Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-01-04

which it has been decided to bring the labors OF
this Convention to close. 1t had been decided
to close the convention at 10 o'clock, and just as
the cheering which followed their vote of thanks
ceased, the clock struck ten. We have been
locking tor the last three days on the bright side
OF the tapestry; the dark side is now turned to-
wards us. The pleasing acquaintances which
have been formed, and which can have been to
none more pleasing than to myself must be bro
ken, and we must 90 away, carrying such good
as we can, from the deliberations of this assem-
| bly,. In parting from you, cannot forbear to
! express my warmcst Acknowledgements for the
continued kindness with which you have been
pleased to regard the performance of the duties
of the chair. y
Gentlemen, this'occasion has brought together
! two classes of men, sufficiently distinguished
! from each other to be the subjects of division
May BE- permitted to address few words to
each. We have before US the practical teachers
-men who devote themselves to the business of
the school room, who do not exercise q very DIFF
tusive influence in broad sphere, but strong in
tiuencc in narrow sphere,--ponts of strong light
thrown upon small space rather than wider ra-
diations OF a flame that is weakened BY expansion
What are the duties ofthe school teacher? have
not time to enumerate or define them. | cannot
even mention the names in the long catalogue {:
but will call your attention to one which comes
very near to embracing all. BY this one, | mean
horoughnesS, in every thing you teach. Thor
oughness, tb0roughn again | say, THO
ROUGHNEss is the secret of success. You heard
some admirable remarks this morning from a gen
tleman from Massachusetts, (Mr Sears in
which he told us that child in learning single
lesson, might get not only an idea Of the subject
matter of that lesson, but an idea how all lessons
should be learned.--a general idea, not only how
that subject should be studied. A child in COM
passing the simplest subject, may get an idea of
perlectness, which is the type OR archetype of all
excellence, and this idea may modify the action
of his mind through the whole course of life
Be thorough, therefore, be complete in every
thing you do; leave no enemy in ambush behind
YOU as you march on, to rise up in the rear and
assail You. Leave no broken link in the chain
yon are daily forging. Perfect your work so that
when it is subjected to the trials and the expert
ences Of life, it will not be found wanting.
1t was within the past year that | saw an ac-
count iii the public papers of a terrible gale in
one OF the harbors Of the Chinese seas. 1t was
one of those iypLo2nS, as they are called, which
lay PROSTATE not only the productions of nature,
bat the structures Of man. In this harbor were
lying at anchor the vessels Of all nations, and a
mong them the United States sloop of war Ply
mouth. Every vessel broke its cable but one
The tornado tossed them about, and dashed them
against each other, and broke them like EGG
shells. But amidst this terrific scene of des-
truCtlon, our gOvcrnm nj vessel held fast to its
mornings, and escaped unframed. Who made
the links of that cable that the strength Of the
tonicst could not rend? Yes Who made the
links OF that cable that the tempest could not
rcnd Who was the workman, that worked I'M
der oath, and whose work saved property and
tlgD
Could that workman have beheId the spectacle,
and heard the raging of the clements, and seen
the other vessels as they were dashed to pieces,
and scattered abroad, while the violence of the
tempest Wreakcd itself upon his own work in
vain, would he not have had the amplest and pu-
rest reward for the fidelity OF his labor!
So, III the after periods of your existence,
whether it be in this world or from another
world, from which You may be permitted 10 look
back, YOU may see the consequences of your in
strucuon upon the children whom you have trail
mel. In the crisis of business life, where intel
lectual accuracy leads to immense good, and in
tellcctual mistakes to immense loss you may see
your pupils distinguishing between error and
truth, between false reasoning and sound reaso-
ming, leading all who may rely upon them to cor
rect results establishing the highest reputation
for themselves, and for You as we'll as for them
StitNtS ana SVOO uPO4l
CO immunity.
So if YOU have been wise and successful in
yolr moral training, you will have prepared them
to stand mistaken and seduccd amidst tempta-
tons, firm where others are swept away, uncor-
rlpt where others are &c, ravcd, unconsumed
where others are blasted and perish. You LAY
b, able to say that, by the blessing of God, you
lave helped TO do this thing. And will not such
day be day of more exalted and sublime JOY
than If YOU could have looked apon the storm in
the eastern seas, and known that it was your han
diwork that saved the vessel unharned amid the
wrecks that h0atad around il? Would not such
a sight be a reward great and grand enough TO
satisfy and fiji up any heart, mortal or immortal
There is another class OF men in this meeting
those who hold important Official situations
under the state governments, and who are caar-
gcd with the superintendcnca of pubic instruc-
ton. Peculiar duties deyolve upon them. They
in common with the teachers, have taken upon
themselves a great reSpons.b iiity. When, in the
curse of Yesterdays preceedngs,a resolution
was introduced, proposing to make this Nation
al Convention. with permanent organization:
confess that, as / sat here in my Chair, tet
my Joints trembling with emotion, AZ the id OF
tie responsibility YOU were about TO assume.
Shall tbs BODY establish it~elfas National Con-
yeptian? Shall we hold ourselves out to this great
country as a source OF information ana centre
of influence. on one Of the most important sub
iectS that can be submitted TO the human tacnl-
ties? Shall we mold ourselves up here in full sun
light, and virtually say to the whole country,
come here and fill your urns from our fountains
f wisdom? These views came over me with
S lch free. as almost to make me forget where
| was and the duties had to discharge; for eX-
D ricnce has led me to know something of the
difficulties OF the work. lctit was the pleasure
OF the Convention 10 adopt the resolution; and
through the signatures Of your officers, you viii
s,ycra,lv subscribe 10 that conclusion. Nou
nave already authorized committee to send ont
this determination, and 10 proclaim it 10 the
world. Now. BY these acts, yea have signed and
s,l,el bond You have obligated yourself 10
perform great duties and YOU cannot deny or eiuda
this obligation without forfeiture o! honor and
of character. Ii we fulfil the duties we have as
sumed, the meeting will prove one Of the most
important meetings ever held in this country 1t
we fail in our spectye spheres OF action 70 tul-
I'll these duties, this meeting will be the rIdicule
and shame Of Us all. BY itself It's small move
ment. but we can make it the tir-t in a series that
shall move the whole country. Il begins here
/ upon the margin of the sea. but we can expand
( il until it shall cover the continent. However
insignificant in itself it is great by is posSlbi-