The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-09-18

the stream of civil and political nrooress +. ;.
calm and heathful. The soul of Repu6lics 10 in.
telgent virtue; when This departs, the form of
REPUBLICAN Government may rernain but ,ts Ii
berly breathing influence is gone
We call upon our fellow citizens To conside,
these suggestion. Every man has influence IN
the circle of society in which he moves let thar
'nfiuence be exerted to the utmost. We invoke
the aid of the Reverend Clergy. What n,hJe
theme for the pulpit What a noble aim to
awaken IN fellow Imam the consciousness of his
powers What bright achievement, to give To-
thousands the capacity to exercise those powers
ior their own Improvement and the advantages Of
their country! How glorious, to lead them on
ward to the accomplishment Of their own in,.llec-
tuat and moral destiny!
We call upon the Press--the powerful engine
OF Llberty-the handmade of Sciehce-to lend us
us thousand tongues TO reach the hearts of the
PEOPLE. Who will not give his hand and his
oeart TO this great undertaking Who will no,
AID IN opening the doors of Science that those
VINO are now shut out from all that's best and
dearest on earth, may her noble portals, and
boldly assert their own humanity2 We must
tear down the gloomy flag of Ignorance, and run
up the bright banner OF knowledge, the emblem of
peace on earth and good will to all mankind
Who will not aid in heraldiny the dawn of a
brighter and happier day for Virginia, when she
shall WELD the developed energies of all her chill
dren, happy In their prosperity and virtue forni-
dable In power, and commanding respect and ad
mration?
There is no maxim more true, than that knowl
edge is power. In a Republican Government.
then where the people are sovereign, how essen
tlal is 1t, that they should possess the knowledge
which always gives TO its possessor proper as
tendency? Republican Governments are based
upon the principle, that the people are capable of
self government. But the ignorant cannot con-
troll themselves, and unfit to govern Others.
While they continue debased by ignorance. thew
then are but the instruments of intriguing poll
tic'ans and designing demagogues From the
peculiar organization Of mind, it must advance or
retrograde; it cannot be stationary and the Gov
eminent. whose foundation is laid in ignoronce.
must lose its influence, its power; it's glory must
sink, lower and lower in the scale of nations un-
I'll nothing is left but lis ancient fame, and the
SnauOw OF lis former greatness, deepening by con-
trast the shame of its degeneracy Here then. is
choice tor the people-ignorance or intelhpence.
light or darkness, beauty or deormty, power or
weakness, oxidation degradation and decay.
Something must be done speedily, to arrest the
State in her downhill course. new spirit mus,
arouse the energy of Virginia--a new movement
must urge her onward and upward. That Spirit
must come from her people, and breath through
her councils. That spirit must speak with an
eioquence, appealing TO every hope, toevery fear,
to every interest of life, melting to action and
warning of danger
] We are deeply impressed, fellow Citizens with
the difficulties with which we are surrounded
| we know that our territory is exiensve--that
much OF 1t Is mountainous and rugged our popn-
iatlon, IN many parts of the State, is widely scat
Tered; that our estates large, our streams un-
orldged, our roads bad and, perhaps, what is
worse than all, the funds at the disposal of the
State are inadequate. The greater the d fficul-
Ties the greater the triumph. if we overcome
them the greater the necessity for deliberations
and for concert of action.
The meeting of which we are the organs, have
recommended that Convention of the wise and
good, from every part of the State, should be as
semoled To take this subject into consideration
we invoke the aid of every intelligent mind To
urge upon the people the importance of appoint
ing delegates to that Convention; to aid. too. in
rouslng the legislature to full CONDENSATION of
our wants and to the adoption of some system
worthy of Virginia. If Convention is assembled
we hope II will be composed of men able and will
ling to assist IN the regeneration of the State not
the drones OF the hive but the iaborious the think
ing. acting, energetic men, who know that when
they nave The VIII, there is alwaysa way TO ac-
compllsh good and wise undertakings Let the
people manifest to the legislature that thew are in
earnest, and the Legislature will be in rnes, too
Then we shall have actions instead of words
actions worthy the law-givers of State whose
star was once In the ascendant. and, though now
partially obscured, is destined, we hope 10 shine
again with renovated splendor
GEORGE w. .MUNFORD,
VIM. II. MCFARLAND,
THOS. NELSON, M D.,
CHAS. F. OSBORNE,
PETER V. DANIEL, JR.,
HENRY l.. BROOKE.
r.. II. DANIEL.
JAS. f.. HEATH,
THOS. H. ELLIS,
BENZ. b. MINOR,
GUSTAVUS A. MYERS,
RICHARD B. GOOCM,
j. A. COWARDRN.
From the Vox Populi.