The North-Carolina standard., 1847-09-08

measures and of men not only scho shall rule
him, but schGs shall rule him he sits in the jury
box, and the fortune. and the hme, nay, the very
life of his neighbof, rests upon his decision he
is called a witness, and is sworn to give true
Testimony on questions Involving the deepest in
terests and the most important results or by the
sufrages of his fellow citizens, he is clothed with
sill greater trusts and assumes responsibilities
which belong only to the highest stations in the
gift of the people. A sovereign in his own
right the symbols of his authority are thus con-
ssantly before his own eyes, and from every new
exercise of his power, the American citizen de-
rives fresh excitement 10 his intellect and increas-
ed dignity 10 his character. La all his public acts
the double motive, presses upon him to ensure re-
ward aud to avoid disgrace. Under free gov
ernnrnt, he knows full well that, with Intelligence
and fidelity, there no plaudts which he may
| not. win, and no prizes OF ambition which are
above his reach; while,, on the other hand, no
where else is corruption so inexcusablc, and igno-
rance SO wholly out of place. In other countries,
where passive obedience is the fruit OF despotism
stolid people is the natural accompaniment Of an
educated 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 citizen failhess to his duty The large
! requirements therefore, of American politics,
which are with superficial observers the subject
Of hasty regret, constitute in reality one of the
most valuable features of our republican system,
most afiucnt source Of ennobling instruction, and
tend, with inevitable certainty, not only to increase
the popular intelligence, but to give energy, ex-
pansion, and elevation TO the popular mind Tran
guilty and the repose of exclusive devotion TO
personal pursuits not the most favorable ele-
men;s either for great conceptions or distinguished
action The highest heroism, on the contrary,
springs from the strongest excltementS; and the
period of revolution is also The period OF awakened
genius The same causes which break up ancient
abuses in society, break up, with equal efficacy,
old absurdnies in science and in art and from the
still-heavng waves of tumult and reform. emerge
eide by side, the warrior, the statesman the orator.
and the poet The sublime productions of Mil
ton had their birth in the same times which pro-
duced the stormy character of Oliver Cromwell; !;
I and the harsh, passionate voice of the one comes
sofiened to our ears by the lofty melody of the
other; Amid the fierce passions and new found
energies of Revolutionary France, Mirabeau and
Robespierre announced together the rising for
tunes of the man of destiny And after con-
vuIsions, such as the earth has rarely seen, Ma
poeon comes upon the stage prepared for him,
and writes his name in iron characters not only
upon the history Of Europe, but upon the very
forehead of the world. The experience ofmodern
times is confirmed upon this subject By all the
LESSONS of antiquity. The home of freedom was
every where The dwelling place of letters, and we
read The examples Of successful genius not among
the subjects of despotic Babylon, but among the
democracy Of Athens. There was no literary
fame, even in Greece, until the era opened of her
republican principles but then she became the
matchIess land of civilization and refinement.
"Where science struck the thrones of earth and
heaven,
Which shook but fell not; aud the harmonious mind
Poured itself forth in all prophetic song,
And music lifted up the listening spirit,
Until it walked, exempt from mortal care,
Godlike, o'er the clear biIlow< of sweet sound.
And human ands first mimicked, and then Knocked
J With moulded limbs, more lovely than its own,
The human form, till marble grew divine.2
And the literature Of Greece must prove forever
the kinding influences of Grecian liberty.
Blu, as no people can continue indefinitely in a
state of revolution, these excalions OF the popu-
lar mind in other ages aud in other countries al
ways producing the same noble fruits, have, after
brief and brilliant reign, been as invariably fol-
! lowed by the paralzing torpor of despotisrn. II
was reserved for our happy country TO devise a
system, our incompatible federal system.
which, with the liberalIzing inhuencies of the
Christian religion in freedom and in purity, is
slan,ly instructing and stimulating the popular
mind, and developing all the energies of our na-
ture. 1t is problem successfully worked out
which Justly commands the admiration of the
world, equally auspcious to literature and to
liberty, and promises blessings to mankind,
which the human Imagination can hardly con-
ceive At this moment, the disastrous and omin.
Gus condition of Europn which men Of philosophi-
cal enquiry and reflection begin TO- ascribc TO in
vetcraie radical, and permanent evils of political
and social systems. but renders moro vivid and
dazzling the bright aspect Of our manifold pros
/ perity" But this is not the occasion to pursue
this train of thought s.uo.
! Devoted in patriotism, and every ready to act
on the noble principl ple-saLus RepwbLiee suprcma
-! Icx-our countrymen have yet neglected nothing
| which was calculated to adorn domestic life and
| promote individual happiness. Female education
! has, therefore, always been subject of primary
attention. 80 ',-.'
/ Elevated to her appropriate position in society;
refined and accomplished by careful instruction.
the American woman is the happy companion o
the American freeman; gladdening his heart br her
smile of confidence and love- and cheering him in
his great career ofapublic duty, by her voice O.
counsel and approbntionI a,.'"' 30 "
4 Glorious as our institutions are, their frui
/ would have turned to ashes, without the lovely as
sociation of the softer SEX fitted by education L
be the friend the joy the pride Of American patri
i ots. = ..-' 90 .." .' '1
2Ifouncountry. from the very nature Of its gov
i ernment demands much of its citizens, let-us re
; member that it makes them capable of doing
much; and that by giving TO them the stimulus
and nurture of our free institutions, it places with
i in the reach even of the most humble the high
est atainments of learning and the nobest achieve
! 1ments Of mind
1 The value of this nurture and of this stimulus
is best altested by the great results which they
have already accomplished and thus measured
4 by the standard of results, our whole Republic