The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-15

knowledge, the subjects alone embraced in
scientific perquisition.
The universe, of which man is a compo-
nent part, is composed finnumerable bodies: /
each with, or manifesting specific properties,
and holding with each other positive rela-
tons; and thus have the capacity of prOdu-
cling phenomena. A knowledge of the ex-
istence Of these bodies, and consequently of
the universe, is derived from the perception
Of phenomena by the faculty of sensation,
with which man and other animals are en-
dowed. Without the senses to perceive,
existences would be unknown, the creation
itself void, the harmony, beauty and order
Of the world thrown away, having neither
object nor design. 1t is the faculty of SEN
sation that makes the creation what it -
and here we are presented with one of the
most beautiful instances of the usual harmO-
nypervading the great works of the Almighty
Creator. We know the bodies of the uni
verse, because their especial properties pos
sess special relations with some organs, lex
ternal or internally and excite in the exter-
nal senses the specific phenomena Of sight,
of feel, of sound, of taste, of smell, or in the
internal senses, awaken perception to the
impressions they create, disturbing the state
of being or functions of the organs.
During the influence of the theological do
mination, which, in barbarous and darken-
ed period of society, seized on and subjected
to its control every species of education, man
was separated, distinct being from the rest
Of the universe.
In pride and vanity, it was taugh that for
him alone was the universe made; he was
the sole end and object of creation; with
which he was connected only as its Lord
Thus isolated, and falsely endowed with ex-
elusive privileges, his organization was a
useless research; the sacred form must not
be mutilated; it was sacrilege to study this
sancti6ed being in the same manner, and
subject his composition, structure, faculties
and actions to be investigated and explain
ed by the same method, and on the same
princi pies as those applicable to other things
A Just philosophy has humbled these idle and
presumptuous pretensions; it has shivered
into pieces this pageant idol of human pride
and antiquated ignorance, and while man is
recognized as the most complete and perfect
type of organized beings proceeding from
the hands of the Creator, he has nothing
distinct from them, excepting his more de.
Veloped organization; composed of the same
elements and materials of which all are
constituted, even to the lowest of animated
beings.
The philosopher poet thus beautifully ex,
presses the idea:
Smoothing is foreign; parts relate to whole;
One all extending, all preserving soul
Connects each being; greatest with the least
Made beast in aid of man, and man of beast,
All served, all serving-nOthing stands alone
The chain holds on, and where it ends unknown
What, it may be inquired, is the remedy
for this state of things? A reform, certainly
But if resisted in our earnest appeals fo
redemption from an oppressive condition
and our aspirations for a better order o.
things BY inhexible prejudices, unyieldng
pertinacious, selfish interest, then in polit
cal society arises the excitement and storms
of the passions, in whose wild tumults rea
son lvses her ascendency, rebellions and re
volutions burst forth, the frame of civil so
ciety is rent and torn in fierce collision, ply
steal contests decide the questions that mo
raj considerations, calm and rational delib
rations should regulate, and can alone brint
TO a felicitous conclusion. In the rude
connections thus excited, and in the shocI
of conflicting factions, desolation is the sub
stitute for reform; and in the place of i'm
provement, we look aghast on scene 0
ruin and destruction. The philosophe
weeps over his blighted prospects Of human
perfection; the philanthropist sinks in de
spair.