Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-08-10
Thou shall, remain in all thy pride. till nature
sinks 10 rest,
And unborn mlIi'on, pass away, like foam if""
OF Thy breast.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PORCH
EY MISS HENRIETTA aSS JOHNSON of EDGE
tiLLp. SOUTH CAROLINA.

DAYS reslcu ineT ochei,-huo """ "N
their opluinus respecting Their origin and
. final destiny. We'd III gh, IN study iuS the
sysleris that powerful inlciiects IN reno
lcr ages have orgIualed-l IS thus, that
! We see what the human mind can accom-
pish hy It's own una,siSted efforts. Reason
had then no guiding star 10 direct II IN It's
wauderiugs--nu revelation 10 teach II lie
uui'y Ol ,ie Deity, his holiness nnd immu-
liability, aud the relations that his crea-
lures sustaiu 10 him; but. the desire TO at
taiu something higher aud nobler,s impei-
led IT on; and though II plunged iuio la
| byrinlh Of error. aud cvimccd most iorcibly
ils own inbcci!ity, yet the discovery Of
| some beautiful aud sublime truths relatI, e
10 the universe. the soul. ind The Divini
", served as clues 10 save II from being lr-
rccoveraby lUsl.
The stiengih aud weakness Of the hu-
man Intellect are iorcibly shown in the
ethical systems formed IN hose ages, when
reason struggled alone through The dark
ness That shrouded II.
Our hisnes, admiration is excited by
the un>ulied viIlue, The elevated serenity
of soui displayed III The character Of hun
who drew Philosophy from Heaven down
| upon rurIh.' tie shOuc as brilliant light
amid tho gloom # hat age. We regard
| also wih vcncralion him who placed the
| Immortality al the soul on an immOvable
basis,-,huue Oh we reject his crude specula-
tons on many other points. Equally d"
We yeuerne lie brilliant genius Of the
wise Sragyrii-,-his powerful aud vieor-
Gus intellect, his subtle reasoning. In
deed. in all the numerous phIl",opInc i
s,s,ni>. ", di.cuv,r many Of the noblest
limughts inierwOven IN ;nc web Of crude
con nj"c,urr aud speculative error. They
all a>scrtI'- supremacy OF The intellectual
over the inaIerInl nature. But among The
different seci,. the Stole undoubtedly de
serves precedence. Its iltIsirious author,
Zrnu, has furnished the world with sys.
| tenn. marked by accurate investigation,
deep research, grandeur aud suhlImiiv Of
thought.
HIS own character furnishes the strong
est proof Of the souutlncss of his principles.
aud 'heir efficacy when reduced 10 prac
tice. His whole ;iIc was remarkable for
tha, unsullied purify and virtue which ex
al, man above his fcllow beings.
The grand principle on which his Nys.
ien. rcsleG. was, that virtue is the noblrsi
attainment of the human soul. lie al
ulilted that among the different objects
presented US by nature. some we're prefer
atic tn others, aud that among them wc
were To exercise our choice. The Stoics
believed in Deity. who prcsi,les over the
affairs oi,lhe wnrd. and is interested in
the actions uf his creatures. They con
silered him The great source Of intelligence
| power mud wisdom,--,he director and
mover Of alieycnis,--in short, the .Som OF
| the universe
II is usually objected TO this sect. that
il, principles tended 10 induce state OF
apathy. of indifference TO all exrerual
things. But this objection is not valid
The Stole philosophy requires nn abso-
lutte command over The pussions-nnd this
command over them produced hubi,ual
caImncss and srrcuily. which had the ap.
pcurauce rf coldncss and want of feeling
But though il llid no, allow the induigenc,
Of pasSirc feelings, they were ever ready
actively 10 assist aud relieve their fellow
beings.
This philosophy did not place our hap
piness merely IN tie attainment, Of what
We desire but IN purity of inlcutinu, md
rcc,i,ude OF conduct. without taking inlo
consideration the event.
The Sloics considered The happiness oi
The Iars"r number IL BE- preferred TO that
at the Smallcr.-the, were ever willing Ia
sacrifice their own pleasure or advantage,
To secure that "f fellow being pr.cti.
>!nC instantly the most tlisiutcresled he
ucvnlcnce. Eu,ire resignation 10 the Su
prrua, RriuG was 0n- at i!rir tenctS; they
hchrv-d that every event WAS ordered TT
the wisc., purposes. aud would exactly &c
cur " i,il nuc own wishes. could we be full
!, acquain;r, with the whole system ol
things.
The principles of Ehis philosophy ap-
! prnach nearer than any other, To those oi
tue morality and pie,y-rley lead man
10 aim AZ something high aud lofty. II
NAV be said hat its standard was ahnve
! the reach oi humanity. hut our aim should
| be elevarcd. though we fall below it. And
IL would be- well for Us it wc could ever al
Tain thar height nf moral grandeur. Which,
this philosophy would have US attain.
We judge Of system from rhr influence
ii cxerls in ntcullins the character. That
of the Sioic> has produced some uf The no
biest characters whose memory history
perpctuate.; among whnm may he men
tioued tie Emperor Mareu, Aurelius. Caru
the younger. Bru'us aud Seneca. who were
its mo,i ardent admircs aud strict follow
ers They all did honor to their country,
sough' her happiness, lived not for them.
selves alone. bul fur othc:s.
4 fine encomimm is bestowed on ,hi.
philosophy by Mnnc>quiru-"Never (say.
This wrIrcr.) were any principles mnre
worthy oi human nature and more proper
10 form The good citizen, Than those of The
Sluic,: aud if could for moment cease
| 10 rccolleci that | am a christian. ] should
not he able 10 hinder myself from ranking
( the destruction Of the sect OF Zcno among
! the misforunes thar have befaIlen the hu.
/ man race fatal error lurkcd in ihi,
system, IL advocated suicidc-considercd