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


degeneracy and overthrow not the result OF their
literature they accidental concolnitants; they
were either overwhelmed by external force or sunk
at length the victims of their own policy. Rome, by
her policy of subjectng all nations to her sway neg
lected the of property contained within her
own bosom; by the spoils of foreign conquest the
city became enriched, rapine became honorable, the
provinces were pluRdered, wealth acquired with
out labor luxury and Righteousness prevailed useful
: employnents were neglected, and everything was
vena, the morality of the State became rotten to the
core, ambitious demagogucs, with their mercenary
followers overturned the institutions of their country
and Rome sunk-yes, in spite of her refinement
Let us profit by the lessons of experience-let US,
by q system of religious and moral instruction in
fuse into the body polite proper ideas of morality
religion and sense of justice, and thus avoid the
shoals and quick sands by which other governments
have been wrecked. The diffusion of religious and
moral education among the people tends to improve
their individual and social happiness. 1t is unnec-
essary at this day to furnish statistics to show the
constant relative proportion that exists in populous
districts between the increase OF ignorance and that
of crime. This has long ago been DONE and the rec
ords of every prison and pententiary in the Union
will attest the fact, but did they not, might
sonably infer it. Where all are ignorant the various
relations in which man stands to must be imper
fecy understood and but little regarded the nature
of laws their object and their provisions cannot be
known, hence actions are governed by impulse or
necessity, the rights of persons and property are
violated and the individual wronged takes the bust
ness of redress into his hands, and thus arises
constant trespasscs quarrels determinations andbood
shed where part only of the people are educated
equality of position so essential to true liberty is de-
stroyed, and the ignorant put in great measure
in the power of the knowing; thus they often
injured and either submit savishly to the imposition
or, attempting selfredress, and guided only by pas
sion, guilty of the groSseSt RIGHTEOUSNESS. Be-
sides, the unlettered have but little fellow
ship with those who are learned he hears them con-
versing upon topics of which he knows nothing, he
enters circle where all are engaged reading but he
cannot read, he observes the learned deriving enjoy
ment from a thousand sources from which no hap
piness flows for him, he feels, if he has any feeling
at all, isolated outcast, provoked with himself envi
of the attainmentS of others, becomes sourCd
with society, and is little scrupuous how he conducts
himself towards it, he passes on from one step to
other until for some holder ransgresson, he is made
to feel the power of that law which, for want of viz
tuous principles, he has been led to violate, and
which, from ignorance of its whole design and char
acter he has been led to dcspise Such is often the
career of those upon whom the light OF knowledge
has never dawned and who that is a friend to NOR
atty, has the happiness of society at heart,
withhold his influence to correct the evil and restore
his fclOwman to the station he ought to occupy? In
the amount of positive happiness enjoyed by the
learned and the ignorant chow great is the disparity,
to the lot of the latter! He knows nothing of the
nobler enjoyments-those of intellect and magma
ton; if he walks abroad the rich gories of nature
and the charms of art make little or no impression
upon his inactive senses all his feelings but the
animal seem in great measure bunted to enjoy
ment and devoid of all pleasurable sensibili:y-ma
ny of the most interesting phenomenaS of nature
to his supersttious eye only the harbingers of evil
suppose him with his family, and how are the long
winter evenings and the hours Of leisure to be occu
pied? Let US observe then, father mother, brother
and sister all alike, unlettercd reading be
there, amusement, instruction can be derived
from books, the unenlightened mind find in
its own resources and CONCENTRATIONS any thing to
afford qualification and delight; the passing incidents
of the day, interspersed with foolish stories alike
idle and ridiculous make up the principal subjects
WI time * in
spleen upon some unofcnCng ncighbor, whose
and failures magnificd into crime and vilanies;
to fit of passion succeeds drowsy stupor, and the
is introduced to life and quick
en- tine senses then come disputes and quarrels, |
and should the terminate in a half dozen |
bruised and disfgured faces it would be uncom-
mon occurrence. How different is the of
life pursued by the man of complete education; his
mind is enlarged by study, improved by extensive |
reading and stored with sound knowledge, ready to
apply in any department of life, while his magma
ton has been cultivated so that nth the ability of
philosopher he possesses the LIVELY feelings of
poet he it is who knows that expanded feeling of
happiness that soulfet delight to which refined and
elevated intellect is susceptible-he contemplatcs
the works of nature and reishcs her choicest beau
ties every breeze of summer comes to him laden
with more delightful odors he in the luxuriant
fields and verdant forest foliage an unspeakabc love
iness, while in the misty handicapped mountain he
beholds manifested that almighty power in which he
puts his trust. The radiant king of day has for him
more genial influence, and at evening the lovcer
queen of night soothes his soul into the sweetest
gazing with admiration upon the starry
'pangled vault above him he traces the progress
If those worlds that wheel eternal rounds in heavenly
deep and joyous emotions swell his
lcart as his eye roams over the vast, the beautiful
works of nature, and his soul catches comprehen-
zion of omnipotent power and universal goodness;
very thing which he beholds inspires him.
His the City's pomp
The rural honors his, whate'er adorns,
The princely dome the column and the arch
The breathing marble and the sculptured gold,
Beyond the proud possessore claim,
His tunetul breast enjoys For him the spring
Dists her dcws and from the siken gem
Its lucid leaves unfold. For him the hand
Of autumn tinges every fertile branch
With blooming gold and bushes like the morn,
Each passing hour sheds tribute from her wing,
And still new beauties meet his lonely walk,
And loves unfclt attract him.
less as he of the cultivated mind Regard for mo-
nent the condition of the savage in his Intercourse
nth his fellows, where unusual indugences and rude
xuitation in the slaughter of his enemies constitute
he chief of that happiness which their society af-
ords. Think of the aged and infirm parent falling
nder the parricda hand because for sooh his limbs
re no longer active in the chase, and his arm no
Onger nerved to deal the deadly blow to an insulting
dVersaryl- Think of the sick and the afflicted. de-
erted IN their last moments and left to expire with
ut the hand of friendship to close the diving eve
'hink of woman, formed to sooth to polish and re-
me our ruder natures, doomed to degrading ser
itude and thought worthy only to minister to the
assions of her naughty lord From this rude So
iety turn to that of civilized life. Benevolence
preads her arms to embrace the human race-sym-
athy awakens at the note of woe-charty forgets
ot her works of love- but visits the habitations of
1Hol~ I'll