The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-07-14

United States is 23,O0O,000. Now take the map
OF the continent Of Europe and spread it out before
you. Take your scale and your dviders and Law
of in one area, in any shape you please, triangle,
square, circle, paralleogram, trapezod, and of
an that shall contain $50 900, 900 of people,
and there will be found within the United States
more persons who do habitually read and write,
than can be embraced within the lines OF your de-
But there is some thing more
than this. Man is not only an Intellectual, but he
IS also religious being; and his religious feelings
and habits require cultivation. Let the religious
element in mans nature be neglected, let him be
influenced by higher mott than low self.
interest," and subjected to stronger restraint than
creature OF selfish passions blind fanaticsm
The spectacle of nation, powerful and enlightened
but without Christian faith, has been presented
almost within own day, warning beacon
for the nations. On the other hand, the cultivation
of the religious sentiment represses licenousness
ncites to general benevolence, and the practical
acknowledgement OF the brotherhood of man, in
spires respect for law and order and gives strength
to the whole social fabric; at the same time it
conducts the human soul upward to the author Of
its being. As one of its necessary consequences,
it may, think, be stated with truth, that in no
country, in proportion to its population, there
many benevolent establishments, Bible, mis-
sionary and tract societies, supported by public and
private contributions, as in our own. There are
also institutions for the education of the blind, the
and destitute children, for moral reform, designed |
for children and females respectively institutions |
for the reformation of criminals, not to speak Of |
those numerous establishments in almost every |
county and town in the United States, for the re-
ception Of the aged, nirm and destitute poor, many
OF whom have fed to shores to escape the pow |
ery and wretchedness of their condition at home. |
In the United States there is church establish |
ment ecclesiastical authority founded by govern
ment. Public worship is maintained, either by |
ntarv hu frISf nd Iona
Of charitable origin. Now, think it safe to say
that greater portion of the people Of the United
States attend public worship decently clad, well
behaved, and well seated, than of any other coun-
try OF the civilized world. Edfces of religion
seen every where. Their aggregate cost would
amount to immense sum of money. They are,
in the general kept in good repair, and consecrated
to the purposes of public worship. In these edi-
tices the people regularly assemble on the Sabbath
day, which is sacredly set apart for rest by all
classes, from secular employment and for religious
meditation and worship to listen to the reading of
the holy scriptures and dscourses from pious min
listers of the several denominations Thi. attention
to the wants of the intellect and of the soul
ltested by the voluntary support OF schools and col
leges, OF churches and benevolent institutions, is
one of the most remarkable characteristics of the
American people, not less strikingly exhibited in
the new than in the older settlements of the COON
try. On the spot where the first of the forest
were feed, the log cabins of the pioneers, are
school-house. So has it been from the beginning,
and God grant that thus it may continue.
" On other shores above their moudeing towers.
In 'o'emn Iomo the tall cathedral irowns;
simple aud trail our lOwly temples throw
Tearqe .tess The wind lhn sweeps his woodland track.
E'e Ike vson of the morning air,
Hs slight frame steeple mark: the house of prayer
Yet faiths pure hymn, beneath its shelter ude,
Breahes out as sweetly to the tsng led wood
As where the rays through biaz otiels pour,
On MAJ bic shaft and tes.elaed floor
Who does not admit that this unparalleled growth
of prosperity and renown the results, under
Providence of the union of those States under a
general constitution which guarantees to each State
a republican form of government, and to every man
the enjoyment of life. liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness, fr.e from civil tyranny eccles astcal
domination To bring home this idea to the present
occasion, who does not feel that when President
Washington laid his hand on the foundation of the
hr't capitol building. he performed great work of
perpetna'ion OF The Union and the Constitution
Who does feel that This seat of the general gov
eminent, healthu in lis situation, central in its
| position, near to the noun aims from whence gush
springs of wUndt rful virtue teeming with natures
richest protucts and yet far from the bays and
the great esuares of the sea, easily accessible and
generally agreeable in climate and association. does
not give strength to the union of these States that
this city, bearing an immortal name, with its broad
streets and avenues, its public squares and magnf-
cent edlfces of the general government erected
| for the purpose of carrying within them the
important business of the several departments for
The reception of wonderful and curious inventions,
| the preservation of the records of American learn
ing and genius, of extensive collections of the pro-
ducts of nature and art, brought hther for study and
| comparison from all parts of the world adorned
| with numerous churches, and sprinkled over, | am
happy to say, with many public schools, where all
| the children OF the city, without distinction, are
| provided with the me ans of obtaining good edu-
cation-where there academies and colleges,
| professional schools and public libraries-shoud
continue to receive, as it has heretofore the fos
ierlng care OF Congress, and should he regarded
| a. The permanent seat of the national government
Here too citizen OF the great republic OF letters
"a republic which knows not the metes and bounds
| OF political geography-has indicated, | trust, pro-
phetically to this nation, wide and powerful nfu
ence IN the Intellectual world and to this city a
commanding position in the field OF science and
literature, by endowing heres and placing under
the guardianship OF the government, an institution
" for the increase and diffusion OF knowledge among
men" With each succeeding year new nteres
is added to the spot, 1t becomes connected with
all the historical associations OF country, witt
J her statesmen and orators and alas its cemetery
is annually enriched with the ashes of her choser
sons. Before us is the broad and beautiful river
separating two OF the original thirteen States, ant
which late President, a man of determined pur
pose and nfexible will but patriotic heart desired
to span with arches OF ever enduring granite sym
bolical of the firmly cemented union of the Nortl
and the South On its banks repose the ashes o
the Father of his Country, and at our side by
singular felicity Of position, overlooking the cit,
which he designed and which bears his name, rise
to his memory the marble column sublime in it
! simple garndeur, and fifty intended to reach oi
tier height than any similar structure on the sur
face of the whole earth Let the votive offering G
r his grateful countrymen be freely contributed t
f carry higher and still higher this monument. Ma
l say as on another occasion, Let it rise !! let
3 rise till it shall meet the sun in his comnp-Ie
the earliest light OF the morning gd it, and partin
r day lnger and play on its summit"
r Fellow citizens-What sontemplations are aw,
g kened in our minds assemble here to re
enact a scene like that performed by Washington
Methnks see his venerable form now before me
as presented in the g orous statue by Houdon no,
: in the Capitol Of Virginia. He is dignifed an
grave, but concern and anxiety seem to soften tn
lineaments Of his countenance. The governmer
over which he presides is yet in the crisis of expe
J. iment. Not free from troubles at home he see
: the world in commotion and arms all around hin
u He sees that imposing foreign powers are half d,
posed to try the strength of the recently sstabshe
American government We perceive that might
,; thoughts mingled with tears as well as with hope
are struggling within hm. He heads a short pr,
=" cession over those then naked fields he crosse
yonder stream on fallen tree he ascends to tn
e top OF this eminence, whose original oaks of III
forests stand thick around him if the spot ha
s. been devoted to Druidical worship, and here
IT performs the appointed duty of the day.
&c And now, fellow citizens, if this vision were
;. realiiy-if Washington were now actually anon