American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-01-06
PRENTISS' GRAFTON

Al Il IL Il Il u * NJ " , | A Ia,
We give the last half of the Grafton deliver
ed by H. S. S. Prentiss at the celebration in
New Orleans on the 22d ult., of the Landing
of the Pilgrims.
Who would not rather be of the Pilgrim
stock than claim descent from the proudest Nor
man that ever planted his robber brood in the
halls of the Saxon, or the boldest paladin that
quaffed wine at the table of Charlemagne?-
Well may we be proud of our native land, and
turn with fond affection to its rocky shores.
The spirit of the Pilgrims still pervades it and
directs its fortunes. Behold the thousand tenn
pies of the Most High that nestle in its happy
valleys and crown its swelling hills. See how
their ghttering spires pierce the blue sky, and
seem like SO many celestial conductors, ready
to avert the lightning of an angry Heaven
The piety of the Pilgrim patriarchs is not yet
extinct, nor have the sons forgotten the God Of
their fathers.
-. Behold yonder simple building near the eros
sing of the village roads! 1t is small and of
rude construction, but it stands in pleasant
and quiet spot.
A magnificent old elm spreads its broad arms
above, and seems to lean towards it, as a strong
man bends to shelter and protect child. A
brook runs through the meadow near, and hard
by there is an orchard-but the trees have sut-
fered much and bear no fruit, except upon the
most remote and inaccessible branches. From
within its walls comes busy hum, such as you
may hear in disturbed beehive. Now peep
through yonder window, and you will see a
hundred children, with rosy checks, mische-
vous eyes and demure faces, all engaged, or
pretending to be So, in their little lessons. 1t
is the public school-the free, the common
cnhool-nroU hy, Ia III. 10 a IL. cloit, cd
from the community as right, not accepted as
bounty. Here the children of rich and poor g,
high and low, meet upon perfect equality, and
commence under the same auspices the race Of
life. Here the sustenance ofthe mind is serv-
ed up to all alike, as the Spartans served their
food upon the public table Here young am
bition climbs his little little ladder, and boyish
genius plumes his hall ilcdged wing. From
among those laughing children will 90 forth
the men who are to control the destinios of
their age and country; the statesman whose
wisdom is to guide the Senate-the poet who
will take captive the hearts Of the people, ana
bind them together with immortal song-tho
philosopher, who boldly sez,ug upon the Gle
ments themselvo will compel them to his wish
es, and, through new combinations of their pr-
NAL laws, by some great discovery revolution
ize both art and science.
The common village school is New Eng
lands iarest boast-the brightest jewel that
adorns her brow. The principle that society
is bound to provide for It's members education
as well as protection, so that none need be ig-
norant except from choice, is the most mpor-
tant that belongs to modern philosophy. 1t is
essential to republican government. Uni
versal education is not OILY the best and surest,
but the only sure foundation for free insttu-
tionc Trpa Ehprtu ic tho child Of Epnyuln In
she pines away and dies in the arms Of igno-
rance.
Honor, then, to the early fathers Of New
England, from whom came the spirit which
has built a schoo-house by every sparkling
fountain, and bids all come as freely to the one
as to the other All honor, too, to this noble
city, who has not disdaincd TO follow the en-
ample of her n Northern sisters, but has wisely
determined that the intellectual thirst of chill
dren deserves as much attention as their physi-
cal, and that it is as much her duty to provide
the means of assuaging the one as Of quench-
ing the other.
The spirit Of the Pilgrim survives not only
in the piety and knowledge of their sons, but,
most of all, in their ndefatgable enterprise
and indomitable perseverance.
They have wrestled with nature till they
have prevailed against her, and compelled her
reluctantly TO reverse iieT own laws. he
sterile il has become productive under their
sagacious culture, and the barren rock, aston.
shed, finds itself covered with laxuriant and
unaccustomed verdure,
Upon the banks Of every river they huld
temples to industry, and stop the squanderings
ofthe spendthrif waters. They bind the naiads
of the brawlng stream, and compel them, like
the sad daughters of Danaus, TO pour unceas-
ingly from their gttering urns the sparkling
treasures oftler crystal fountains. They drive
the dryads from their accustomed hannts, and
force them to desert each fayorite grove; ior
upon river creek and bay they are busy trans
forming The crude forest iuto stauhch and gal
liant vessels From every inlet or indenture a.
long tue rocky shore swim forth these ocear
hf5irds-born IL The wild wood, tledgod upon the
4 wave. Behold how they spread their white
] pinops p pe favoring breeze, and wing their
fight to every quarter OF the globe-the car.
rier pigeons OF the wotd 1t is upon the IN.
stable element the sons of New England have
achieved their greatest trtumphs Their adj
venturous proWa veX the waters of every sea
Bold and restless as the old northern Vikings
they go forth to seek their fortunes ia the NIGH