The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-15
Vol. 6-No. 40.

then incOntestible-the theory is completed, and
the science rapidly tends to perfection, as specU.
latlve philosophy and practical art.
Principles and facts in science are most init.
mately associated. The facts ascertainable by
observation and experience, are the materials Of
the science; but they not science. 1t can have
no existence until principles evolved, or theory
is perfected. The mass of facts made known
through the medium OF the senses, must be or.
ranged by the rejecting powers of the mind, and
the connexion OF casualty must be discovered q
mOng them before they can be recognized as con-
stltuting science. Facts alone a chaos suscep-
tible Of form; but mere void. until the creative
spirit breaths on the irregular mass Of comminRled
elements; then light and truth burst on the pro.
found obscure; form, existence, harmony, rise sue.
cesslvely into being, and science owns its birth.
In all science we observe, then, that principles
are It's beginning and its end. Yet, it is unhap.
PLY true that in all the systems of education,
principles, if not entirely condemned and denoun-
ced, are the last to be thought of, and when they
become the subject of investigation, the mind sur.
charged with PREF udces and stuffed with conceita.
is incapable of receiving simple truth. What
sentence, to use the language Of a celebrated wFi.
ter, shall we pronounce on system which thus
reverses the clear and evident order Of things:
which overlOads the memory with facts, and these
frequently of doubtful description, while it leaves
the mind entirely in the dark with regard to prin-
| ciples that would alone render the Heterogeneous
mass OF any advantage or avail!
This method is most injudicious and unwise.-
Man commenced his social existence in all TeIa-
! tions in ignorance and barbarsm. He is endowed
| With faculties that empower him to improve, TO
! ameliorate, to elevate his condition But his first
| steps in the profound darkness which surrounds
his intellect, uncertain, wandering and faulty.
He escapes from the inevitable 20 his state
| by slow degrees; he breaks from the ENHANCEMENT
| of false opinions and systems, only with painful
and Protracted struggles. The older are opinions,
| facts and doctrines, the more probable they are
untrue; the less reliance is to be placed on them,
unless confirmed by modern ex apartments and pTin-
ciples. 1t is not sufficient to sustain an opposite
opinion, that instances may be cited Of pow Tful
lntellects that OWNED some scattered truths, veE-
he'd by recent Investigations. They were happy
| guessesI treasures aCcidently found; and not the
result of systematic proceedings, which can be q
| dopted with advantage. AS we'll might we be
summoned to bow in reverence, and confess the
! inspirations of the Pythoness; because, from the
| tripod, in her wild delratiOns, she uttered Occu-
sionally the words of truth.
have dwelt with no little emphasis on facts and
principles, as alone constituting knowledge, and
forming the entire end Of science. But you have
the right to demand, from so much stress being
laid on these points, what is meant by facts and
what are principles. 1t might TO the superficial
seem strange that any doubts could be entertain
cd on these subjects; yet, am persuaded that,
simple as they appear, they are not properly I'M
derstOod, otherwise it would not so frequently &C.
cur that what is given for facts not facts, and
what is enuncinted principle is not principle.
What, then. mean a fact, and wish so to Be
understood when | employ the term, is a simple
indivlsible phenomenon, presented by q natural
| object, ascertaned by the from careful OBJ
servations, by the experience of thousands
the same in all ages, and verified by reiterated
experiments. That alone which embraces these
conditions can be regarded as a fact in positive
science, or be admitted in a strict philosophy.
Having shown what is to be understood by q
fact, let now proceed to ascertain what mean
by principle.
| The phenomena Of natural bodies exhibit
common points Of resemblance and dissimi-
ltudes, ascertained by the senses. They are
2 thus distinguishable from each other, and are
to be separated into various divisions accord
! ing to their nature. All the phenomena of
any department.. which in their essential cir
cumstances are exactly the same, have the
D same cause, and constitute but one fact
/, which is the first in the series of phenomena.
a This primary fact is, then, generalization
!; of innumerable facts-the concentration Of
thousand facts into one--aDd this general
fact is principle from which all the series
: of phenomena below it depend Immediately
i or secondarily. Each phenomenon is in il.
d self an effect of one which has preceded it,
: and is a cause of that which succeeds to it,
n Phenomena in this manner form a numerous
! formula. The progress of ascience towards
: : truth, is always the reduction of multiple
!, city of facts to few general facts or princi
% pies; from confusion and comp.exity to clear
r ness and the simple.
e We may receive it always as prima faei'
r evidence, that the route we are pursuing il
= the road to truth, and be induced to perseveTo
4 in our course, when we find such to be thu
D. result that we are escaping from a multiple
e. city of details, obscuring the sight, and open
ly ing on less obstructed view that the unwis
Of host OF facts in which we found Ourselve
le lost and bewildered, gradually settle dow
3 e into regular form and order.
C. 1t has been the design of the preceding re
n marks, to enforce on YOU that the acquire
u ment of knowledge, and the discipline Of th
.ir mind in its acquisition, are the main Purpc
a, ses of education. To remove all obscurit
~ with respect to my views, or mode Of under
q standing these SUBJECTS, it is now incumbeu
Its on me to make to you declaration Of Wh'
re I regard as the proper objects OF huma