Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-01-17

! rich rewards la your political institutions Self
Esteem aud Love Of Appreciation find unlimited
! scope II the humblts ci,izrn thrsts for powcr
and distinction, there is no constitutional obstacle
to bis becoming President Of the United States
The career Of activity IS equally opcu to Your
moral sentiments and intellectual faculties Ey.
cry citizen may not only profess whatever rcli.
glous or philosophical creed seems best snitcd to
his own mind. hu, is at liberty 10 preach and teach
that doctrine TO found churches schools lyccums,
colleges, and libraries IN support oft. and to form
associations for ITS propagation and defence In
short, there is no sphere OF action Of the human
faculties, consistent with the common dictates of
! morality that is 10, ncre encouraged Nav 90
extensive is your liberty, that il occasionally de-
generates into RIGHTEOUSNESS your citizens. in
paroXysms Of excitement, occasionally indulge
their animal propeuSties IN violence, outrage, and
injustice, and the law is too feeble to protect the
objects Of their dsplasure, or to punish those who
have set 1t at defiance
! lou perceive then, the mighty difference be-
tween your institutions and those of dcspotic coun.
tries But call your attention to another prin.
ciplc
Happiness consists in the free play of all our
faculties within their legitimate spheres OF action,
RI and this kind of action can exist only when the
animal propcnsities are subjected 10 the control
of the moral sentiments and intellect and where
be capable of distinguishing between good and
evil-betwccn the right course and the wrong
in every department of individual domestic and
social action earnestly press on your attention
the great truth, that aft cvc faculties both
animal and moral, are in themselves blind mpul.
ses ana that they stand in need of proper guidance
There mus, be subordinaon, restraint sefdcnial,
the power of selidrec,ion, in short there must be
gOcermcnt and enlightened government before
Il happiness can be attained. We have seen that
your institutions have done every thing to sci your
faculties free but what have they done 10 guide
them in the right path SO far as can discover
the answer must be-tCo liule
, In Europe Nllontl Church PROCESSES to cu
tiypte the sentiment Of Nencration, and TO teach
morals and religion. Here you leave every
man to embrace whatever religion is approved of
by his conscience, or TO cast off the restraints Of
religion at his pleasure. In Europe, artificial
rank and hereditary titles profess TO inculcae de-
ference and subordinaon in the different parts of
! society. Here YOU have distinction Of ranks !;
and, while You encourage SeltEstecm and the
i - ~f Appreciation IN their holdest flights,
you have artificial institutions, either for re.
straining directing them. In Europe, indie
pendent courts of Justice and strong executive,
direct or reprcss the animal propcnSl,ics Here,
your executive is feeble; and when general ex-
element seizes your people, your laws as
ltOb-Nt'S III restraining lHt plbptUSN'S our
institutions have relied one sole power to regu-
late all the faculties in their manihsraons-the
power of public opinion. But what is public opin,
ionl 1t is the outward expression Of the particular
S group of faculties which may happen to prcdom
nate IN activity in the minority Of the people for
the moment II is the sum of the active impulses
of many individual minds In questions, howev-
er, Of moral conduct, of religion. Of political econ
+ omy. OF law. or even Of common prudence 1t is
A 4 = i 4 =
intelligence and virtue, that gives value to their
decisions: and | ask what do your institutions
e do to communicate to the mind ofeach person who
g forms one OF your ma critics that wisdom which
alone fits HIM to act a directing and controlling
= power over his own proprnstes and those Of his
J. fellow men? | fear that we must again answer
n too little
e The idea seems TO be entertained by some fyour
o politicians, that propensity in one man will re-
e strain propensity in another that sentiment in
s. one will direct sentiment in another in short that
J. out OF the conflict of interest against interest JUS
tce will De evolved and that out of the conflict OF
V reason with extravaganza and error--whether in
IS religion, in morals. or in political action wisdom
n and truth Will be brought to light and that the
social body will at length grope IFS way to repose
u prosperity, happiness holiness, and virtue. II
0 this result shall ultimately be reached by such a
e process Of mental action only be by the ex-
hauson of errors and the endurance Of countless
r miserics IN the process.
DO not imagine. from these remarks. that | am
&c the advocate OF European dospotisms and the enc
e my Of Your institutions Qulie the reverse; but
is 1t is my object to point out you that, IN provi
d ding an organised moral and physical machinery
e. for regulating the propcnstes aud directing the
sentiments Of their subjects into what they consd
rs er 10 be their legitimate spheres Of action mon
u archs act on sound aud philosophical principle
r The propCnsiiies and energetic impulses, which
!. mus, be resmncd and guided by some power, *
T. eIna or internal superior 10 themselves, othcr-
J. wise they will dryiate into wild abuses Ia the
a. European mouafchies ericrnai restraints are chief
II Is rcsoncd 10; end those too, unfortunately are
il in many instances applied by ignorant and selfish
n men N such manner in some degree TO crush
G. incllec, and she virtue, as well to suppress
st vice Although, therefore. you have done well
D. in lberatng all your faculties from thraldom TO
is legislative churches aristocracies and desp0ls
D. vc YOU cannot 80 them free from the laws OF
J. God written not only in the Scriptures bat on
S, your mental constitution aud on the external world
Sane persons appear 70 conceive liberty 90 con
q sisi IN the privilege Of unlimited exercise Of the
J. animal pfoponsircs The head Of liberty stamp
n cd on the earlier medals. commemorative d toe
IN French Revolution, Is the very personhcstion Oh
p this idea, She is female figure with a william
IN ously. small, low, and rareatng forehead, def