The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-25

mEC0AnloM No. xHIt~~8y Joniah MetDrooks
Next to making surveyors Instruments by
young hands would be excursions for using
them Such excursions would combine in
stss,ctioll, amusement, and health--in no way
untitled for girls, and III boys Of the most sub
stantiaI benefit, no matter what their future vo-
cations. An acquaintance with setting the
compass to ascertain the direction Of fence,
road, stream of water, or other object, carrying
the chain To determine the distance or length
OF certain line, keeping Textbook, aud sun
dry other operations in practical surveying,
could be rendered familiar by very few excur-
sons, which would of course be entered into
with great spirit by any company OF boys or
girls in the world.
With surveying Instruments, hammers, CHS
els, and bags, for examining and collecting
minerals would come in play most OPPORTUNITY.
To these might be added pencs.and paper for
making sketches in ditfarnt departments OF ma
tura history, Of natural scenery, OF buildings,
public works. or any interesting object which
might come under view. An afternoons ex-
cursion for these several objects, all combined,
would furnish ample and profitable work for the
next day; indeed, to fill up the leisure time for
a week in preparation for another occasion of
the same character.
Among the exercises on mechanism furnished
by such operations would be penmanship, draw
ing, sketching routes, plans, and other designs
for business purposes, both private and public
and almost innumerable kinds OF work directly
connected with farmers and merchanics, indeed
every body, whether in business or scientific
pursuits; either Of the lowest or highest of
human undertakings. The farmer, by science
thus reduced to practice, would use more skill
and economy in dividing and fencing his fields,
in apportioning his grounds to their respective
uses, in planning and constructing his buildings
indeed in every department Of his most noble
occupation Not only farmers but merchants,
ings could be their own architects; far more
certain to avoid fraud, and to b. furnished with
such houses as they desired and expected than
under the system now common in building
operations.
fall the boys, and girls 90, in all schools be
instructed, entertained, and invigorated by ex-
cursions for geology botany, surveying, pen
cilings, drawing, &c. the whole race would have
sOunder minds in sounder bodies, and few
from the whole would become skilful and pro-
fessional artists, engineers, naturalists, and
amateurs, and patrons Of practic science thus to
be extended without limits. Grounds for com
plants now common, indeed almost universal, by
parents and other patrons of schools, that very
small returns are received for the vast OUTLAWS
for them in time, tuition, books, and sundry
materials would in a great measure be removed
The immense expense incurred simply from the
change Of books, now felt so severely would in
great measure BIZ avoided If varied, syste-
matte, ard thorough lessons were taken from
the book of all b ooks- Creation-it would
matter but little what other books were used as
aids.
ExPERIMENTs.-For several years past the
amusements Of August holydays have been
greatly enriched by scientific EXCURSIONS"
Those now at hand may doubtless by such oc-
casions be richer than any which have preceded
them. Nearly every boy and girl in Washing
ton, New York, and many other places is so
familiar with the minerals composing the ele-
ments of mountains, rocks, and soils, with many
admired for their beauty, as readily to form col
lcctions to take or send to their friends less ac-
quainted with these important elements of
knowledge. Aids to science thus rendered
would enable pupils, especially those going
into the country, to procure valuable additions
for their school cabinets. A large portion of
such collections in som schools have been con-
tributed by the pupils, especially on reassembling
at the close of August olydays
STRANGE THIKGs.-lf a poor devil holding
suUOIulIsitt SltuhttOu III Oue VI Tile departments
Of the government, interferes in the slightest
in elections, or ventures even to express an
honest political opinion, he is without ceremony
elected from Office, and the puplic voice ap-
proves the deed. On the other hand, man
holding high station under the government
if, for instance, he happens to be the President
OF the United States or member of the cabinet
is permitted to travel through the country and
say all sorts Of things in the way of speech
making to crowds of people, designed to sus-
tain his peculiar notions of governmental poll
cy, and in the end to enure to his Individual pro-
motion, or the success of his party. The crowd
listen in gaping admiration at the inspired
patriot, and shout, all is right" So, likewise,
the commander in chief Of the army, while hold
ing his commission with salary of $4,000 per
year, is permitted to place himself at the he I'D of
a party and resort to every device and stratagem
to attain the highest honors of the republic
instead of being condemned or required to va
cate his commission, thousands of people are
found throwing up their caps in the air, and en-
gaging in his schemes by using every effort to
promote the cause of the fortunate soldier A
surgeon in the United States navy, under his
own signature, is permitted to attempt to en-
tighten the people Of the country through the
public press, in series of political essays, upon
PROFOUND conSllutlOnhi lava subject that ne
is AS little acquainted with as he is with the
pneumathology Of the school men, without
even gentle reproof from the department from
whom he derives his warrant. Reverse the ease |
Suppose this learned doctor had taken the op |
posite side of the question and wrote in defence
of the rights of South Carolina, instead of pan.
dering to the power of the fede al government,
who can doubt for moment that his name
would have been stricken, in most summary
manner, from the roll of surgeons! The times are
indeed sadly out of joint The government is |
corrupt--the politicians are corrupt---ard we
fear, the people are not much better Norfolk
Argus.
The FUCITvE SLAVE CASE IN PHILADELPHIA.
In the case of Dan'I Hawkins, claimed "a a
fugitive slave by William Nj. Risteau, of Bait. |
more county, Md, hearing was had before
u. s. Commissioner Ingrahm, at Philadelphia, |
on Tuesday morning, who ordered that he be |
sent back to his master. He left at o'clock |
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