The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-05-03

tiny Of empires aud Of individuals; anti
guilty furnishes abundant proof Among
a galaxy of evidence, we select the cases
Cleopatra and Helena, because they
stand forth prominently and are familiar
10 the most superficial reader. Scanning
sull, the historians page, we perceive the
influence of that bright and lovely boon
of Paradise, until the age Of chivalry pla-
ces Venus upon throne as queen of tue
Universe. II was then, that the gallant
knights, flushed with the laurels Of yiclo.
ry, returned from the bloody campaign-
but TO cast al the feet of some beautiful ia
vorlle Of that goddess the trophies of his
bravery, glory and renown, while she in
return, waved approval to the most hand
some of the digniled aspirants after fame.
II was indeed an oge Of romantic widncss,
and they desired to attain the acme OF hui
man bliss but found il no,--because they
built lheiI hopes upon decay. like iem>
pie OF ice upon sandy foundation. Mere
beauty as the gift Of the Most High should
be admired; but it is like the flowers of
the forest, too fragile, too dependent H.
pom circumstances; e'er toconslilute hap
| plness, and therefore cannot be the true
standard by which TO measure the nobIi-
" Of mighty people. Wealth with its
entering gewgaws and pompous mag
nlicence, has become the criterion bv
which rank and station in society have
been determined in all parts Of the known
world. By imposing splendonr, and
costly ele gancc, and the following Of that
erroneous motto that Might makes right
| he weak unstable have kissed the CALLING
chains, which sordid minds have forged
Justice requires that this should no, be the
dividing line, because mans destiny is too
| closely linked to eternal sublimi,y end
grandeur, for him TO bow to aught allied
to earth. Riches are right and proper in
their places, but then they should not.
form the scales wherein to weigh natures
own noblemen: As the prelensions the
most universal of the dcspots Of earth,
have been examined and found TO be not
valid, bat fa!acous, the question again
claims response, and nature, reason and
revelation return in peal of eloquence.
The Gnswer. biorul and intellectual worth
For although wealth and beauty possess
relative value rs connected with the lat,
7er-yet can never form of themselves.
Tie true bases OF either individual or pub
lie character. In country where the
height OF national elevation depends So
entirely upon the will Of the people, it is
important that those who supported the
pillars Of The temple of American glory,
should approach nearcs. the acme Of I'm.
sulled purity and perfection as immortal
beings destined l,r an eternal life of I'M
changing felicity. Not that Statesmen
should form tile aristocracy Of the land,
by 10 means, thank Heaven ihis hiehes,
pinnacle Of moral and intellectual worth
can be reached by the poorest labourer
who gains his bread by the sweat Of his
brow. To this statement il, is objected
that after such toilsome exert;ons of
body the mind is too falgued for intense
application TO study; a. first sight there
appears to be force in this argument, tut if
we study the experience of our learned
coun,ryman, Elihu Burrilt, & consider his
situation in life. all doubts vanish,for wha,
has been accomplished once nay be per.
formed again. In him we behold living
proof of the truth of the preceding re-
mark. II is true that it requires greater
efforts on the part of the working classes
than the college-bred student need exert,
but then as a compensation, the reward
is richer, there is more of noble digni tv
in self made man, more strength and
decision of llaracter-more vigor ard
activity Of intellect-more solidity and
purity Of the moral feelings. II there be
created intelligence, under the ethereal
vault of Heaven that challenges the appro-
baton Of the spirits of light that surround |
the eternal throne, and the most unquali-
fed approval Of the wisest and most vir-
tuous sages Of earth, it is a man climbing
the almost incessible heights of religious
literary greatness, while at every step he
removes moun,ain impeding his pro-
gress, and places his foot still more firm