The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-11-07

| Moreover, the increased production of
our chief staple, and the consequent
dlmlnution in value, has, for the last
few years, scarcely afforded remuner-
ating prices to our planters. Should
the prepared cotton supersede gunpow-
der entirely, anew market will be crea-
ted for any redundancy ofyield, and an
absolute consumption occur. Two or
three hundred thousand bales, at a mod
crate calculation, will be burnt up an
nually. Mr.. Grove, celebrated chem
ist of England, commenting upon the
Importance Of the discovery, says: sit
is necessary to mix combustible SUBJ
stance with another substance which
will bring forth sufficient quantity Of
oxygen to catch fire, whereby, under n
certain temperature, the whole will ex-
plode. These two substances are con-
tanned in the gunpowder; but even in
the best of this article that is manu-.
factured, part of it remains after ex-
plosion, on which acconnt firearms re-
quire cleaning after being discharged
Of their contents. The invention of
Professor Schonbein is without this
fault, while the power of its explosion
is twice as great as that of gunpowder."
Germany is distinguished, above 9TH
er countries, for many of the most i'm
portant discoveries which have been
made since the Christian era. This
has resulted from the character of the
people, who have ever'delighted in the
study of the sciences, and who have
endeavored, perseveringly and patient
ly, to make them useful for the practi-
cal purposes of life. TO monk of
Cologne--a city not 100 miles distant
from this-the credit belongs Of having
furnished the nations Of the earth with
gunpowder. Five centuries have clap
sed since that period, and notwithstan-
ding the millions of individuals which
it has been instrumental in cutting
down, it has exercised a salutary in
fence in civiIizing and bettering the
condition o. the human race. The pre-
pared cotton, If it be not over-estima-
ted, is destined to drive it altogether
out of use, and to extend the power
of liberal institutions, and, through
them, Christianity, to the most remote
and benighted regions of the earth.---
America will be SO fortified in her
strength, as to assume a wholly in
vincible position with reference to 9TH
er powers and States; and actuated
by The noblest of all desires, 10 spread
her principles and to establish and per-
petuate universal peace, the place as
signed her is CHEF OF NATIONS. to.
Wherever the bright sun OF heaven shall shine,
Her honor and the greatness OF her name
Shall be, and make new nations; she shall flourish,
And, like mountain cedar, reach her branches
To all the plains about her, ,I28
While speaking of the inventions OF
Germans, cannot overlook that which
gave birth to the "art of all arts"-
printing. | have been repeated WIS.,
tier, during my present sojourn here,
to the public library. 1t contains a
valuable collection of rare books:
among others, and the first, copy OF
the first edition OF the BIBLE, published
by Faustus in l462. 1t is one Of the
seventeen copies which were original.
Iy printed. When look upon its sa.
cred pages, what reflections and inqui.
ries are awakened! At the beginning
Of the fourteenth century the cost of a
BIBLE was 4O8 forins, (about one hun.
dred and sixty-three dollars;) and such
was then the cheapness Of labor; two
cents per day; that the earnings oI
twenty-seven years were required to
purchase copy! Now, particularly
IN our own country, it is within the
, reach of everv hand that is disposed
to open its lids, free to such as are il
INDECENT circumstances, and at low
price to those who have the ability t
buy. st 10aa