Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-19
Spirit of tBe g gt; gsIsigB, Yertg-Gurolins

literary arguments. 1t is true we have
some novelists who will compare favorably
with any Of the North. But where is our
Southern moralist who can compete y it'll
Maryland /? And permit me to say that
moral philosophy is the subject most vital
ly important to US. The institution of
slavery is a moral institution, aud the es-
Enlistment or refutation of its principles
lies wholly within the province of moral
science. How all important then that
our youth and our old men too, should
have properly written and ~soundly philoso-
phical t~reatises on this subject. Yet it is
an astonishing and a lamentable fact that,
Frances Wayland, who asserts that slavery
is morally wrong, that it is opposed by the
precepts of the Bible-is the adopted au-
thority on all questions of morality in near
ly all of our Colleges and Universities
And his pernicious sentiments and decep-I
tive arguments, instead of being exposed
and %reprobated, are passed over without a
comment, and thus are virtually received as
othodox. Nor is this an isolated case
Northern authors and Northern publish
ers supply US with almost all our common
school books. Aud thus the child's first
lessons are often lessons of the vilest here
sy and of the most dangerous sentiments.
The infant mind, we may say, unconsciously
drinks in the poison, which, if not arrested
in its fearful course, will not only sap the
foundation of Southern institutions, but,
in its fatal progress, undermine the fair
Temple of Liberty and cause its bright
and beautiful form to sink into utter ruin.
Men may think there is no danger. But
it is = fack that there are now strolling over
the country agents of northern publishers
disseminating books for til young, in which
the sentiments of Abolitionists though not
avowed, are yet too plain to be mistaken
And these agents meet with encouragement
and probably more success than would at
tend one of our own faith And is there
no danger? Is it perfectly safe for on
~youth-those who are soon to take upol
themselves the responsibility of protecting
and perpetuating our institutions, toimbib
such doctrines, with but little or no coun
teracting influence? No. AS a man coul
never fight against her who nurtured an
reared him, how much soever to his inter
est, so can a mind never faithfully conten
against doctrines and opinions which
acquired in its dawn, which matured wit
. its maturity, and which it has never know
. to be refuted, and probably never denieC
Nor does the only danger arise from ant
7 slavery sentiments. Some of the viles
the flthiest, the most despicable public
Q tons on earth are the fruit of the putr
imaginations of Northern picayune a
thors. And as the iignis fatuns rises fro
n the marsh, and betrays the unwilling ira
y eller into the mire, SO do these publication
" springing from the corruptions ofNorthe
Of Society, finding their way to the hands
of our youth, beguile them from the paths
IL virtue and honor and lead them with u
errlng certainty into the lowest sinks
RS vice and immotality.
e How, then, we ask, arc these evils to
y, remedied ? How is this vast tide, viii
threatens to blast our brightest prospec
C. and obliterate our fairest hopes, to be stay
in its fearful course /? Certainly not
lir calmly folding our arms and "crying pea
x peace" while the enemy is working hi
self up to his highest fit of frenzy q
" preparing for his most desperate attack
we must prepare also. A great work
to be accomplished. Southern sentim
needs q change. Southern intellect m
awake, shake off the schackles which ho
it in servile subsection to the North, 6
10 proclaim its freedom, and its independer
1t must cease to draw its support from
caL canceroas breasts which have so long
ma it on corruption and death. 1t must t
of within itself, and develop its bound
resources. 1t must dive into the depths
:. ~ philosophy and bring forth and exT
truth to the world and thus rid US Of
odium which is so lavishly hcaped upon
.uro It must supply our schools with books
r in the rising generation may imbibe none
eel the purest principles. And in order
'ure such a con summati on, Sontherners n
en- patronize Southern Institutions of lie
i ing and Southern publications. They 4
fla no longer look abroad for books, chez
IRISH ing the foolish ~conceit, as many do,
e is they are the better for coming from
For, These little catch-pcnny agents who
.he now so numerous, must, not he enoos-~
IFdiaagG "TusV oe compelled to bic them bac
WITH their northern homes. Indeed, in con
urn; ration OF thelr disposition toward us
loan might do well to prohibit their col
: adj among US; and if ever another is
can south of Mason & Dixon line, we woul
&c o. regreat to learn that a little fire was
~ died at his heels, and for the sake Of
with fort he removed to a cooler place. lie
rc,- have o Southern literature and a !
only Southern sentiment.
and NEWTO
X IN GAINESVILLE Va, March 9th, 1856.
'aGia The Love Cure.