Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-23

is q theme too vast Tor an occasion like the
present indeed, it is Unnecessary to enlarge
upon a matter so obvious, before an audience
so intelligent as thegone here assembled
We will, therefore, content ourselves with
assuming the truth Of the proposition, and
merely stating that ills truth so vitally
important that it should be proclaimed from
the house. tops, not o4y every day, but, il
possible, every hour il the day. The very
College. bells, every time they call to the
lecture room, or recitation, should peal out
in tones unmisiakeaHe, that our welfare,
nay, our very existence in state of freedom,
depends upon the edusation of the people"
"Iuportant as it isbhat our people should
be educated, yet it is pot the policy of our
government to take thb children of the citi.
zen and educate them in common at the
public expense, or even to require them by
law to educate themselves. Although popu.
lar intelligence is mqe necessary for us,
than any other peopB because Of the pc.
culiarity of our political institutions; yet our
government shrinks frtm the fearful task Of
taking the custody Of youth, and of assu-
ming the responsibility of their education.
1t is contrary to the spirit of our people, as
we'll as to the genius pr our institutions, to
confer upon government powers so unne.
cessary and SO liable in their execution to
cruel perversion and oppressive abuse. One
of our political maxims is, that "t that gov.
ernment is best which. governs least" The
people now, understanding the sources of
power, are unwilling to commit to govern.
mert, offices, which By their own individual
exertions, and without any costly and op-
pressive instrumentalty, they can better per.
form themselves. The spirit Of our people
is so free, that they would not consent to
receive even the boon Of education upon
compulson. Liberty lis so dear, that they
will not deprive themselves Of it, even to
secure that which is necessary for its pre-.
servation. The very essence of liberty is
the largest personal flee agency consistent
with wise government, and the peace and
good order of society. If such a system
for educating the people as the Spartan,
were not inconsistent with the genius Of our
institutions, it would be utterly impracticable
here, from the extent of our country, and
the condition of our society. A small State
Of antiquity, without : knowledge of the
art Of printing, and wissout the christian re:
and instruct them in arms and the use Of
black broth and iron money but such an
effort would be utterly futile and unwise in a
large State, and under modern civilization" I"
"'The mind is independent Of external
circumstances. The man whose intellect is
enlighted, and whose moral sentiments have
been cultivated, has within himself, and the
world cannot take them away, the elements
of abiding happiness. To him the sighing
zephyr, the singing bird, the odor and beauty
of flowers, the tnts of the rainbow, the
earth itself, aud the grand system Of which
we form mere atom, all afford pleasure
pleasure in themselves, and further pleasure
in the knowledge that they proclaim the wis.
dom and goodness of their great Creator.
Though every thing in life should fail him
though summer friends should fall away from
him in the day Of adversely, he can still en-.
Joy himself at least in moralizing upon his
condition, thus drawing pleasure from mis-.
fortune itself. Like the exied Duke and his
companions in the forest Of Ardenness, he
| can say:
"Sweet are the uses of adversely,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet precious jewel in his head
And thus our life exempt from public haunt,
Find tongues in trees-books in the running brook,
Sermons in tones, and good in every thing"
Education exalts the mind, and puts US,
as it were, upon an eminence-upon a
mountain top, thus enlarging our landscape,
bringing into view the purling streams, the
sweet valves, the waving forests and cult.
vated fields of the world around. Bacon
quotes with appreciation the remark of the
poet: at is pleasure to stand upon the
shore, and see ships tossed upon the sea-a
pleasure to stand in the window of castle,
and see battle, and the adventures thereof
below; but no pleasure is comparable to the
standing upon the vantage ground of truth,
and to see the errors, and wanderings, and
mists, and tempests in the vale below" and
the great Lord Verulam himself adds: 4" Ger
tainIy it is heaven upon earth to have a
mans mind move in Charity, rest in Provi-
dence, and turn upon the poles Of Truth. i"
"It has been obi jected to the study of the
sciences, that they have tendency to en-
gender religious scepticism. We are taught
to believe that the foundation of our religion,
the Scriptures, is true-nothing but truth
the very answer to the question of the
Tetrarch of Palestine, when he asked,
"what is truth z" We believe also that the
object of all science, though on an humble
scale, is to discover and teach truth.-It can.
not be possible that the great source of truth
the great blaze of heavenly light, from
which all these sciences are nero sparks OF
emanation-can be dimmed by scrutiny. 1t
is not according to the nature of things, that
truth should suffer from investigation. 1t
rather solicits it, and is confirmed by it.
Truth never wars with truth; but however
different the subject in which it may be
found-whether in the snow drop or the
solar system-all are
"But parts OF one stupendous whole,
Whose body nature is, and God the SOUL"
"No want of religious instruction has
resulted here from the absence of Hierar.
chy established by law and supported by
exac,ing one tenth Of the fruits of the earth
or by taxes wrung from the hard earnings oI
the poor. Unlimited freedom Of conscience
renders our worship somewhat various and
multiform; but for the very same reason it is
fervent and sincere. Holy temples, dedica.