The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-02

stics of his moral being. Indeed, on the recogni-
ton of these characteristics are based most OF his
contrivances for promoting the general peace and
law passed, hardly a contract Is made, hardly
regulation is established, in any department of SO
cial life but il has reference, more or less direct 10
these traits of the human character.
We may smooth il over with soft sentences, and
speak of the toibles and weaknesses of man; may
endeavor 10 bolster up our self esteem by atterlng
and euogizng our race but il will not all do. The
sad fact cannot be concealed that there is princi
pie within warning against the law OF the mind
and leading 10 state of captivity 10 sin and death
There may come, and we have the promise that, in
the economy of Divine Providence, there will come,
time when this element of our common nature
will be eradicated; but we have reason TO eX-
pect, either from the teachings of history from
the signs of the times, that this great change is
be effected by ordinary means, or by any natural
means that can be employed for the ameioration
of human character. The progress of knowledge
and the efforts OF the good, aided by the improved
appliances of the moral world, may affect much in
the cttipdtion of the moral nature. Sentiments of
duty, honor, benevolence, and purity may be SO
largely, forcibly, and effectively inculcated as
greatly TO restrain and overcome the evil principle,
and to produce the happy fruits of prevailing honor
courtesy, and virtue. Religion may be brought TO
exert a more wide and powerful sway upon the
lives and sentiments OF men. But after all Is done,
not having the basis OF perfccubiy IN his nature,
man must continue to be, to great extent per-
verse being, subject To the sway of his appetites
and his passions Ii has always been SO, and it
seems to me it always must be so. Reform will
continue to be needed, and there will always be
much left to accomplish. The efforts made for the
improvement of human character bear a close
alogy to the means we employ for keeping the body
in health and vigor-always necessary-ruinous 10
be neglected, but eventuating in nothing more than
in keeping things in their present state of forward
ness and perfection. Any decided and permanent
advance in the characters Of men can never be
Pected Their habits may be trained, their morals
may be improved, their opinions and sentiments
may be corrected but there will yet remain
those appetites and passions that grow indigenous
in the human breast the standing enemies against
which it is our destiny TO have an eternal warfare
TO wage.
" Ii is not in morals, as it is in knowledge where
the acquisitions of one age passed forward to
the next, which enjoys all the benefits of its own
efforts and those of its predecessors In essential
character each individual must begin the world
anew for himself, and fight the battle his own
account.
% Ii is this point-the supposed perfectibility
of the human charac ter-that feel compelled to
separate from those dreamers of Utopian felicity
and perfection, who continually sounding the
doctrines and anticipatons of progress in ears
Ii seems to me that they entirely overlook the les
of experience, and draw too largely upon their
wild ancies-that their cish is father TO their
thought, and not the welconsidered examination
of things as they are and things as they have BEEN
The question of progress, as it relates
to institutions and laws, is discussed under
the last head of the discourse with I'M
common ability, and with marked refer
ence to some of the crude notions which
have Just now more or less influence
amongst Us. We shall take another OPP
portunity to recur to this branch of the
subject, on some accounts, perhaps, the
most valuable portion of the address,
having already exceeded our time and
limits to-day.