Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-11
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNEsltF Y,

that any of the conflicting forces were not
adjusted with the most profound mathemat-
ical skill and precision arrangement, ruin.
and chaos would be the result We fnd
that every body of matter has constant
tendency to rush towards every other body
of matter, and that this tendency is increased
by size; and thus we see why every body in
our solar system is attracted towards the sun,
which is 780 times larger tban all the plan
cts and satellites belonging to the solar sys
tenn, hence their whole attractive force upon
the sQie 780 times less than that of the |
fsun hem. II, then, these bodies, diff
fering they do in size, had been original
ly placed in the universe, subject to no 9th
er laws than those of attraction. they would |
have been precipitated, one By one, upon
the sun, amalganating and forming one
iramepse and irregular mass; the, wAplea
would then have been hurled on soIle other
system, and thus on till the vast millions of
suns and systems would have been blended
In one enormous and commingled mass,
which, hnding no other system to which it
could be attracted, would float through inf
mite space as lightly as feather, because
there would no longer be anything to give it
weight.
But our benefcent Creator, in HIS wis.
dom, prevented these sad results, by COM
municating to the planets, at their creation,
when he threw them from his fingers, an
impulse at right angels to their orbits
This impulse would have caused them to
fly off in tangents from circle, or in d.
rect line from the first impulse. It is well
known that if body be acted on by one
force, it will obey the impulse of that force
only, and move off in a straight line. But
when body is acted on by two forces, it
will obey neither, but both in proportion to
the forces respectfully. The suns attrac-
tive influence upon the planets would draw
them in straight line to it, and their force
OF projection would impel them onward in
line at right angles to the suns force
Each of the forces acting at the same time
and perpetualy, causes the planets to move
in circular orbits around the sun.
The earth's centripetal force is equal to
1000 miles an hour, and its centrifugal
force equal to 5000 miles hence we find
that we are carried through 6O4,854,OOO
miles every year of our lives. The man
who has lived so years, has passed over 3d.
242, 70O,O 900 miles of space. Yet the plan
cts of our system, though flying at such i'm
mense velocities, move in harmony and or.
der. No jarring or discord dsturbs their
harmonious action. What contemplative
mind can know these facts and then look al
the twinkling rays from thousand suns
on clear evening, and not feel that the
whole is worthy of the conception of Coo
of infinite wisdom, goodness and mercy
and that the whole was designed for som,
noble purpose.
i - The external relations Of our oM ia glob
tention. By the laws Of gravitatton maj
is attached to the surface of the ealrth, an
is surrounded by an atmospheric mediur
capable of exercising certain influences W
on him. These influences are so modiGe
by an Almighty power as to be subservier
to his wants, and they are adapted to th
necessities of every living and organise
: being on the globe. Were it not for al
there could exist no organised being. w
could not breathe, speak, hear any sound,
! live another moment Wind could n
= blow, fire burn, timber, or grass, or veg
: tables grow, nor the rain fall, or life exis
y without air. It has been ascertained th
. the pressure of the atmosphere is equal
e Is pounds to every square inch. This pre-
. sure on the body of medium sized pt
son is equal to $4,000 pounds Here t
question arises, why do we not sink benea
!. this enormous weight? The answer is si
70 pie and reasonable: it is by the reaction
t. the atmosphere, or elastic fluids contain
- within our bodies, that we are able to S,
* tain pressure so enormous. Here, TIL
=" !" is mutual reaction between ourselves a
@ 10 the atmosphere, which cannot be withdra
y. y. without mutual injury. Suppose the pr
10 No sure was removed for single moment, W
10 would be the effect? The elastic flu
go contained within US would dilate, or expa
=, burst through the solids containing th
'ei and destroy us. To demonstrate this ia
place an animal under the influence of
T1 ,,l air pump, and extract the air; the res
l'S will be apparent. The elasticity of the
"a "a mosphere is another great blessing to m
oI p Were the air not elastic, or easily separa
'an we could no more move than if we were
'1r a sphere or centre of globe of iron.
W We see wisdom and design exhibite'
les the composition of the atmosphere.
'nu 0l composed mainly of two gases, either
which, if breathed separately, would p
' em fatal to our lives. It is composed Of
m ieu gen and nitrogen, in proportion of 20 +
000 Of oxygen and so parts Of nitrogen to
20 ry 100 by volume. Nitrogen does not y
W W that principle on which the purifcatio
= az the blood depends, and pure oxygen
,nrt fies the blood and increases its circulate
A. much, that were we to breathe it alone
+Lat I would soon die. But when these two {
;nbt are united, as above mentioned we are
Ee4 ther two dull and heavy, nor too much
ono ted. Why should two subtle poso;
snn so adapted to our wants and necessities
mod cannot be the result Of accident or f
,nob tous circumstances. To find two de
non substances SO combined as to be salu
,on,s must strike all with evidence of wis
five design and adaptation.
ltion Had man sprang into being like 4
.apid room, he could not have existed wi
t 90 these adaptations to his organization.
did. we see ourselves able to resist the pre-
ence of the air, and to avail ourselves of It's
is at advantages.
cond The organic relations Of nutrition
from sensation depend on the atmosphere.
been the medium through which We receive
heat, and electricity though l do not
lie of to say that they will not pass witho'
rotate medium Heat lioht and electricity