Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-01-02

past; 10 the days of childhood that remind Us
how innocent we were, TO the hours of sickness
or OF sorrow that sdmunish Us how pure we
should continue, TO the friends estranged, The
hopes withered, and The love grown cold. that
teach and tell us how icke s human feeling
bow feeilng and trsnsiicry the. nature OF all
earth s treasures $50, too, upon occasions like
this, the mind of nation, with conlemplalive
wisdom, will renew It's history, and revive its
gratitude for disadvantages conquered, dangers
averted, Liberties eDjuyed and blessings secured.
IL IS justj 1t ls expedlent that we should do
this-it would be unwise il would be ungrate-
fol to neglect it. And in this Tetrosnec,ion
tasFe IS S'lt Iiitle 70 mske yo1 blush, while
theirs 10 much % rouse your pride, and make
Tou bless the Creator that cradled your birth
within The BOSOM Of such . glorious country
For you have no vulgar history to read--no
mean memoTles 10 boast. Gloryl glory forever
to your toTefdihers, Wise in the cabinet, elO-
quent in the Congress- heroic In the field
| the lIghtnings of heaven yielded to their phil
osoPhy, but the wealth of the world could not
seduce their patriotism! May their memories
| forever live in The gratitude OF the good, and
from the light Of their achievements may the
patriot Of every land take his best example, and
The poet of Liberty his brightest inspiration
But, CONTINUED Mr.. Skey) while you thus
glorlfy your ancestors, while before The painted
eye Of memory arises The recollection Of names
that ennoble, actions that inspire and struggles
that consecrate, let US pause To enquire, how
such iilustrlous examples have stimulated your
own exertions. Let us see If you can cungtat-
luate yourselves? A people forever living up
on the fame Of the glorious dead, trading for APP
probation upon the character capital Of thrt.Rn,
cestors, without Initiating the virtues that made
them good, or practicRg the policy that made
them CREST, are bereft Of that lofty feeling, with
out which, man degenerales into the nature Of
the beasts that perish. Such people resem-
bic potato stalk,-the best part Of them is in
the clay. (Cheers and laughter) In self culture,
IN state improvement, ARE we equal To the times
: In which we move ?-have we kept pace with
the enlightened spirit and progressive policy
$ of the age in which We live? How shall you
( answer these questions? BY referring to your
institutions, and pointing to the generosity and
wisdom with which you have erected public
! academies for the education Of the people /?
=. Where are they? Echo answers where. Ahi
II : easy to count the number Of your public
: schools, but it would require some Knowledge
OF arithmetic 10 reckon the number of public
J. houses. Yes, you have in abundance, the
d grUg- shops, where vice is taught and crime dis
( titled You want the nursery Of education, 70
. cultivate mind and 10 train viTlue,-Io lift The
young heart to what is high, TO prompt it 10
what is holy, 10 guide it to what is great. With
= education, when united with the exemplary
conduct which should ever be its attendant,
q what an august being is Man! Without il,
e what is he I! A rational slave or reasoning
S savage. Mahommed's IS cUffin suspended between
earth and sky, SO does he oScilate between The
dignity of an intelligence derived from the
!. divinity, and the degradation Of passions in
= which he participates with the brute Now, it
is tact, that II the money spent in this state
IN the purchase of ardent spirits, were expen-
ded III the diffusion of education, North Caro-
Il lima would be one of the most intelligent and
It happy states in the Union, for knowledge cre-
ates power and confers happiness. 1t is also q
! fact (and it would be vain weakness 10 hide
: IL from your foes, and very unwise 10 conceal
= 1t from your triends) that third of the rural
population are ignorant of the simplest elements
:, OF education, although to DO justice to their PIE
1t coclOus talents, he knew many Of them, very
! young IN years, who are considerably advanced
G In the alphabet Of intemperance, the rudimenls
n of profigacy, the grammar Of blasphemy, and
> many others Of those rowdy-making accomplish
ments OF which rum is the author. Train up
! child in the way he should CO. and when he
8 Is old he will not depart from it, This was the
advice OF inspired and experienced wisdom
, Comply with the admonitiun, in its contrary
spirit, bring up your children in the bnndage Of
ignorance, and the contagious example of in
- temperance, and lhen-exlract honey from hem
lock Good God! must not the heart of any
refiectlng man burn within hiM, when he thinks
" that of this great Republic, millions of such
I'd children will vet be citizens, and into their
s. hands will be entrusted power. (proportiuned
t. not to their virtues but 10 their nuinbers) over
/ the sacred legacy bequeathed TO You by your
IS generous and liberty loving foreiathers He
(BrOthcr Skelly) dreaded TO anticipare-he
d would leave themselves to determine the result
ol Neither would he waste their time by descn-
IN blng the countless evils Of which intemperance
cd is the prolific spring. OF the ruined cottage
Id and the ruined character, of the rags and The
e wretchedness, of the miseries and The murders
r. Of which it is either the fatal parent or The fruit
d. tul prOHs0ieT, he deemed it unnecessary 10
" speak. They al! knew it sufficiently we'll, and
G. as he was well aware, that anything he could
ly say IN the way OF description, would fall far
it, short OF their own knowledge or personal expe-
rlence, was he equally certain, that anything
n he could utter in the way of denunciation, would
liz lag behind the rapdiiy Of their own outraged
n or injured feelings. Did week pass over their
I'd heads without hearing Of some whitening crime
C. law vinlated, religion nsulted, or broils ha
iii end IN blood? Was there a public print that
n met their eyes, that did not afford them thou
lit sand testimonies Of these melancholy truths =
IntemPerance! oh thou damning curse, that
al rubs the body of health. and deprives the soul
n uf grace. Iniemperance sister of idleness
n parent of profgacy, destroyer Of human happ
o. ness-Satan's best servant and mans worst
sy master. Iniemperance! brief companion Of all
nd that degrades our individual nature and of all
ot that has for many an age ofshame and sorrow
nd perpetrated lis evil curse upon the national
e character Of every country, in which il has had
of an experience
S. When, when shall its reign terminated How
nd long must our vision be blasted by the crimes Of
sc e tol'iies. anu our hearls Wrung with the ag
onzing recital Of the melancholy fate ever atten
- dant upon its unfortunate vietimsi How long
Y He wished for their answer. Was il not tim,
MS that its rule should ceasei What thought thew
More desolating than the war, more destructiv,
an than the plague, more fearful than the famine
or has II not vet dona enouyhg . Hos - -. -