Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-09-10

pubic goes forth IN the dawn OF morning. to
meet and welcome the approach of day Nc
feuda castles, crumbling upon our hills, at
test the ancient violence of robber-lords, and
not for US, do the glorious relics of noble an
cestFy bear witness, in buried columns and
broken arches, to the degenerate spirits of their
unworthy sons but in place of these, and far
better than these, are crown our LANDSCAPES,
with contended homes, we build affairs to
science by the hearthstone of every citizen,
and with the spires of thousands of churches
we point our children the path to Heaven
While we can preserve, unlmpaired to our
country, free instruction. free religion, and q
free press, we need ask no other support for
our institutions, and no other witnesses to our
fame.
To the means of instruction which have
been already mentioned, [ should do wrong
not to add that other and peculiar education
which springs from the very working of our
republican system, and from which no mem :
Der OF the community can we'll escape, even
If he would. Under our policy, every citizen
is part OF the government, and some of its
most important duties are periodically devol-
we'd upon him, both by law and by necessity.
He Yields the power of the elective franchise,
and determines by his vote the choice alike of
measures and OF men; not only 1rao shall rule
him, but rhat shall rule him; he sits in the
Jury box, and the fortune, the fame, nay, the
very lie Of his neighbor, rest upon his deci-
sion he is called as a witness, and is sworn
to give true testimony on questions involving
the deepest interests and the most important
results; or, by the sutfra1es of his fellow-citi-
zens, he is clicked with still greater trusts,
and assumes responsibilities which belong on
ls to the highest stations in the gift of the
people. A sovereign in his own right, the
symbols Of his authority are thus constantly
before his eyes, and from every new exercise
OF his power, the American citizen derives
dignity to his character. In all his public acts
the double motive presses upon him to ensure
reward and to avoid disgrace. Under free
government, he knows full we'll that, with in
teligence and fidelity, there are no plaudits
which he may not win, and no prizes OF am
bition which are above his reach WHILE on
the other hand, no where else is corruption SC
lneXcusable, and ignorance so wholly cut OF
place. In other countries, where passive ODE
diencc is the fruit of despotism, sto,id peo-
pie is the natural accompaniment of an eduCa-
ted prince; but the genius of our institutions
contemplates no such thing as an ignorant
man, and deems itself defrauded of its just
claims when it finds a citizen faithless to his
duty. The large requirements, therefore, OF
American politics, which are with superficial
observers the subject of hasty regret, consti-
tute in reality one of the most valuable fea-
lures of our republican system, most affiuen>
source of ennobling instruction, and tend, with
inevitable certainty, not only to increase the
popular intelligence, but to give energy, eX-
panson, and elevation to the popular mind
Tranquility and the repose of exclusive devO
ton to personal pursuits are not the most ia
vorable elements either for great conceptions
of distinguished action. The highest hcroism
on the contrary, springs from the stronges
excitements; and the period of revolution i;
also the period of awakened ; MUS. The
same causes which break up ancient abuse:
in society, break up, with equal efficacy, Ole
absUrdities in science and in art; and from the
still-heaving waves of tumult and reform, e
merge side by side the warrior, the statesman
the orator, and the poet. The sublime pro
auctions of Milton had their birth IN the sam,
times which pro luced the stormy character o.
Oliver Cromwell and the harsh, passionate
voice of tie one comes softened to our ears BY
the lofty melody of the other. Amid thu
fierce passions and new found energies of re
evolutionary France, Mirabeau & Robesperr'
announced together the rising fortunes OF TIT
man of destiny" And after commissions
such as the earth has rarely seen, Napoleon
comes upon the stage prepared for him, ant
writes his name in iron characters, not only
upon the history of Europe, but upon the We
~ forehead of the world. The experience o
molern times is confirmed upon this sublec
by all the lessons of antiquity. The home o
freedom was every where the dwelling plac
of letters, and we read the examples of sue
cessful genius, not among the subjects of des
potic Babylon, but among the democracy o
Athens. There was no literary fame, evel
in Greece, until the era opened of her repub
lican principles; but then she became tn
matchless land of civilization and refinement
Where science struck the thrones earth and heaven
Which shook but fell not nd the harmonious mind
Poured itself forth in all prophetic song,
And music lifted up the listening spirit,
Until il walked, exempt from mortal care,
Godke, DER the clear pillows of sweet sound,
And human hands first mimicked, and then Knocked
With moulded limbs, more lovely than its own
The human FORM till marble grew divine"
And the literature of Greece must prove for
ever the kindling influences of Grecian liberty
But as no people can continue indefinitel
in safe of revolution, these excitations O
the popular mind in other ages and other coun
| tries, always producing the same noble fruits
have, after brief and brilliant reign, been a
invariably followed by the paralyzing torpo
of despotism. 1t was reserved for our happ
country to devise system, our own incom
| parable feleratve system, which, with tn
lberalizing influences of the Christian religo
in freedom and in purity, Is constantly instruc
ting and stimulating the popular mind, an
developing all the energies of our nature.
is problem successfully worked out, whic
Justly commands the admiration of the world
equally suspicious to literature and to liberty
and promises blessings tomankind, which tn
human imagination can hardly conceive. "
this moment, the disastrous and ominous cor
dition of Europe, which men of philosophic;
enquiry and reelection begin to ascribe to in
veterate, radical, and permanent evils of pc
litcal and social systems, but renders MOI
vivid and dazzling the bright aspects of OF
manifold prosperity" But this is not the o.
casion to pursue this train of thought
Devoted in patriotism, and ever ready to a.
on the noble principle-salus Republice S,
prena ler-our countrymen have yet negle'
ted nothing which was calculated to ador
domestic life and promote individual happ
mess. Female education has, therefore, a
ways been a subject of primary attention
Elevated to her appropriate position IN 81
ciety; adorned, refined, and accomplished
careful instructors, the american tUoman
the happy companion Of the american fire
man; gladdening his heart by her smile
confidence and love, and cheering him in