Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-07-14

from Thur history but if this cannot be, it is
better that the desolation of war should be mere.
ly sketched in faithful outline, rather than ex-
hibited in highly wrought picture, tending to
excite our admiration Of its character and a per-
petuation of its evils. True it is, that the ardor
Of distinguished patriot cannot be exhibited in
too strong light; but his glory arises far more
from the grandeur Of the motives which actuate
him, than from exploits in the field Of blood to
which he is sometimes inadvertently, though re-
luctantly, borne. We will not dwell upon the
devoted patriotism of the American Colonies, but
rather state the result than the details of their
military operations, which happily for the world,
terminated in the establishment and recognition
of republic possessing all the elements of great
empire, and exhibiting rapidity of progress
which ought to excite the admiration, not the
envy, Of every civilized nation Of the earth
Civil and ecclesiastical dicta can now no longer
bind in shackles the world of mind. Ignorance
and bigoted prejudice can no longer check the
impetus given to human progress, or stife the
still small voice that is whispering hope to hui
manity. The time has come when the laurel
wreath can no longer be the purchase of gold,
but the reward Of honest merit 1t is only in a
form of government like our own that the innate
energies OF man can be fully and perfectly devel-
oped, and although we have excluded woman
from voice in the administration Of our govern
ment, vet we acknowledge that the influence
which woman was formed to exercise upon the
morals of society is better calculated to advance
those great principles upon which correct sys-
tenn OF government should be based, than all the
influence which man, in all the pride Of his boast
ed superiority, can ever exercise. Although
there are instances on record where woman's
voice has been heard above the tide and .lamor
of battle-where her nand has held the sceptre
extended over mighty nations, and her mandates
have been spead upon their records yet such In
stances are exceptions. 1t is IN the more private
walks of life where her character shines with its
own peculiar lustre and brillianey. IT'S here,
in training the mind Of infancy and shaping It
with impressions which after years, though Oar
kened with crime and misery, cannot eface tits
here, in soothing the sorrows of affection and
curling and controlling the more boisterous pas
sions Of man, that her influence is most striking
" developed. 'Tis here that she kneels by the
couch Of misery" bending like an angel over the
dying, that die in righteousness"
6 Her voice. how often sweeps
Its cadence DER our lonely hours;
Like healing sent on wings of sleep,
Or dew on the unconscious flowers"
And when sin, with all its dire consequences, is
weighing heavy upon the soul, and torturng the
brain with its accum Hated horrors, with her
soothing voice she rolls back the tide of misery,
and radiance like the dawn of the morning
bursts upon the tempest tossed soul.
When we behold man himself suffering, our
feelings are naturally excited, but when we re-
fleet that he is but suffering the consequences Of
his own crimes and foles, it is calculated to les
sen our syInpathies. Rut when we see innocence
suffering the dire consequences Of another's guilt,
when we see the desecrated altar-the deserted
fre-sde-the purest and hottest offerings Of wo-
mans heart yiolated-when we see her pinlng in
wretchedness and want--the victim of sorrow
and MISUNDERSTANDING at the approach
Of one, who, in happier days, had sworn in the
sight of high heaven to protect and defend her /;
if we possess one spark of that feeling which
should ever animate the breast Of man, it would
cause US like Alexander upon the affairs Of his
gods, to swear deadly hatred against that form
Of government that would thus debase and de-
stroy all the finer feelings Of the soul.
In many portions OF the world she has been,
and is yet, looked upon and treated as beast Of
burden; but in republican America, the names
of one hundred and seven females whose literary
requirements have made nation proud to own
them, will stand recorded on the brightest page
of American history. Placed here under the
most favorable circumstances, her influence upon
the morals of society is felt from its centre to its
remotest verge, and man is held in respectful
awe by the force Of her loneliness and wish
to tarnsh the lustrc Of SO bright jewel will va
nish before the towering intelligence OF the sex.
1t is in republic alone that every one stands
upon the same level, or at least starts from the
same common plain, and if we find here grades
in society, it is not the fault Of government,
but the contrast between action and inaction.
If wrong exists in the United States it is not be-
cause our government is not based upon correct
prinniples, but because those principles are not
acted up to. The principles upon which our 60
vernment is based descended from Heaven-they
are the principles Of truth-of eternal justice :;
recognizing and forever establishing the great
and immutable truth, that all men are created
equal,'' that they are " endowed by their Crea-
tor with certain inalienable rights" among
which are :" life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap
piness," and, as a necessary consequence, man
must be endowed with all those rights which are
essential to to enable him to secure to himself
those " inalienable rights" designated in our De-
claration OF independence.
A band of men actuated by purer, higher, and
holier motives and intentions could not have as
sembled-they were those who met to establish
the principles upon which our government is
founded-a structure upon which the eyes of a
world has ever since been fixed with wonder and
with awe. They were ready to lay down their
lives-to spill the last drop Of blood that warm
ed and pulsated through the heart, in defence Of
the cause they had espoused, and not only us of
America, but all mankind, owe to them an ever
lasting debt of gratitude, which should be deeply
and indelably engraved upon the tablets OF the
heart with the finger Of love.
They conla "appea to Heaven for the recti-
tude OF their intentions," aud mutually pledge
all that they held near and dear, in defence OF
PRINCIPLE. Such an exhibition the world never
before witnessed. Their delibe rations were di.
rected by unerring wisdom, and therefore their
work, the principles they established. must en-
dure as long as the sun and moon endure. These
principles are daily becoming more diffusiye ,and
other nations. taking lis as their model. have also
asserted their righls--but alas they have forgot
ten that these are but the basis TO higher rights
the right to mental culture, that intellectual re-
| fnement which must tell upon the present and
future destiny of man. These are the principles
which, when universally adopted and carried out,
will bind and cement all mankind together in one
great brotherhood, and INTRODUCES the reign Of
| peace on earth. But we need not attempt to es-
| tablsh universal peace, by moralizing alone up
on the evils OF war, SO long as the highest honors
the very apex of glory, is to be won only on the
battle field
Win not aspiring man go where honor calls.