
most Jealous and cordial support.-Bah.
Wa. 0. Rives, in his speeches at Smith