The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-12-19
Communicated. for The minnesota Pionser.1
a M Mr.. Bakers Schools.

H. M Mr.. Baker's Schools.
Mr.. Baker has very Interesting school
of some eighty scholars, ia Saint Paul,
composed of Young men, young ladies and
youths. The school is =, credit to fle reach
er, and the teacherfo the school. The pu-
pills are being well trai:ed, and viii feel, tho
influence and advantages of Mr.. Bakers in
lsiruction during their fnture lives. The
school is such an one as any community
would be proud of; Itreflects credit on tbs
good taste and praise worthy energy Of the
citizens of our new, Interesting aud grow
ing town. Mr.. Baker has some gentleman
TO address mis- school once a week, in some
practical sublect-last week elder EoIert
occupied the attention of the school, part Of
an afternoon, IN some Interesting remarks
TO the pupils. On Wednesday afternoon
Of this week, Secretary Smith addressed the
the school. His subject was The American
constitution and the duty Of American citi-
Zens. We shall only attempt, very briefly
to report his remarks. He commenced by
saying that he was moi certain, that he
might not, with great propriety appropriate
to himself, on this OCCASION, the language
Of Pope; who said, he never could speak i'm
public aud did not believe, If it were ser
thing, he could give aii account of any story
TO twelve friends together, though be could
tell 1t to any three of them with great pleas
ure. He said when he appeared for the
Bishop Of Rochester on his trial, though he
had but ten words to sag and tta. OF plain
point, chow that Bishop spent his time,
when he was with him at Bromley } be made
two or three blunders IN it. notwithstanding
the first row of Lords, which was all he
could see, were mostly ofbis acquaintance.
But | have no Lords TO speak to, have
come to talk to American youth,--to the
young men and youth of Mr.. Bakers
school-in PLAIN language, upon plain, but
very important subject, that of the necessity
Of every American understanding bis own
rights, and feeling his own obligations. We
live in a country of laws and in an enlight-
ened period Of the history our race Vari-
Gus kinds Of Governments have been insti-
tuted in the world, but it was left for the
American people to form a Government,
which is model of ofexceIence, and the en-
bodiement of the wisdom of ages Our
Government is sui generis---there is none
like it. The formation and adoption of our
Constitution. wasSke commencement, Of a
new era in the Sry Of mankind. The
declaration Of INDEPENDENCE and its main,e-
nance was comparatively a comnon--a vuI-
gar event--such an event as had happened
many times before in the world, and NAV
happen again. Brt the formation and
adoption of the American Constitution was
solving The great political problem of hu-
man government, which all the nations Of
the earth had in vain attempted. This
great problem is the distribution of the SOW
ereign power OF the nation in such manner,
as to secure to the people all the benefits
OF the government, and il is the strongest
and hest ever formed, -. has more stays,
braces and but,resses TO keep j. steady,
than any other government that ever
was conceived by the VIII of man, and
although its machinery is exceeding COM
plicatad, yet its action is almost as simple
as breathing. The sovereign people peri
odicaliy casting their votes, IL the gree.
safety valve. The master wheel of the ma
chine has but one simple operation to per-
form, which is the sovereign people
marching up to the ballot box. The Secreta-
ry went into n detailed and somewhat crit
ical examination OF the features of the Com
siitution, both National and State. The
different kinds of government, the social
compact, national and state laws--their eff
feet or compass Of operation; and remarked
that law was defined 70 he an established
rule of action or operation, whether we
speak of The laws Of God or of men, of mat
ter or mind. Law is seated in the bosom Of
God, and Her voice is the harmony of rhe
world; oil things in heaven and :he earth
do her homage, the very least as feeling
Fer cares, and the greatest as not exempted
from Her power. The laws of civil society
are the kind Of laws, which more partIcu-
sarly belong TO our subject. The argu-
ments were forcible and urged with warmth
upon the subject ofthe necessity Of 0finhIs.ry,
labor, and patience in the accompl shnen,
Of the objects Of life. ain the sweat of,hy
face, shalt thou eat bread" The young
men were told, they lived in free country,
that all the places of honor and power were
open to them, there was no distinction to
which they might not arrive, that, however,
that ofa private citizen was said to he the
post Of honor. They were urged 20 DO their
duty TO themselves, 10 their g od and 10 their
country.
"Aet well your part. there ali The honor lies"
II was remarked that perhaps the best af-
vice that could he given to these Young
men, was that Of Shakespeare, in the advice
OF Polon'ns to his son, on going abroad; a
part OF which was quoted as follows:
"Give thy thoughts mo tongue
Nor any u1proportionei thought his act
BE thou familiar, but BY yuIqar.
Inc friends thou haSt fti their adoption tiled,
Grappie tiiy soul with hoops of steel.
But do not duii thy pain, with entertainment
Of oacii new-hatched, mhr,ed - sonsTado. Beware
OF entrance 20 a quarrel hut being in,
Bea4 il, that Tue opposed may beware Of thee
Give every man thine ear, su, few thy voice;
Take each mans ceRslre, but reserve Thy Judgment
COstsiy thy habit thy purse buv
Bot not expressed In ancy; rich, not gaudyy
For he apparel oft proclaims the man;
Asd they in France, Of The best rank and station,
Arc select and generous. chief in thar.
Neither q borrower lender be;
Fur loan Oft loses both itself and friend,
This above ali, 10 thine self be true
And il must follow, as tbe night the dav.
Thou not then be false any man.
Gould each Of these precepis be strictly
observed, they would assuredly make 4