Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-03-14

and difficulties, conhdentRot strength TO
overcome and subdue them. To such an
one
If path be dangerous known
Tho dangers self is lure alone.
Superior strength Of intellect placed the
Corsican soldier on the throne of France.
It was the force of intellect. not chance,
that enabled Caesar and an Alexander
TO conquer barbarian world. It was the
power ofintelIect, not chance. that learn
ed Franklin 10 chain the lightning and
mould it to his will. It was the force OF
intellect, not chance. that burst asunder
the cords that bound the American colo
MES in political vassalage. 1t was the
power Of intellect. not chance, that usher.
ed in and made successful the Lutheran
reformation. and redeemed mankind from
ecclesiastical bondage. Man is not the
creature Of circumstances. and sub ect to
the DEGREES of blind fatality. His chief
glory consists in triumphing over opposing
obstacles, and converting even them into
elements of success in the accomplishment
of his laudible purposes. In all age.
and conditions of society, it has literally
been true, that knowledge was power ;
but in this age and in this government it
is peculiarly SO. Here no, m n is great
because his father was, and none are hon
ored for ancestOrial greatness. Heredi'
taTy titles to nobility have been tran pied
under foot, and civil and political equality
proclaimed aloud from every hilltop and
valley in our land. In this country, HOW
wide the deld how strong the inducements,
how high and hol y the incen ives to enter
it! Young men. why stand ye hero idle?
There is work to be done! Your country
calls civilization invokes-and Christi
anity and the cause of virtue and morali-
ty command your services. And look, ye!
Far in the distance methinks | see beau
teous form, almost divinely fair, with be-
seeding countenance, alluring you on,
and pointing with one hand to worldly
honors, glory, and fame, with the other
to "hUms, not made with hands, eter-
nal in the heavens" Humblsness'of po-
sition. poverty, disadvantageous circum>
stances, are no excuse for you. Who
were those who now control the destiny
of this great republic ? Read their biog-
raphies and you will find they are those
who, by the force Of their own genius.
aided by an indomitable will, and promp-
ted by high resolves and holy aspirations.
have come up from the most humble po-
Sitions in life. He who recently retired
from the presidential mansion with I'M
wonted civic hOnors clustering around his
.brOw-who, when the wild waves Of nor
thern fanaticism and southern chivaEry
threatened to submerge our noble ship OF
state. freighteued with all our hopes and
the hopes of the freemen Of the world,
stood as the "sGrge repelling rocks" and
rolled back those wild and angry waves,
and said to the troubled waters, ",peace,
be STILL" was mechanic in early life i
He who fathomed the depths Of natural
science, curbing and claiming the light
ning's flash, who was regarded as an ora
Gle among the courts Of Europe, and as
tonished and baffled the British house Of
lords by the profundity Of his knowledge.
was practical printer The governors
Of California, the youngest daughter of
OF our confede acy, and Of Pennsylvania.
the key stone Of arch, in early life; were
compoSiIors in a printing Office
The fame of the mill-boy OF Hanover
slashes is bounded only BY the bounds of
civilization. Listening Senates admired
and wondered al his eloquence, and the
descendants of Bolivar and Marco Bozza-
ris Venerate his name. Tho pride of
northwestern States has, by the force of
his own genius, come up from the earpen-
ter's shop to take seat in the Senate Of
the United States The governor of Ten.
neSsee in early life was apprenticed to the
tailoring business ; with him the needle
thimble, and boGkin have become the
emblens Of power The greatest !inguist
OF this, if not of any otter age, learned 10
conjugate Greek verbs under t. discor-
dant sounds of the anvil Cicero was a
plebian and the greatest Of Grecian ora
tors, at the age of seven years, was an or
phan. whose patrImony was wrested from
him by the chicanery Of avaricious guar
diAns. Their fame has survived the ravA.
ges Of the Goth and Vandal. and bids fair
to be co.existent with civilized men!
The governor of our own State was
mechanic first, and then farmer. lie
was not the pampsred son Of affl.ence.-
In early life want pressed heavily upon
his spirits, but was unable to subdue them.
He erected for himself high standard Of
excellence. He had will that knew no
bending, and an energy, mental and ply
steal that knew no firing, which, supported
by q matchlSss native eloquence that, like
the wand Of the magician, embellished all
it touched, enabled him to ascend step by
step from !he waver's loom to the guber.
natorIal chair Of the most exclusive and ar
Istocratic State in our confederacy. 1t is a
proud position and worthy of the ambition
OF the proudest of our land. And yet the
h and that once guided the shuttle and the
,oagh on she banks of Simpsons creek,
$ no W in the capital Of the commonwealth
yui, ling our ship of state. Other exam
lies Vt a similar kind might be enumera-
ed, bL' We have enough for our purpose.
ln I M " address these young men tho