The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-12-26

in he might turn the energies of his
mind to some practical service to his
fellow subjects, is closed against him;
and thus, having no occasion, he seldom
has the disposition to cultivate the no.
bic virtues of patriotism and philan-
thropy, which 50 enlarge the heart and
elevate the character of man. A gen.
erous ambition can only exist where it
has an opportunity to achieve its
worthy purposes. Men will not vainly
devote themselves TO the accomplish
ment of impossibilities, nor will they
labor to fit themselves for employments
from which they are forever excluded.
Yet there is that in the heart Of man,
however obscure his origin or humble
his condition, that makes him desire to
have his influence felt in public affairs.
In some it is strong and manifests itself
in restless ambition for posts Of pow
.er and responsibility - in others its
quiet operations, though ceaseless, are
scarcely seen; but in all, from the
peasant to the prince, it puts forth some
public effort to sway the destinies OF the
State We call this public spirit. 1t
is the voice of God speaking to the
heart of man and telling him that he
is designed for, and is entitled to ex-
ercise the high prerogatives of self-go-
vernment. 1t indicates to him the
equality of human rights and the recl-
procity of human influence. 1tassures
him that the State, with its civil, poll
tical and social institutions, is the COM
mon property of all its constituents, and
should be administered by their con-
current will. Itteaches him, in short,
that every form of monarchy is usurp-
alton, and inimical to the developement
and happiness of mankind. -rs~
1t is onr good fortune, my friends, to
live in an age effulgent with moral, in
tellectual, religious and political light.
Never in the past history of the world
shone the sunlight of Intelligence so
broadcast as now. Science is develop
ing itself in the most cunning and use-
full devices of art; gigantic indeed are
| the monuments oil ITS wonderful achieve
ments. Nature is unbosomiug herself
to the inquisitivs spirit of investigation,
man is less a mystery TO himself than
formerly, and remote nations OF the
earth, brought into near neighborhood
through the subtle agency of steam,
are interchanging Offices Of friendship,
and are learning and imparting lessons
OF wisdom. The press, by its innumer-
able winged messengers, has brought
nearly the whole family of christendom
into one universal conference, where
mind communes with mind on almost
every conceivable topic of morals, lite
rature, art, science, religion and govern
ment. Never before was there such .
tremendous thinking and contriving
going on in the world as in this our day,
and action seems to keep pace with
thought. The world is indeed rushing
forward to higher and more perfect
civilization wherein man will be GO
verned BY moral and not by physical
force. We have :.bundant reason to
thank God that We live in such an age.
But. friends, highly favored as we are
in this respect, we have still greater
cause for gratitude that we live under
a republican government. No heredit-
ary king exacts our allegiance, no IL
tied nobility claims our homage, no
privileged rank insults our pride. Here
every citizen is both subject and a
sovereign, and the highest place oftrust
and power is as accessible to the son OF
poverty as to the SON Of wealth. The
laws we obey are the expression OF our
own will. If they are found by expe-
rience 10 be inconvenient, oppressive,
or impolitic, we have at our command
the means of speedy correction. The
constitution we reverence is "our brave
. fathers legacy,n consecrated by the
holy recollections of the past, and
coming down to us as the palladium OF
our liberties. The institutions we cher
ish are our own choice; the faith we
follow is the free convictions OF our own
minds: the rank we hold among our
: fellows is the measure of our merit ;
; the destiny we seek is the monument
I of our wisdom or the consummation Of
our folly. .,,s.3
! Do not such high privileges bring
. with them corresponding duties and
RESPONSIBILITIES If we are the source
from which proceed the laws and insti-
tutions of the land, will not the wis
= dom and the purity Of those laws de.
J pend upon our wisdom and our purity
; if the government and the administra
: tion of it emanates from the people, vii
I not its character reflect the characte
! of the people, and will not its success
: and prosperity rest upon the virtue o
!, = the people! Can the patriotic, then
y feel Indifferent to the purity Of the peo
: ple! Can he excuse himself to hi
: country for neglecting to use any lie
q pitimate means within his control I,
q purify and elevate public moralss ]
:, he looks to history for instruction h
= = learns that every republic that has pre-
= ceded ours has fallen by the corInp
= = ton of public morals. Luxury, (whicl
y |, is but another word for intemperance
" " licentiousness and efieminacy, extin
~ ~ gushing every public virtue, dissolve
q q the bonds and sapped the foundation
u u of the state, and civil discord soon com
u pleted the ruin that dissoluteness ha
= prepared. Greece, Carthage, Rome
: - these are waymarks upon the histori
I, - page, teaching the popular goverr