The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-11-14
Professor Davies Address.

Professor Davies Address.
Professor Davies, of West Point
cademy delivered an address before the We
mont State Educational Society at It's annui
meeting at Montpelier in NoAemher. Th
following is an extract from his address:
The works of The Creator may be divide
INTO three classes--the material world, tn
brute creation and man.
The material world is governed by fixe
and immutabo laws, which seem TO hav
been co-eXlstent with creation, and which ar
indispensable 10 its harmony and order. Tn
general law ofgruvitation does not change
The earth pursues her onward course through
the heavens IN the same path pointed out b,
the finger Of the Omnipotent. The cy
Giles OF the season fulfill from year to year
their appointed offices. The spring returns
nj it's appointed time to repair the ravages OF
winter, and to clothe the earth in beauty anc
verdure. Seed time and harvest succeed
each other with wonted regulartywnd amidst
endless variety, there is no vaJiubleness MOI
the leust shadow of change"
The brnte creation is also governed by the
equally certain and unerring laws of appetite
and instinct. The horse obeys the rem Of his
rider, and the OK browses the grass and tlrags
the Plow, with the same dociity aud patient
endurance as when first subjected to the con-
troll and dominion of man. The birds from
year 10 year, build their nest after the same
fashion; the beasts of the forest inhabit the
same caves or thickets, aud pursue their prey
with the same instructive terocity; the fish of
the rivers and the ocean make their annual
round TO fulfil the end for which they were
made; and time, in his onward course, marks
lt,FNt f.ARa 4
alone have been imposed no adumantinc
Chains ofan memorable necessity. He has
been formed in the mnge of the Maker and
endowed with the high attributes of an intel
iectual and moral nature. Although, ut his
birth, weaker and feebler than the brutes that
perish, being dependant for his very existence
OH the care OF others, and having only the in
Stlncts necessary TO preserve life, he yet con-
talns within him the germ of that intellect,
which when properly cultivated can grasp all
knowledge. aud ofthnt moral nature, which
IN its full development drinks at the fountains
Of life and lays hold on immortality. In the
wisdom ofProvidence his destn-
les have been coniided TO his own hands. His
body, even. depends for growth and strength
on his own will aud energies. lie may ener-
waite 1t by sloth, impair it by disease, and i'm
pIaut within it the seeds of premature and ear
~ decay; or by strict observance ofthe laws
OF health, he may give to all its functions a
full and perfect development. His intellect
ual, like his physical nature, maniiests itself
Mt first only by faint signs of life. We are
endowed with the capacity todcq,ire knowl-
edge. and not with knowledge itself. So with
our moral nature. The ability TO distinguish
between right and wrong is perhaps the only
attribute OF It, not dependent on ourselves
the choice otthe one or the other being, in all
cases entirely voluntary. The intellect cam
nor perform It's appropriate functions unless
strengthened and expanded by varied knowI-
edge: neither can our moral nature exert its
higher energies 81 discern its remoter duties
until culture develops and brings out the vivi-
Tying principle.
Education is that system oftraniL g which
develops in their proper proportion, and in
tlclr right direction, our physical, intellectual
and moral natures.
By the term physical, would express all
nat relates to our hodies--to their health and
'Igor, tler symmetry of proportion, their
Strength and manlIness ottorm, and in short,
whatever imparts to them the ability of obey
ing that controlling power know. TO MS by the
name of the mind.
by our intellectual nature, would desig-
rate all the attributes of the mind which ena-
Die us to acquire and combine ideas. The |
memory, the perception, the power ofcor-
'ect and accurate reasoning, are all of them
Intellectual faculties.
Our moral nature embraces the whole class
four affections. 1t is this attribute of our
spiritual organization which distinguishes the
'hlld sfan amiablc and lovely disposition,
winch makes him affectionate to his parents. |
iocile to his teachers and agreeable to his
olnpanlons 1t is this attribute that moves
within us to the love ofvirtue, which binds us
o others by all the tender charities oflife.and |
Which is the connecting link between us and
he Source ofall good
1t may he well 10 inquire whether the pres
mt generation arc not especially called upon
o provide for the education ofthe Young.
The century in which we live is distin-
,uished by great aud rapid developments
fearful rapidly marks the progress of e.
ents. The intellectual efforts of our State
ave been successfully exerted in pressing
he laws OF nature into channels of human !
The ocean no longer separ-
ties distant continents. The power of steam |
las annihilated space and brought the family |
II man into close and intimate relations
Time and space have yielded to the research
IS OF science-the brass wire has been made
he vehicle ofthought, and cities widely sep
rated from each other, Interchange intelli- |
'ence now with the rapidly of electricity it
ell These and similar triumphs of mind o.
er matter-of the power of man to discover
nd apply the hidden laws of nature, have in
pred presumptuOus confidence. This
ontidence has been further strengthened by
he intercourse and connection which this |
ew state Of things has established between
u parts of the world. Formerly one State
ad little communication with another--but
om' strip ofsterile land in the distant Pa