Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-23

The American mind is peculiarly restless. II
is active, inventive, and fruitful. Instead, how
ever, of using tLe'phrase .imeriean mind il would,
perhaps, be more correct TO say the Yankee mind.
In the South, where there but few large cities,
where the soil and climate adapted TO all
varieties Of production, and where agriculture is
the Chief occupation, there is steadness,
regularity, and content,neni, than are found in
the sterile North, whose rigorous climate and
barren soil compel men 10 find more genial and
compensating pursuits than tilng the earth.
Their wits are stimulated, and they invent more
ingenious modes OF making a support than are
dreamed of in the philosophy of the South. The
North literally lives by its wits. Necessity is said
to he the mother of invention, and the Yankees
have sgnazed themselves by their numerous in
vcntons.
Having in many instances, by their ingenuity
and industry, conquered their sterile soil, having
made the great ocean tributary to them, having
built giant cities and given ample occupation to
all their people, they have grownvain, and proud,
and aspiring. They would transfer this inven-
tive genius To another and different held--Poli-
tics. They have done so, and, instead OF making
solid and respectable contributions to the science
Of government, they have tantalised the votaries
OF that science by promises of solid acquisitions,
only to be followed by the presentation Of some
fanatcal scheme senseless ism Eceru
ism that disturbs the repose of the country has
originated at the North---so has every heresy in
religion and every enormity in morals
The people of the South have never been com
PEELED TO live by their wits. They either work
themselves or have Others to work for them.
Their climate is genial, their soil generous. The
productions of their fields relieve them Of the ne
cessty of appealing to their wits. Contcnied with
their pursuits and with their homes, they exercise
liberal hospitality. Thanks TO their climate,
their soil, and the institution of slavery, the
southern planter, or farmer, has ample leisure
That leisure must be employed in some way, or
ennui would be the consequence 1t is employed
in studying politics Not in inventing wooden
nutmeg theories, not in ngeniously distorting the
Constitution, not in starting radical ideas that
initiate against the established order of things,
but in studying politics and the Constitution as
Il IS. The consequence is, that the southern peo-
pie are the best informed politicians in tins coun
try. They know what the Constitution says, and
they stick to the Constitution.
Not single ism has sprung up at the South.
| HI Of them have arisen in the North.
| First Abolition-ism.
| Second. Freesoil-ism, (worse because more in
sidious.)
| Third. Weman's rights-ism.
Fourth. Agrarian.ism.
| Fifth Fourarite-ism
| Sixth. Radica-ism.
Seventh. Native-sm.
| Eighth. Mob-ism.
| Ninth Mormon-ism
Tenth Know -nothing-ism
| Eleventh. ''Ceresco free love-ism"
| This last j. new invention and an aggravation
of Mormon-ism. It has latterly made its appear
ance in Wisconsin, and has already, by its gross
enormties, attracted large share of public at
| tention. We copy elsewhere an account of this
| singular sect from Wisconsin paper and we do
so with any thing but pleasure We chronicle il
| as part of the history Of the times, Just as we
| would murder, or execution.
Instead Of teaching plurality Of wives, this
last and most Infamous of all the non lavchod-
ing States isms teaches universal concuJinage
We dismiss il with this brief remark and invite
| the attention Of our readers TO the extract de-
scrptive of il, which we have taken from the
Oshkosh (Wis.) Courier.
| Now, in view Of all these sms---in view of the
| fact that all of them have arisen in the non
| slaveholding States, Or as they are generally
| called, the Northern States, is il not high time
that southern statesmen, PATRIOTS philanthro-
pists, and sensible men, should learn 10 distrusi
the influences, political, social, and religious by
| which they are surrounded We think il u.s.
Instead Of following the tide Of fanaticisrn and
error, they should resolutely oppose that tide
For season they may be swept down, but they
Will soon recover their positions; and their virtue
their patriotism, and their courage, will hff them
yet h CHER.