Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-04-13

| 10 annhiiate time anu space, ana mas airea0y
formed an interesting epoch, in the social rela-
tons Of the civilized world. To this. add our
unreclaimed wilderness, asking only the hand OF
! industry to bountiiully repay in the richest pro-
ducts of the earth. With a national existence OF
lttlc more than half century. and govern
| nent strictly elective, and Of the simplest form;
where Gael, individual constitutes 4 unit Of the
| grea. whole; occupy in power and historical
| importance second place in the great family
OF Nations. Thus situated, thus constituted.
who calculate the extent of our desiinies:
ours may be the Empire of mind, the republic OF
| letters or, it may be Of the lower depths OF i--
| norauce, misery. degradation and crime. Ws
! may devote&iy cultivate the virtues of the city
OF soven bills. when in the early meridian of her
day, but If stop here, athou gin to the full ex-
tent OF her storical virtue, and lay not for our
selves broaler and deeper foundation in which
q CONSCIENTIOUS regard for right apart from tho
qualification OF all selfish feeling and entire re-
sgnaton TO the Will Of the great Arbiter of tho
Universe. which comprchcnds and includes with
in its ample BOMBS, all that is due from, man to
man; we may yet by tho Nations of a far off fi-
tur.ty wear the melancholy title Of Niobe of Ma
tons. Then let US be animated by the urea.
ronientous responsibility, which rests upon our
shoulders. by all the memories Of the past and
by all the hopes of the uncrr tain future; to add
to the value and durability of institutions which
may condnce to the welfare and happiness of orr
race. Then what is education7 what this stem
torian influence which is to be- brought 10 bear
and 10 WELD The destinies Of untold ri!iions'-.
Docs 1t consist in u knowledge of letters, their
sounds, combinations, and arrangement accord.
ing TO the rules Of grammar? Does il consist in
knowledge of tongues which have ceascd to
tire for ages is II to be verscd in the hidden nvs
ter!es of mathematical researches, or, 10 have
mastered the whole circle of sciences both nm
lent and moaern and to have deckcd orr brows
with tho very flowers Of literature To attain
to this kind Of knowledge used very ceneralIv
to be regarded as the climax and grand es,lt Of
all scholastic abonrs; the possession Of this edu-
cation itself. But in the language Of "a late elo.
qnent writer, "ihe spirit of the age has exalted
this view, and that the acquisition of scientific
knowledge is only process by which the mind
is rendered susceptible of those Impressions which
give tone to the whole mind, and energy and
character to its mysterious workings" 1t is tho
high privilege Of man whilst other animals ar,
confined within the limits which instinct has nrc
scrIbed, to carry his observations beyond his i'm,
mediate wants, and to contemplate the Univers,
at large. lie regards with nina whose inot,.
tons concord with the beautiful DEVELOPMENT and
arrangement Of natures works, not only that
COLOSSUS of worlds afar, within the wide expanse
VI iniinlty' whose measured rounds have known
no change, since the mighty hand of tb, great
Creator placed them there; but despisinp not In.
least OF all her works, tho pcarly drop of dew
on The giittering spear OF grass, which he press
es in his nocturnal rambles; and the little insect
which sings his If. away; all to a mind which has
reasoned and thought, afford not only The highest
degree of satisfaction of the purest and most el-
evated KIND; but more, much more than this point
wan unerriHg certainty to that great First Cause
who fashioned these inirnitablc products from the
confused mass Of chaotic worlds. In contem-
plating the history of man throu gout the differ
emit ages OF the world, continually pre-.
scented with the dfreful effects of ignorance and
The wild aud fearful dcvastations wrought by
mat mysterious principle of evil; which man un-
aided by the influence which Knowledge, and
religious obligation mparts; has always been SUBJ
jected. And unless progress in morality
keeps pace with our advancement in scientific
researches, thus 10 every acquisition afIording
proper balance aud governing principle; with all
our advantages we will but be as the Augustan
age of Rome, when vice s,allSed abroad in robes
Of state, or Of more modern france where SCI
ence acknowledged the compa nionsiip Of fieuds
IN human form. ami the quick descrn dne pullo.
tine was the altar which see rIingfy without
remorse, she ernrnolated thousands Of her r,atri
oc sons and produced the most potent scourpes
CT mankind the world had ever seen Thus =
vncing hey ond the possibility of being otherwise
that education is not merely cientific knowledge:
but the harmonious derelopene Mt Of man s whole
being and the cultivation Of every virtue which
will be IS dadeuls Of light 10 the immortal mind.
'Having then at our command an instrur,en Mt Of
so much power does it not behoove US, to direct
It's operations to its proper endl Shall we sleep
while it is exer'lng its terrible agency Iii
instrument which never rests. If doing 10 good.
II is doing evil. Ceaseless and noiseless in its ac-
ton, its potency may not arrest the .ention Of
the needless; but whoever traces causes TO their
ultimate effects, cannot fail 10 neglected
education opening its pandora box, in the grop
shop, the theatre, the gaming table, in all our po-
litcai, religions, social, and domestic reIa,ions
On the other hand we cannot fail to see. instead
of sinking, an uplifting agency in the propcr,u-
ition Of the religious and intellectual! facu,,es-
We see the little lessons of home, and Of tho
sehoolhonse, multiplying their power ever the
broad surface Of community; and raising the ma
ton in TIE scale of being Like The last drop in
IL