Oroville daily Butte record., 1856-12-09
Public Lectures and Debates.

I AN'NASAN~ " ahVAbtI OolA4uus IL Will DS SSIu
that all of our citizens who feel an interest
in having a series of public lectures and de-
bates in 0roville during our long winter
evenings, are requested to meet in the Cour.
Room tomorrow evening at o'clock for the
purpose Of organizing lyceum or debating
society. We hope such an association will
soon be organized We have, by far, too few
Of the the literary and moral associations
that afford such pleasant "reminiscences Of
the past, and which have contributed so
much to the intell, ,ctual and moral improve
ment and advancement Of the Atlantic
States.
In the history of California no town, per-
/ haps, has sprung into existence and acquired
SO large population, within so briefa peri
cd, as this same town of Oroyile. With
/ great natural advantages, and the vast ex-
/ tent and almost inexhaustible richness of
the mineral wealth in our immediate vi
/ cinity, our village has attracted the atten-
/ ton Of capitalists from different portions Of
/ the State and Oroville, now scarcely year
! old, stands at the head of the mining towns
/ in California.
The retrospect of Orovilc is most hatter-
ing to the energy and enterprise of the char
acter of our people. Our village sprnging
into existence and making such rapid i'm
provements, within 80 brief period affords
an example in the advancement Of material
wants and prosperity, of which no other in
the history of our young, golden, glorious
State, affords a parallel
While the pre- eminence of our village as
an enterprising, wealth acquiring communi-
ty is thus admitted, it must be confessed
that its literary and moral appliances have
not been increased in an equul degree Many
underyaluc these appliances because they
pay no rent but we deny the conclusion
drawn from gross or material standard,
aud rely on the wisdom which pronounces
that i" man cannot live on bread alone -
There are many things necessary to our
prosperity and happiness besides the " al
mighty dollar"
There is higher destiny for the agencies
Of rational and imaginative being than the
supply Of material wants; and the perfec-
ton of our moral and intellectual nature is
the object that should predominant over all
other considerations We are author
lied to form the most pleasing anticipations
of the future by the increasing influence of
the moral restraints, and the improvement
of the intellect, on which the security of
uIu pioHViiJ mainly NSptHuS ullucT
the mild administration of popular govern
ments- In proportion to the spread of
knowledge, the rights Of the people have
been vindicated, and learning has proved the
nurse Of freedom. And now when knowl-
edge, like the sun, shines upon all, freedom
in it's turn protects the tho cause of learn
ing
Every institution which has for its object
the Improvement of our intellectual nature,
and imparts useful and sound knowledge, is
an institution which has q noble purpose in
view We consider n lyceum, embracing
public lectures aud debates, such an institu-
ton; and here, especially, should doubly
value it, supplying as it would IN aching
void 1t is earnestly to be hoped that per-
manent lyceum may be organized here, at
once, which shall, in addition to getting up q
course of public lectures and debates, estab.
lish a public library, and thus supply that
general information and diffusion Of knowl-
edge, which without it would in great de-
gree be confined to the particular branches |
of the calling in which each individual is
engaged.
Let not our sense of duty evaporate in
mere good wishes. Every one who has him
self known the blessings Of education is cs-
pecially called upon to add his individual
voice to the appsal in behalf of one common
fountain of enlightening knowledge
We have passed some Of the most pleasant
evenings of our lives in the public lecture
room. in the debating socie.y, and in the |
public library. We have heard flights of |
eloquence in the old town house, or old school |
house, that have moved US quite as much as
have those of Calhoun. Clay, Choate, Ever
EFT, or Webster ut a later day. 1t is inf
nitely better to spend some of our evenings
in listening to an instructive, amusing,
witty lecture, in participating in spirited,
sensible debate, than than 20 pass all, or
most of our evenings in the billiard, drink
ing, or other saloons and shops with which
every mining town in California is SO abund-
antly supplied. Too mauy Of our young
men have been already ruined for want of
other and better society and influences than
such saloons, ETC., afford. Let US hope that
Il brighter, a more promising future is in
store for US, The b0undIeSs Juttre, the in
terests of rising generation, and remote
are involved in the issue, and he
is worthy benefactor of his country, who
infuses into the hearts of men that sentiment
which stimulates the pursuit of knowledge,
and perpetuates this sacred flame by which
the world is enlightened.
CHRISTMAS BALL.-There is to be a grand
a