Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-09-19
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
NO. XHHH.
PRESERVATION.

b..
In tho world Of creation. 10 prese'ue is
distinguishing mark of wisdom and Of pow
er. And it has been justly said, that the
wisdom and power to PreSerus are com
rnensurate with the .wisdon, and power 10
create. Nothing short Of omniscience and
,omnipotence could sustain the great econ-
omy of the universe. This will not ap'
pear extravagant. if we consider the ma
ture Of all material things. They all have,
it is evident, manifest tendency to decay.
Ma,,et is in itself corruplible, and nothing
but the infusing into it Of divine princi-
pie Of life, keeps in being its manifold forms
and appearances. This divine agency,
styled by Philosophers efficient cause, reg
ulales, as il were, the dying of aud rcsus-
ci,uling of material objects. Without it,
matter would he rude and (urmess. The
world oud be chaos.
In like manner all things of human crea-
,ion "are inherently disposed TO decay.
Nothing made by man is immortal; aud
perpe,uity applied TO the objects Of his in
venlion. is term signifcaIiye only Of an
indefinite, bu, still finite period Of lime.
Yet human institutions, in lm,alion Of lle
natural world, parlake Of comparative per-
manency; and there are laws which resu-
lale lhor continuance and decay as thre e
are laws, that govern existence and decay
in the physical world. Those laws lie in
the mysterious heart of man. as these lie
in the inscrutabe bosom Of Infinite Wis
dom. To discover these hidden secrets o!
the heart, and these sublime arcana OF
uature-lhe positive laws that govern
moral and physical exislcncc-is a noble
work Of science, which calls forth The deep
est researches Of the statesman and the
philosopher On them depends tho pre-
servation OF all mans works, and Of his
great power. They enable him 10 apply
material objects to his convenience and
happiness. They give him power and
wisdom in establishing governments and
,institolions, and in reforming public morals
and manners. 1t is only by thorough
Knowledge OF human ndture-of mans
mental powers-his desires and propensi-
lies, aud his developments under different
slnes Of sociely-that eau give riso to a
suitable and adequate polity. a govern
meni, formed Strictly in reference to these
matters, is sure to have in il The elements
Of success. 1t will bo well adapted 10 The
ends for which all good government is de-
signed, yiz-'tp project the weakness OF
individuals by the united strength Of socic-
ty;" to administer justice equally TO all the
parts of a community in other words, 10
place each individual in that position, in
which he eau enjoy the larses, amount of
liberty and happiness consistent with the
liberty and happiness Of his fellow.men.
Now a profound knowledge Of tho prin-
cipIes upon which good government may
DO formed, will assuredly furnish the best
means fur preserving government in its
purity. To know well what ~ill work for
mans good under given polily, enables
the statesman to distinguish between geEu-
inc reform aud rash Innovation; between
rnalahusa-and pretended- gricgance;;. and
Of consequence, to know-what IN a gov
errmenr is good and what is bad; whnt
should be retained, and what removed.
He will have sure light for the guide Of
his judgment H. political affairs, and will
nol be left to the wild vagaries of fanciful
conjecture. - -t,'
The strongest conservative elemen. in
a government, therefore. is mastery
knowledge Of the human heart, of.goncral
history, and of political philosophy, or The
science Of sorernmen':
Now as to the imporiaHce ofhis conser-
va,ive element, who can doubt? Wha,
would avail good governments and happy
institutions, if no means be used to con-
tnue their existence What would avail
The beautiful works Of creation, aud the
sublime harmony Of The world, were it not
for the working Of the laws by which they
are preserved and perpeluatcd !! The Deity
has wisely instituted laws TO keep up tho
continuing form Of thugs: And the chief
among these. is "urder." "Order is Hea-
uen's first lav:" On ii hangs The moral
aud physical economy OF the Universe.
How beautifully is this law illustrated in
the material world! The course of the
Garth and The Heavens is always the same.
Ohjecls. the mere appearances Of matter,
may be changed; but .forms-the essences
Ct things, are immulahly preserved. The
vivifying principle may die out in one
object, but il rcliyes in another. The same
laws are ever al work, and The samc results
may ever DO expected. by this sublime
rule of order, The beautiful arrangement Of
things is perpelualcd; Here, then. is a
striking lesson of preservation for The hu-
man race 10 emulate. Why may moi SINH.
lat results be obtained in the moral aud
political world? Here, also, The same
laws arc always at work, and here, order
is the first ld,O. Harmony of action and
harmony Of feeling are the substantial sour
ces Of happiness in society. Disorder, lu-
multi, faction, dissension have contrary
effects. They destroy social happiness.
Thoy break up the bonds Of society. They
lead 10 anarchy and confusion. To avoid.
then, these evils. should be the chief aim
of good government; or to change the
proposition, 10 sustain order and harmony
is the mos, essential requisite TO. the well
fare of sncicty. But how is this 10 be
achieved ercept by preserving tho estab-
lished course Of things, or only changing il
when necessary 10 remove obstacles to
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