The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-01-01

The GENTLEMAN.-True gentlemen
are to be found in every grade Of society.
The ploughman, with his broad sunburnt
hand, his homely dress, and his 'open,
honest, countenance, is oftener found to
be possessed of the real attributes of a
gentleman, than the enervated nlan-mil-
liner, who is much more careful of his
gloves than of his honor; whose shirt
bosom must be pure as virgins fame;
and who, if one curl of his glossy wool
were displaced, would be thrown lmme-
diately into strong commissions. The
blood which flows in rich and generous
stream through the heart of Russian serf
is as pure in the eyes Of God as the life
current, which eddies round the princely
fountain of the highest of England's no.
blemen. 1t is a false, illiberal idea, that
because man cannot claim alliance with
the proud and wealthy, his name should
be stricken from the list of gentlemen
We are all created-our mothers suffer
the same pangs; and shall the one who is
ushered into life upon silken couch
spurn him whose limbs were first laid on
truss of straw? Which class, from time
immemorial, has shed honor and glory on
the earth-the gentleman Of fashion, or
the gentleman of nature? Whose voices
are most heard, and to most effect through
out the world? Why, those of men born
in poverty, but clothed by truth with the
jewelied robe of honor. Does the mere
fact of mans being able to make bow
with scrupulous exactness constitute him
gentleman? Shall the children of one
mother be divided, because one portion
are gifted with grace(ulness Of action and
coxcombry of demeanor, while the 9TH
ers will not stoop to cringe at flattery's
fawn, or waste the hours given them by
heaven to improve, in the useless study
of the puerile forms Of fashion? Oh, how
glad it makes ones heart to see the
''painted Lizards" trodden under foot by
the gentlemen Of nature! to see them
shrink away at the approach of honest
men, fearing that they may be called upon
to acknowledge their inferiority!
Who is the gentleman? he who can
boast ofnothing but name, upon which
dishonor has never thrown its leprous
poison. He who can lie down on his
pillow at night knowing tina. he has done
his neghbor no injury; whose heart is
never closed to pity, and whose arm is
always nerved to redress the injuries of
the oppressed. Who smiles not at mis-
fortune, and who mocks not the afflictior.
of his fellows. He who looks upon all
men as equals, and who fears not to stand
in the presence ofa king. The man who
is guided by moral honor, and not obliged
to have laws made for his observance. -
He who has true democracy in his soul.
who desires and gives TO every man the
enjoyment of his own opinion, provided
they do not infringe the DEGREES of JUS
tice in its most rigid sense. Such man,
and only such one, should dare lay
claim to the proud appellation of "a "gen-
tleman." Thank God! we are in coun-
try where the field of honor and renown
is open to all. The lowest freeman in the
land is in part the governor ofits proudest
officer. He who tills the earth, walks E.
rect in the proud dignity of natural right,
knowing that he cannot be oppressed
while he respects himself. There is no
distinction of classes here-the black
smith and the senator-the shoemaker
and the PRESIDENTIAL hail each other as
Northumberland City,