The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-03-08

i stoned by IN improper eduucatiocn, or The
want Of. legitimate RESTRAINT Sin8 early life:
but ii innate and universal, and its
cause is TO be traced sto MINIS unhappy
sihll from rectitude into sin. It requires
but little observation to SEQ, even in chill
drel ofNa very early age, that propensity
to evil which is so deeply y.laid in deprayed
human nature. And so 5inwrought is this
propensity, that, they. 6 necessarily 20
astray, directly, straight. forward, heed
lessly, inthe way Of evil; ;"sand will con.
stinue to do so, until arrested by some
suitable, counteracting moral agency.
/, Now, If this be SO, where is this .coun-
teraoting, moral agency 10 be found. but
in suitable christian Instruction. and in
what way can it be e,betterfurnished than
By the daily use of The Bible, tho .ohozc
Bible, in our schooks2 If the moral and
intellectual powers lhavo been perverted
and Frustrated by the influence Of SIM
what SO calculated to give them proper
direction, and renew their yigor and
strength, as sthe truth of God carly commu-
nicated to the mind? If sin has thrown its
midnight shadows over the soul---if the
moral feelings have, been most sadly
blunted; what can 80 effcctuullv disslpatc
that darkness and inpart q healthy tone
10 tho moral sensibilities, as an early i'm
plantation in the heart ofthc principles OF
rectitudo inculcated inithe scriptures?
And what Gun SO thoroughly 'srcmove
from the soul those vicious propensities by
which it is governed, us the salutnry in
tlucnce Of that truth and grace, which
knowledge Of tile divine word is adapted
to communicated"
1t may be objected, that, the business Of
christian instruction belongs 10 the parent,
and the minister. This is readily grant
cd. But, we may be permitted 10 ask,
why mol to the teacher? Why muy it not
be considered part of his business to
improve the morals as well us the intel
Iccts, Of those committed to his caro- No
good reason can be assigned, why teach
or should not feel interested and aim to
promote the improvement Of both of the
minds and hearts Of his pupils. If this
be admitted, allow us further to inquire
what measure Gun be adopted, SO well
fitted to secure these important ends, US
the daily use Of the Bible in schools D.
II book, acknowledged even by its avow-
Cd enemies, to contain the purcst system
of morality crcr gircn 10 man. And when
j, is remembered, that tho youthful mind
is so easily imprcsscd.--thni impressions
made in carly life, nrc the most pcrma-
ncnt---and that these in greater or less
degree, determine the future course and
character Of u child; We see at once, the
Importance of having them of saluiary
and rholcsome nature: and what so cal
culatcd to produce impressions OF this
kind, as the holy Instructions OF the So
cred volume?
These remarks are submitted with the
desire Of directing attention to this i'm.
portant subject. 1t has been Justly said,
that, "Mc greatest moral po,rers on earth
are, the .tunily circle and the common
schools" The remark is pregnant with
tho rcighicst truth in its application 10
this country. Let these two 'moral pow
ers" become corrupted, and Tie wisdom
Of human Legislation will be taxed in
vain TO check the tide Of immortality and
vice, which will sweep over fair Rcpub
lie. But, let ''thc family circle, and the
common schools be preserved pure and
uncontaminatcd !; and there will issue
from them, us from two great fountains.
those healthful streams, which arc 10
cleanse tho community from every spc-
cics Of moral fcculcncc; and convey, to
succeeding generations, our FREQ insitu-
tIonS, unlmpaircd, or untarnishcd by vice.
Pinc Lcrcf. j. u.