The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-01-19

u- As there j. nothing doing in Congress, we
can give our readers no Congressional dongs.
AMERICANISM IN LITERATURE.
Unlike other nations, VIC inherited with being,
"a Literature" and like otmr inhcritanccs, il las
proved both blessing and curse. know not whe.
thcr il is better for genus in youth 10 be trammccd by
poverty or foslcrcd by tn hand Of wealth; but
know when youth is putting on m nhood. and G'ncy'i
fatures changing into those of experience. il were
better for genius to leave the lroddcn pat-to trust
own inherent powers, and aim at external life
beyond our fate. As in Literature, was il in
Politics: we grew from earlier childhood beneath
foreign Constitution. But the day when patriot
ism threw off the shackcs of foreign despotism. and
un(urled to American beczes the gitterng banner of
political liberty. How long, then, before American
gecnius shall achieve The proud triumph Of unfurling
the banner cf Amcricnnism in Literature high in the
heaven of lhcught7 Why should mind be irammeled
where matter has asserted her rights ?-why not be
free in Literature as we'll in Politics know 'lis
difficult to light way throug chaos, or 10 be po.
nccr-lhc first to strike Though tho wild forest of Anne
rcan letters for Literature, well as Religion is
spiritual mmoraity-thc magic glass in which you see
developed The mind Of nHton, with all its morales
and hnmoralfics strangely blended ;-and he who d
vests himself Of fnrcign stylcof foreign though-o
foreign conccptIons--and draws from The rich
of our native land the material or his prose, and the
ideal for his poetry will he the Washington of our Ii.
lcrary Independence. 1t is admitted, even by those
who opposed 10 Institutions, that no country
possesses a better foundation for National Literature.
We have but 10 write from texts displayed in natures
wild book, acknowledging for its fron,isPiccc the i'm
press of Je,ovals hand. and VIC have nations finn
est support--a vrluous Literature Why goio Europe's
ba;. fields or follow Asias Mohamncdan hordes, for
historic material? Write the history Of Pcrns gelden
cline, and Mcxcos sunny so.i--low the wild udvcn.
turcrs with Dc Solo wandered through the tracklcss
forests and deep swamps Of tho unknown wcst,--and
how tho heroes Of &c battled in the Of freedom
Why 90 to the vale of Parnassns qnaf the waters
of Casalias fablcd founl? Let tho Imagination ofihc
American poet divine tho story ofruned Chi'pH-tAe
proud race Of Huan Capac.-and the hstury Of that
strange people who even in natures temple, this vii
dcrncss America, knew Of the Great Spirit, and min.
glcd is their legendary lore the bright fanccs Of tho
spirit land.
have stood by the side Of our Southern lakes when
the dew seemed tcas shed by Aurora because she
could not make love 10 the flowers alone while the
morning birds chatlcrcd every branch, as thought,
their hymns of pruse 10 Him who preserved and shell
tered them through the night, tho sivcy scales q" the
6nny race gistcning through the sung'lt wave, and
the bold bird Of the sum- nation's pride, wh the
strcakcd sky for his flag. soaring away and still
further away in the enameed vuult, cmblcni Of
my countrys genius and then could feel the power
Of natures hieroglyphica thought have St oi there
again at evenings mystic hour when beauty lent its
sweetness to the scrnc, and the suns rays sec cd
trembling away before those Of nights less radiant
queen tho pale smoke from the near by cottages curl
ing in gentle columns upward as calm and placid as
the minds Of the cotagers, who having done their
daily ,as now sat before their doors tcaclng their little
10 lisp their young masters name, and evidcncng
happiness in its most unalloycd form; the boatmun
singing his Goudoiiic song While tho nightingale made
love to its own pretty rose; ond lavo thought the
Ionan Isles lent their sunlight 10 sopphos s'ng and
Grccan crags their subnily 10 Homer'S verse, that
every American who might SEQ our blue magnolIas
wayo, and the orange groves open their grcen-arched
yistas 10 where the sunlight dances on tho waves OF
tho Mexican Gulf, must be Pod too; pcrchancr orc
though I" who never ponne1 bis inspiration" hn''
folt MS Duuo did of his loved but tcd Italy: that III
one short agc Literature should resume ht' sway all
equal 10 that which Homer and AnaceTon hud IN tic.
las unforgottcn day. Like tall cedar shall hcr
Literature arise, towering fragrant beautiful over
carhs past monuments OF gonius, and recognized afar
waiting is native incense through tho skies.