The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-12-09

~ htAN f~-s+N -
which we are capable. John c. Calhoun
and John Tyler themselves Will readily
confess that in all their mental operations
for the last thirty years, other than poliil
cal, they are conscious OF having ablured
error after error. Indeed this is the only
way we haze to obtain wisdom. Were i.
otherwise, We should be intultively wise,
which no mere mortal has. ever pretended
to bs, that We know OF. Men ascend the
heights Of knowledge as they ascend high
mountains by using the rugged aud painful
obstacles ~ the way as talcTuus or step.
pug stones.
Many hItle vain fools stop after having
made the very Grst step, aud tarulng them
selves aboa, declare that they can see the
whole world. These are, perhaps, tue most
consistent men IN the world, for they never
change, they are doeged aud muIIsh ~
their adherence to FIRST errors, but thea
they are consistent fools. Mr.. Calhoun
and Mr. Tyler wi.l not claim immunity
with these
Why, even mathematical knowledge, 10
which we a.imo the most absolute results
of auy other mental ratiocinalioD, esiab
fishes its propositions as much or more by
proving what is not, as Il does By proving
what Is-by stepping FIRST upon the errors
10 clo.ch at The truths ADORE. The !ael IS,
cor whole mental machinery IS imperfect,
our reasoning powers are Ike our physical
they mus. have something TO rest upon !;
truth must have error 10 lean upou as The
lever requires tbs iticrum.
The brightest genius that ever shot up
lis meteorlc spendonr over our poor tame
work day world never achieved lis re.
suits at the frsi bound-by lutuiiion.-.
The whole structnre Of cur minds requires
the constant eliminating power Of contrasts,
Us We only know the brightness Of light by
-ss-s.---~--i -i---~. a. nraiannd darkEess,-
an exemption from The errors Of mental
progress who are they tina! pretend that
they clone, Of all tie world, obtain pure
gold wilhOa, dross? They are politicians!
Politicians, quoth2 And IS politics such
q pure science, that It's professors mus,
needs be exempt IN The errors and mfr
mites Of their colabsTalors 10 other walks
OF science, and learning, and knowledge
and wisdom! Let the daily press of
America answer with It's thousand iengues
stepped in the gall Of bitterness---and il will
answer, No! No No'-uo honest man
who has attained TO any thiDg like deserv
eu eminence, IN any oi the walks of letters,
will pretend that he has never changed
Then all this pro;ence OF political con
slsiency running through 4 series Of years,
reaching TO scores and through ali the il.
Eitaiicas o! parties and tue rise aud fall Of
men, and the revolutions Of kingdoms and
empires, and from generation 10 generation
mus. be sheer LsnbDs. Siuce John c.
Calhoun and John Tyler first promulgated
their lmmutabie, eternal, and Interchangeable
principles, the daring Implousness is
theirs, not ours, WIN! changes bave taken
place, even ia that subIIme economy which
rules the world The star Of Napoleon has
ARISEN IN the east like brilliant meteor.
and has gone dovn upon lone island Of
the spa, IN tho midst Of darkness and de-
spair. The scsptres ofthree.founhs oftbe
Civilized Kingdoms Of the earth have de- |
parted from the anolGted hands that grasp. I
ed them, ard been restored again 10 The /
Ines Of their legitimate possessors. Oar
own country has passed through three civil
revolutions and one exhaugupg aud bloody
war-and seven Presidents have been
peacefully seated aud descended from Tie
chair oil Slate. and five Of them 10 tie
graves and all this though the countless
phases and revolutions Of parties and or
circumstances which made those parties,
and yet JOHN Tyler is consistent through Il
all Oh iGlmaculafe maa !--dlyue po!iu.
clan whence IS thy wisdom and the foao.
Gains of'ty knowledge!
Bot Il is al sheer huulbuggery-no such /
HHn ever lived, much less a politician.
We now cor1e 10 our sacond pasiulate, !
WHICH sc think very important one.
ILls eternal pFa!!Hg about, and seeking
aler consistency, belrays q ridiculous re
gard !or The lanes Of lA!Dgs instead Of the I
things themselves.
Every pfofogBd SUDDEN! Of human nature
knows hos difficult i IS for a suboraed WIT.
ness 70 make a perfectly cohsislcn. tale Of
bts tes.Nmeoy. Il requires that il shall CT !
al the kncaG circumstances Of tLo case,
and tally exactly with tho credible aad IN.
lmpeachsd witnesses Of tho same case
Then, too, he same testimony NAV have
TO be repeated at several different trials.
and il Is very difficult 10 tell exactly The
same tale twics. How such an one taxes
his ruemofY--EoI to recoiieet the real facts
eed circumstances Of the case, Bot what he
SAID alta previous examination. The cold
sweat burst from every poro during the
painful travail Of la'acho1d. How di9aren,
is tso casa Wih tue boaass witness Of half
the intelligence he has 10 nice dove tals
q anoIker testimony 10 Ct in wlth-bts is
q PLAN unvaFnished tale, and the potency Of
tfuia toh how potent il IS bears hin In.
1mpbantly through. The no!ished shafts I
Of Toe skllIGl attorney fell shattered al his Z
lees against tue nYiuc.ble panoply which he I
wears. That armour was forged IN The ar.
nory Of the Mos. High Gcd Rare ladecd G
; the politician, The mes politician. who a
years it aod 20; ohe. VIC soiennly believe. s