Holly Springs gazette., 1843-07-14

and dIScontented masses against
any and every form of government But it
will not be considered as an exhibition of
national vanity if we assume II to be true
that { sparseness Of our population IN pro-
portion TO the extent of territory the quiet
character oftheir pursuits. being chiefly ag-
ricultural, the greater amount OF general in
formation which they possess than any other
people, the geographical and physical con
dltlon OF our country, all combine to render
US immeasurably more favorably condition
ed to sustain a democratic form of govern.
ment than any other nation in existence
And repeat it, that if under all these cir
cumstances our government should be pre-
1aaturely dissolved in anarchy and blood,
unless God in his providence, should IN the
progress of generations 50 subdue the pass
ions and modify the character man as to
develope purer and better generation, he
is dreamer and a madman who would ever
after assert his capacity for selfgovernment
How then, my fellow citizens, shall we
guard our institutions against those dangers
that bese: and those calamities that overturn-
ed Ill former governments The ruins OF
a thousand empires. the wrecks of govern
ments that shave passed away convince US
that something more is necessary than man,
with all his transcendant faculties and capa-
biiities, unaided by higher power, ever has
accomplished, or ever can accomplish A
midst all the changes and revolutions fhu-
man governments, amidst all the convuisons
of earth's ever moving population there IS
but one government that has stood serene
and unmoved. .rhe same yesterday, to-day
and forevern-h is the government of
- l = -
the subject we should conclude from analo-
gy, from the-light of philosophy, from his,
tory, which is but philosophy teaching by
example, that the strength, and stability and
substantial glory of every government, must
depend upon the observance of those immu-
table principles of Justice and truth and love,
which give grandeur and glory and perpet
uity to the boundlesS empire of God. When
| say that it is to the inculcation and practice
OF these virtues,-to the moral character of
our population that we are TO look for
the security and permanency o. our in-
stitutions, [ am but reiterating n truth
which so commendS itself to the common
understanding of men, that even demag CUES
are loud in their advocacy Of a maxim which
they so poorly illust rate by their example. And
when / speak Of the moral character of our pop
ulatiOn, do not mean that whimsical and inop-
erative morality, the dream of the theorist who
who would attempt 10 chain up the vicious inch-
nations of the multitude By the mere force of ed
ucation and human laws. IfthiS kind Of moral
ity were OF any practical utility, the Porch and
the Academy with all their ancient ceremony
and spendor would still echo the sage precepts
of the philosophers, and the dust of oblivion
would not have settled down upon the pomp and
glory of Athens and of Rome But the kind of
which speak-the morality which is essential TO
the existence of rational freedom here and else
~ 4frns
fed retreats Of the old philosophy shall
go out among and associate itself with the mass
of the people,-which shall hush with its quiet
voice all the boSterouS elements OF civil discord
which shall enter deep into the human heart,
control all the springs Of human action, and draw
out into practical exercise all the active charities
of life. And by what means can this morality be
so surely, so effectively, generally difused a.
mong all classes and conditions of our citizens as
through he instrumentality of that Institution
of which | stand before you to-day the honored
representative
Sabbath Schools are the only system of
instruction whose almost exclusive object it
is to impart this very moral training OF
which [ speak Ali other educational in
stitutions are primarily designed to qualify
us to figure conspicuously in the little dra-
ma of this short life. The Sabbath school
regards maa as sthe nobiest of Gods crea-
lures endowed with immortal faculties that
will expand
Beneath the heavenly beams of brighter suns,
Through endless ages into higher powers"
The time and the place where its instruc-
tons ale impaired are peculiarly adapted TO
promote the end which it has for its accom-
piishment In the Church. and upon the
Sabbath day. What a throng of holy asso-
Citations are here clustered together and
brought to bear upon the aident susceptible
ties of the young Upon that day all the
tumnll and the din of this noisy. busting
world are hushed into repose The tho
roughfares OF business are deserted, the RI
gid brow of avarice is relaxed. and all the
stormy passions of men seem spell bound by
some mysterious and supernatural influence.
We can almost imagine that the very tones
ofthe voice are soiteneI and that the gushing
notes of the little warbler ill the grove with
a sweeter and more spiritual melody. 1t is
upon this day that this Institution, standing
like an Angel of mercy IN this consecrated
place seems 10 lift its soice with the solemn
peal of the bell and reiterate the command
Of its Divine Master Remember the Sab
bath dav to keepit holyi"
Not even the pulpit itself, believe. IS
more instrumental in inspiring the communl-
tv with a reverence for the Sabbath, than the
sabbath-school and ofthe importance ofthe
observance ofthis day, upon all the interests
of society am sure that before this au-