Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-21


'thrillng incident encircle the proud name Of
America. II IS the land OF natures most mag
'nifiiccnt exhibitions. II is the theatre otman'sf
noblcst achievements. II is the scene OF the
widest and most daring adventures: In the
structure of the American continent, naturcE
seems 90 have mustered and concentrated up
on Tie work her mightiest energies. In not
|othcr quarter Of the world are exhibited such
|boldnoss and variety 70 feature. The noun
tain riles Of the western hemisphere, arc thet
grandest most extensive, and (with one single5
Exception the loftest on the Globe. Herc,z
and there. they shoot up into rugged truncated
5concs, whose barren SUBMITS crowned withE
an eternal wreath of purest snow, even underE
IA vertical sun, pierce far beyond the clouds, )
I and bask m the sunny smiles Of heaven, while
stempes's dire, savage, and Wild rage withs
fierce aud destructive fury about their feet
ION their wntry and bhstbcaten heights, anil
NAL and vegetable lie have alike been deferred.
rom seeking dwelling place And philoso-s
iphic ardour and scientific curiosity, have push-
cd their difficult way 10 the SUBMITS Of most of
The mountains ofthc old world, no human FOOT
has ever tracked is outline on the frigid brow
\ of Chimborazo. This Ilercuean labor was es-s
saved by the enthusiastic and daring Humboldt.
but obstacles as insupcrlb,e as they were me-.
nacing, barred his further progress, while two
thousand feet still Law between him and the.
dread point Of his destination. Nor five turni
bur attention 10 the volcanic mountains ofthe:
( new world, those vast safety valves Of nature,
for che escape of subtorranean heat, can we
/ lind parallel in point of magnitude and crup-
tive fury Man has ventured TO stand on the
cinderbound margin Of Vcsuvius's crater and
gaze into the sulphrous depths below: but mol
mortal eve has ever dared TO cast It's vision in
30 the warning profundity Of Pachinca, theI
: homc OF the earthquake, and the source of
ahOOds of hQuifed minerals. For extension fer
5ubty, beauty, luNurance, and grandeur Of vegi-l
tauon, they stand ncuntestably unrvalled.-
4 Thcy hold in their teemng bosoms, the gOldenl
3elemenis ofindiwdual wealth and national PROS
3periW, and invite with richest and most smi-
Wing promises the hand ufndustry TO develOpe
rand render them available. Her rivers par
take o fthc majesty of her plains and noun
\ tains. Taking their origin far away on the,
mountain brow, and a thousand streams con-
mbuing to swell, deepen, and broaden their
3curreni, they attain a magnitude, before dis \
fembogulng INTO the great centre and source of
waters, unsurpassed by those OF any other sec
ton of the earth. But our imperfect sketch OF
) The physical character the American contil
Inent would be still more imperfect werei
( we to pcrtermit the mention, Of great lakes.
and stuTendous water falls. These areI
PROFESSIONALLY among her most beautiful and:
most magnificent features and elevate her pre-
bemnenily above every other region Of thei
earth.
Such being the pllysic al grand. ur Of Amer.
4 ca, her claims to be the residence OF great
and mighty people cpuldscarcely be chaleng-.
ted. These have been most adequately rccog-s
'nized IN her being the nobest seat ofthe no.
Ihlest nations. Her history is the history of The
illlusirous deeds of her illustrious sons, whose
heightened souls and iron nerves, no danger
could appal no Obstacles intimidatC. High
YES, highest on the temple of fame, are wrii-k
ten with the pen Of immortality, the names of (
Ithc pilgrim band, who eXpatriated BY tyrannic
dominion, encountered the perils Of broads
and bosterous mair, TO seek new and hap
pier home in the wilds Of America. Here amid 4
her dark but majestic soltudes, bcamed uponR
by The lovely and newly risen star OF liberty,f
they set about constructing a goverumeniE
whose basis was 90 be the eternal indestructa- +
bic princlplcs.oi equal rights and equal privilc-s
ges. But scarcely had the heroic band enter
ed upon this noblest Of human enterprise, ere
clouds OF sanguinary aspect were seen TO ga
Their on their newly extended political horizon, &
and om their lurd bosoms came the protein
tiOus mutterlngs Of war. And although thesek
omn'ous symptoms created a mOmentary trCm-
our m the manly bosOms Of this more than 4
Spartan band, It was soon replaced BY high rel
solve aud lofty and daring purpose. To diet
in the cause of freedom was far swceter than
10 enjoy life when the price was AFFECT vassal-
age. The storm came; It burst in ak lis direS
fury; the blood OF the patriots ran in crimson
streams over the battle field; their noble andF
mangled forms lay thckly strewed upon its
cory surface; stul the survivors, far from beinnf
dlsmaycd by these awful scenes, were impell- 8
ed TO holder eXertion, 10 more gallant deeds &
And through various fortune, through hard u
ships, and tolls and privations; the most grew
able that man ever bore, did The valOrous band
CALAMITY sustain, this most frequent contestF
until by some Of the finest strokes Of Ceneral-F
ship, and by the most brllian, acts OF cmyal- 8
ry, ever exhibited TO an asionshed world, !
proud England, was made, through her milita-s
ny representative, TO bow her legal head M
submission, and to surrender her hitherto VIC 8
torious sword into the hands ofthe patriot chief
1.-The immortal WASHINGTON. To do ade-s
quate justice to the character and deeds Of this
illIstrOus individual, would beprar all lam
gIage. He Is without parallel IN the annalsi
)f the world; alone he stands in the solitude.
Ds true greatness. Nor will his name or thoseI
ol his heroic compatriots be forgotten, TN
memory shall have abdicated her throne in theI
human intellect. Having covered the Ameri-
can arms with victory glory, and indepen-
lence, he was called by the almost unanimous
voice ola grateful people, TO preside over the
lestlnles OF that nation TO whose enfranchise-
nent he had so signally contributed. Here.
his conduct as chief magistrate afforded the
most luminous evidence, that his countrymen
lad acted, the part Of wisdom IN coniering up
pn him so distinguished an honor, so high and
responsible a trust. For he proved himself
% be most profound and sagacious statesman
not only of his own day, but Of all arcs which
have proceeded or followed him. Under his
sage counsels and wise and efficient admins
ration, his country marched with rapid stride;
owards the zenith Of greatness, and sooI
shown forth, tho brightest and most beaut;fu
5tann the vast constellation Of nations:
"For in this land Of heavens peculiar grace
The heritage Of natures noblestrace,
There is aspot Of earth supremacy blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest
Where mans creations tyrant, csst as
ide,
His sword and sceptre, pageantry, an
pride;
While in his sohened looks benignly blen
The sire, the son, the husband, brother
friend"
EDUCATION IN TExAs-Rev. Chauncey Rich