The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-03-03
For The Cecil Wig.
Prospective Influence of the American
Character and Hind.


Character and Hind.
There is no law by which God regu-
lates the affairs of the world more Ger
tam in its operation, nor is there any
more powerful in ITS effects, than that
which regulates the action and influence
OF mind on mind.
Like begets like in mental as we'll as
physical character, and So universally
true and sure is this aSsimiating inilu,
ence, that the experience of all mankind
has confirmed the declaration of Holy
Writ: ole that wallieth with the wise
shall be wise, but the companion of fools
shall be destroyed.'
The Deity has recognized the power
of this influence in His institution OF
family relations and OF social worship.
1t is this Which forms and sustains pub.
lie opinion, that mightiest of influences
for good or evil, especially in such gov
eminent as ours.
1t is this which gives to nations their
distinctive character, and marks the line
between the Briton and his American
brother, and not only SO, but it draws
the distinction between districts of the
same country, and leaves no difficulty in
deciding who are the disciples of Ed
wards, Emerson and Webster, and who
of AlIston, Audubon and Simms.
Tfthen. in faInily, social and national
relations, we find this law operating with
such force, we need not be surprised to
find 1t producing international effects Of
the same character.
Nations mould the characters of ma
tions as individuals direct the minds Of
individuals. The superiority Of the En-
glsh character, is fast making the Turk
, ISL bow to its influence, While Europe
and Asia have long since ie!t the NIGH
tv intellectual force OF the Saxon
Universal experience has taught that
this power of nations upon each other,
is in proportion TO the degree OF intelli-
gence and enlightenment dfIused among
the mass Of the people, and to the extent
Of commerce.
The nations of the old world look TO
the past and rake up their glory and
greatness from the musty heaps Of the
rubbish OF antiquity, and look up with
child-Iike veneration to all that bears
tho stamp of age, and has put on the liv-
cry Of decay, loving rather old vices than
new virtues,
Not SO with America. She looks for
ward with the glistening eye of youth
funess, towards the distant future glow
Ing with all the freshness Of a new and
untred scene, and presses onward, still
onward, with the alacrity Of step
which is but Just gaining the strength
and firmness OF manhood. Having cast
aside all the trammels of the past, and
the old, it seeks untettered by custom and
antiquity, only the new and the future
No mean tread is that which thus ur>
ges itself steadily forward over the de-
cayed and crumbliug ruins Of things long
venerated. Though it is the step of
youth, It's that of youthful giant, who
has already trodden into the dust proud
names and titles, bright jewels, crowns
and sceptres, and in his hurried march
will soon grind down beneath his iron
heel, the last golden crown, the last
popsh mire, the last chaia OF slavery,
the last charm oil superstition.
1t is IN America only, that the mind
OF man has been lett unclaimed, to work
out its own high impulses, its own lofty
aspirations, Its own unlimited advance
ment, and here must we expect the
greatest results from the action of mind
on mind.
Education Is here giving to the com
mon people an amount of information
and degree Of Intelligence, which the
nobility OF Europe might be glad to own.
Here the lowest citizen frames his own
religious or political creed, and finds in
the mass meeting or the prayer meeting
means OF intellectual development for
which he would look in vain in the scr-
vice Of the mass, or thcready made pray
ers Of the priest.
The activity of the American mind
has exhibited itself in the many useful
Inventions and discoveries which have