Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-03

ruption of the human heart W. may go from New
York to Boston in six hours, and to New Orleans IN
twentrfoIr we may attain to the highest excellence
in science, arts and manufactures, and yet be the
most degraded and corrupt of the human race: IN
ternal communication was brought TO perIec.on. IA
the Roman Empire but did that revive the splft oI
the lerions or avert the arms of the DarDariahSt
Did it restore the age of Virgil or CiceroF because
all the citizens gaZed daily on the most sumptuous
edees and lived amid forest OF the nooiest statues
did that hinder the rapid corruption OF manners the
dcgeneracy of character, the total extinction OF &C.
MUS? Did their proud and ignorant contempt OF
the barbarous nations save either the creeks or no
mans from subiugation by ruder and more savage,
bnt n frc sber and noblcr race? Were they not pra-
ting about the lights of the age and the unparalleled
state of social refinement when the swords OF Alarlc
and Attila were already drawn?
In the midst of all our improvements nave we yet
penetrated that deepest of all mysteries the human
heart? Have eradicated one evil passion or ex-
tingushed guilty propensity in the dark fountain
of evil? Alas stubborn facts, clear and undenlabe,
prove that VIC have not. Not only so, but there Is
corruption, black corruption, at the very heart OF
political system, and the most alarming rabld
and the most mischievouS doctrines emanate from
those in high places. Mobocracy violence, open re-
sistance to law and order sedton and riots the
order of the day in many parts OF our highly favored
land; while the side antrentsm is advan-
cling with rapid and gigantic strides threatening the
destruction of all the rights and tenureS by which
property is held sacred on the other hand disunon
is lifting its gorgan head in midst Threatening to
destroy glorious confederacy, and present us
with the spectacle of "the broken and dshonored
fragments of once glorious Union OF States, dis
severed, discordant belligerent, and of land rent
with civil euds, and it may be with fraternal blood
Look at the furious mobs and lawless riots which
within few years have disgraccd many OF our cities
and different parts of the country, that hurled the
destroying brand among peaceful dwellings, that shed
the blood of innocent citizens that violated the Laws
of the country to which they had sworn allegiance
and outraged all the principles of social order. In
these turbulent outbreaks can be the shacowy
figures of those gigantic connections which, without
saving influence, will ere long heave our pot-
ical temple from its base, and leave only mass OF
crUmbng ruins. If such lawless acts are already
becoming frequent what have we not to fear when
half century shall have trebed our population,
and chafed into fury the raging and discordant pas
sons of fifty millions of people? hat Will DC able
to Withstand the accumulated power OF recklessness
and desperation? What shall be able to counterfeit
these fermcntng elements of political destruction!
There is but thing that is able to do IT. but one
thing under Heaven that ensure our satety-t is
education and not only that, but the universal dill
fusion of religious knowledge the intellectual and
moral Improvement the eleyating the great masses
of society. The diffusion of religious education
among the people presents itself In an interesting
light when viewed in connexion with our political
institutions; under government like ours every IN
dvidua distinct integral part OF the system, his
voice is heard in the public councils speaking through
his representative who is but agent to carry out
his wishes and do his bidding. The people, then,
virtually their legislators and in their SOW
reign acy their voice is the law of the land II
the people possess such power, and are thus their
own legislators it surely important they should
be able to lcgisate properly. The only correct po-
stion that be taken upon this point is that every
individual who exercises the right of a freeman
should be prepared by proper education to occupy
the highest station to which an American freeman
can be elevated. a cal" said learned and worthy
man, "a complete and generous education that
which enables man to perform justly, skiifully,
magnarimously all the Offices both public and Pri-
vate of peace and of war" This is the education
which every American citizen should posses, which
they should possess who select their public officers.
who constitute the great tribunal which decides every
important question of national policy, for how can
a man make just selection of persons for public
offices unless they competent to understand the
views and qualifications of those for whom they
called upon to vote? And when elected, how can
the people judge correctly of the manner in which
a public officer has discharged his duty unless they
understand the subjects upon which he has been
called to act? Besides, nothing has greater ten
dcncy to max public men faithful than conscious
ness that their actions scrunzed, that the eye
OF an intelligent and virtuOus people is upon thcm
people to whom they must render account of their
actions and by whom they will be Indignantly hurled
from their stations upon their first conviction OF
fraud, deception dishonesty. To enable people
thus to judge they must be cducated-thcr moral
and intellectual characters must be developed, and
then instead of one man or four men forming the |
opinions and directing the affairs of the whole
nunlty, each mans judgment and reflection would |
detf rnlne his views and the united voice of all
study of history shows the essential connexion of
light and liberty, for wherever solid learning has |
prevailed governments have been best administered
md the people have been most happy. On the other
land the most barbarous, rude and uncutlyated ma
ions have been subjected to tumults, solutions and
changes. In all governments learning excrts most
favorable influence by imprcssing Oh the minds of
ers the true character OF their station and the
minds of the people a just sense as well of their
lights as of their duties towards the established
hority. But in our government the intelligence of
he people is the very soul of its existence there
mere distinctions of rank no great interests art
icaly balanced against each other to keep the body
polite in equilibrium. Our acknowledgement but
me class, the people, and but one interest," the inter
'st OF the people; to their good the exertons of all
must be directed and this end to be clearly discerned
md steadily pursued requires the public mind to be
enlightened. The constitutional distribution of the
powers of government constitutes the basis of po-
Itical system, the most admirable which human Wis
ION has devised, system which, when duly admin
stored IN its several parts tends than any other
% MAINTAIN the national equality and liberty of man,
md to promote the happiness and welfare of the peo-
1Ie But the just operation of political system
equlres that the powers distributed to the several
departments be kept within their proper sphere of
ctlon Experience shows that written Constitutions
ire IN themselves insufficient barrier to the en-
;roachments of men in power, and ambition and in
crest can easily, by. construction and implication,
rom the most limited grants of power derive author
ty Tor the most barbarous and oppressive acts This
wi mas been provided against far practicable
the separation of the powers ard the organization
u the different departments of government but a
lother check which system contemplates and
certainly one of the most efectua in its operation is
o be found in the intelligence and vigilance of the
)eople; sovereignty residing with them it is their