Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-01-20
LECTURE.
Delivered before the PHrLnNArHELS LITERARY
eOeIErT. Of Wheeling, February IS. lSI2-bT
DA. JAMES w. CLEMENS

Os"lfnsn: We liTe IN country the genius Of
whose government. differs from the government Of
any other country. In European countries wealth
End hereditary name. 10 secured TO individuals BY
law Learned and merItorious individuals it is true
no" and again sPpear in the old world but they
are lew when compared 10 the " hole mas, Of The
populai"n. They are 80 fen. that o. cy NAV GIIy
be compared TO the sun liz tops Of high mount,ins
exciting the wonder and amusement of every be-
hOider-whie around their base, and in the valley,
beneath ihem. thick and mpeneirab!a darkues. CT
isis But IN our country we have byLsu no I,or,I,
20 Dukes, no Earls;-nor Barone,s-nor any otber
privileged orders The distinction which ms;
pertains among uS. is that Of goodness Father
cannot IN our Country. transmit By LzD his honors
ms achievements-his sttndmg- his character
or MS lame TO his eldest son. The people claim
Tue right oiJudging how gOod-how great-ho,,
merltorious; how chevalr:c an individual in aoy
community maybe. In IN country public OF iuion
gains Standing and chara cier Public opinion should
therefors be formed. by correct standard
Our country; our o"n dear county. l! napecu-
lar country; country OF liberty and freedom Tbs
pillars OF Ia gov eminent intelligence and NOR.
81 worth. These are the mainsprngs and tbo,s :,
lightly preserved will outliVe the visionary nations
OF European politicians.
Intelligence, and moral worth combined, eon.,.
inte character, for either individual, or for a
community
Should not the formation Of such a char,etor
engross much Of the attention of every individual
who wishes TO be useful TO himself 10 his friends
or the community in which he ! vest II mattsrs
not what may be the mental requirements Of an in
dtVIdual; no matter Il he possess tho eloouence of
DemoSihen'' or Cicero No matter If he possess
The reasoning powers Of Plato. " he posses. The
hrmnss ofArisdes. or the wealth OF Croesus No
mailer we say Il he possess all Of the above and ~
devoid OF moral worth, he cannot obtain that char
aeter' which We wish to impress upon your alien
ton.
man without moral worth. bu, 20 ssessed OF
hients' and wealth, may eIcite asionisbmenl: he
may be feared. he be hat d, but he cannot be
IoVso' because he cannot no trusted. Who isit
mat deser1es trusi II is the individual oC
mora! worth. and highly cultivated infellect. Sucb
an individuai deserves The highest Office Of profit
or o. huH. Because he ns. he Intellect TO plan
and the honesty 10 execute. any Seh.me, bow.ver
nazardous Tor the good either Of hs County or hs
community.
Viewing moral worth, and ielliVence as largely
concerned IN the formation Of character; allow ma
20 point out 10 you some Of the means which eIpe
Ilsnee mas shown 10 bo useful. 10 become wise
- not the work OF day. The obtaining of inC,,
snaiion u gradual aud slow process and although
there naturally exists difference in dAsrtnt midi.
Niduals, yet Tho iswea number arrive % any con-
sderabie eHcsllones before their 9th year Of apc
The whole period ofou lives, then from our er,
dies unhl our 9Th year. should be allotted 10 the
asquhsmrni OF knowledge. but this amount Of time
should not be SLOWED Cor the oblsinng Of moral
worth. Mora! worth may and often does exist Al
ten years Of sEe' and IN Of vHsl interest 10 such
- possess moral woFh 10 keep IL uniain,ed by time.
~ eusiom. BY HssociaIiJn by sympathy or BY hahn,
And az The dspraViiy 81 our natures incident 90
Daf fall, through the dIsObodie &c Of Adam. orr
yommon pFogsniioF. urges us On. ron bad 70 worse
suung the whole increase u our years we should
y Ne act right y, b. isfy cauiious; lh. 10 the
acquaintance wh CD We form; % ~ The iriondship
rhleh "s mtssi % IN The books which We read: |
an ~ ne attachment which We allow, and. 5tb. IN
me indulging Of pasuons
-. n'i.'asen noi'on which some young mea 4
nv y iheir inle est 10 couu and obtain the
notice Of The rich. hscaas. the r,,s 49,. 49,,
sAios' hsiI ah1siies and their trouble. :, vsi :.
~ poof Ihsir gold supplies them with .li a..
nc sseres'aa well o. he lururies uflifs y., ~.
30 "an mot rooteu'ei Hsships nay BE- 49,