Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-03-28
For the s,sun,on Spectator.

Il Fo' "c c'aunton spectator.
| 10 the President and Members of the JYorE;no-
mems Literary association IF Siaunfon.-No. 3.
! 1t is most deeply TO be amen,ed, that the larye
number OF those who complain of the press of
business and the want of time, are dreaming a.
way their very mental existence--that they per-
vert to their encouragement and idleness the
very Inducements to high mental exe1tion Is il
not universally acknowledged fact that an active
lie peculiarly favorable 10 the cultivation of the
mind Look at the heirs of hereditary wealth.
and those whose circumstances i'm life exempt
tnem from the necessity of personal exer,ion-
no" lew instances. comparatively, do we find
| duon9 them oil high mental attainment. How
lew have taken any prominent part in the inven-
uon oil arts-or been the leading guardians of
science! But turn away from these 20 the sons
and daughters of toll and privation-to those who
nave o'en trained In the school of hardship and
personal effort, and you will see them, in The pe-
neral, bearing oil the prize of intellectual honor
And do yon ask why this striking contrast! The
answer is, they have valued time as money-tbey
have learned TO husband and improve every mo-
! ment-ihey nave Joined TO business life, habits
! OF intellectual activity. Thus they have grown
! 10 be intellectual aud strong-minded men and are
able to grasp almost any subject with a firm and
| tenacious hold | maintain, therefore, that in
stead OF an active business life, being any him
ORANGE 10 mental culture, it is most proptious TO
lit administers just enough stimulus 10 the
MIND to keep ii in vigorous action, and prepare it
10 lay hold OF, and thoroughly digest the most
difficnl, subjects. May not say then. that if any
member OF our society does not become well in.
formed 1t will be his own fault. twill be because
he sits heedlcssy under the voice Of the lecturer or
is too lazy 10 read and study the books provided
especially Tor his improvement. But, fellow
WoIkmen, shall we allow this TO be said of us
! trust not. And that may be excited 10 ear
nest perseverance, let now consider some of
'hG Inducements to us TO strive after know ledge.
Let us remember that we citizens OC an en-
"Shfened and happy repu6Hc--that rs such we
possess The right oil suffrage, and from wear TO
year contribute 10 the establishment or overthrow
| oil THIS great nation. Although some one may
| reply to this wherein thou speakest thou con
demnes' myself" must saw that.nothing can be
more dangerous to the peace and prosperity of our
government than the right of suffrage connected
with profound ignorance. In this respect iono-
rance and blind prejudice may stand on an equal
ioo,'hg with sound and expansive. knowledge
ana The knavery OF demagooues NAV exert an in
finence which will bid defiance to The activity and
skill OF the wIsest men of the nation. Now,
ASK Is the government of our nation happy and
permanent as 1t seems to be, perfectly safe under
t"'s STATE OF thtngsI How many do we see from
year 10 year collecting at our Coort-houscs and
precincts there 10 pass Judgment on the most inn
portant subjects OF civil governmcnt-to set in
motion the Immense machinery of State, which
never moves but 10 scatter around us blessings or
curses without the least idea of the influence they
are eNerting over their own happiness or wealth
or The well-being of their children posterily and
country How many do see setting them
Selves up as politicians and gaining an influence
over the public mind by dealing on, abuse or doc
uia'iSn as may be most agreeable TO their preiu-
oiceS Now, how is this evil TO be corrected
Nhy' let every man study, and learn something
ABOUT those subjects in which he wishes to appear
so "ise-let all spend that time now occupied in
bombast and idle dispute, in endeavorng TO pre-.
pare themselves TO give reason Of the hone that
Is In then---et them read the history of the rise
| other lott ~,
inform themselves particularly on al! subjects of
Puoilc policy, and understand the uIincipIes Of
the Constitution OF our own country, and they vii,
SION DC anie 10 vote on other grounds than those
o' mere prejudice or caprice. and enjoy the high
satisfaction of saying that they know what they
are ABOUT when they exercise one Of the most wa
lued rights Of republican citizens.
Let us remember that kn0,u!edgc has now be-
come necessary 20 our in The rarious p,r-
suiis If life.
There was zine when even the mos, imnor
taht departments of common business were car
Iied on by Wen OF acknowledged ignorance. But
men TIE operations OF business were few and sim
pie anu easily Understood. The population of the
country was small and widely scattered-com-
huhicallon between different towns was difficult
ana expenaive-eveTy village formed a commu-
my OF lis own-manulacuTing operations were
very small, and Commerce was limited To- The
ihefe exchange OF one mans commodities for
tnose OF another. Those were happy times,
man, was but little needed and little coveted and
men lived at peace with each other and their own
cohsclences. VI course even those Of extensive
business had but little at stake and lost but little
ihey moved on in the even tenor Of their way
regardless OF the commercial revolutions and
storms by which others in more inportan. stations
were wrecked
But IL is not now. The commercial world
mas Witmn few yedts, been completely revOlu-
ionlzed. The invention and Improvement, Of
steam power have dragged every little viiIare
from It's obScuFty and brought far distant points
mo ciose connection. And what its bearings
on the subject now before us have seen tie
honest and industrious mechanic Jaborjng chccr-
,uiiy at his trade from the early dawn until tw-
"gn'-i have heard him whistle the song of 10Y,
as he laid aside his tools, and FASTENED home 10
ENJOY The sweet repast provided by his neat and
industrious wife, and receive from her and his
pratilng children The saluiations of love--I have
heard his song Of thanks giving 10 the rood Being
ior the success with which lie has crow ned his
honest labors-and then have seen him lie down
| 10 rest without groaD, fear, a dream to dis
iurb his Jepose. But his confidence was vain
/ and his JOY short-lived. The dawninn of another
! day brought to his very door an immense number
.! the very articles from which he had derived all
his support, made at some vast factory where M
iuTaI agents performed The work OF man at less
/ than half price. Soon his business became dblI-
his time hung heavily on his hands and he was
oOlIged TO sell ont his li;ie all at great sacri
nee, and bid adicu to friends and relatives and
I earlier scenes and seek home i'm tho far West
Nor are THESE remarks true only Of the mechanic
out OF tie merchant also. 1t is not, however the
] improvements Jtst spoken Of which operate so
powerfully on these last, as the indefinite cxten-
sion OF the credit system and the invention of pa
! per money. The abuse of these has, as il ,cerc
unsettled the standard of value and made il =
Wa'tcr OF great uncertainty, whether, when man