San Andreas independent., 1856-10-18
True Happiness.

Amid all the cares and perplexities of
life, man naturally seeks for enjoyments.
There Is void in his mind which can
never be filled until it fastens itself on.
some object, and makes it its own. Vari-
Gus are the ideas that are entertained by
different individuals as to the cause of.
true happiness. Some imagine that felicity
consists In living in a magnificent dwell
ing, surrounded by all that hollow pomp
and superficial decorations that art can
furnish. Others, again, maintain that
enjoyment can only be found in amassino
treasures, in grasping after cold while
their greedy appetites are never satisfied
with sufficient amount of the talismanic
metal. While thousands will fall and
worship their cherished dogmas with abont
as much intelligence as the Pagan Hindoo
exhibits in his disgusting and idolatrous
devotions, hundreds think they derive
happiness from attending to the giddy
round of frivolous amusements.
But, through all these mistaken ave-
nues, happiness does not make its en-
trance to It's secret chambers of the hu-
man soul. It is of but little Importance,
so far as regards happiness, for US to con-
slider what kind Of habitation we live in
whether it be a gaudy palace, or the
peaceful and humble cottage. The exter-
nal condition in which we are placed can
affect our happiness but little, provided we
obtain convenient and comfortable homes
And, again, it is Of but slight considera-
tion whether we ever amass riches, if we
have a sufficient sum to bring us the com
forts and all the rational enjoyments of
life.
Happiness can never be found in toll
ing to accumulate mass of useless wealth,
with which to crafty the human passions,
that struggle for the ascendency in the
mind. Happiness cannot be fonnd in
vague belief that is generally entertained
by the hollow-minded, in their cramped
and deluding dogmas. Happiness can
never make its abode with those who cling
to old errors, and tenaciousIy grasp the
fading shreds that envelop their time-worn
and delusive creeds Felicity must Av
from those who are so bigoted that they
arrantly oppose the light that truth is send
ing through the most intricate recess of
the soul. Enjoyment can never be Sc
cured, while the mind is in state of men
tai bondage. 1t must be free to enjoy and
exercise the native powers which benif-
cent Creator has bestowed Physical sla-
very is productive of endless misery, but
cannot be compared, in point of magnitude,
to the slavery of the mind The individ-
ual who subscribes to the prevailing polit-
ical schemes that disgrace the present
state of society, can never expect to enjoy
happiness.
The only sure road to true happiness
can be found in rational exercise of eve
ry faculty of the mind. Every faculty has
a sphere legitimate of action, and when
under the direction of highly enlight-
ened intellect, each must confer rational
and substantial felicity, on all who are so
fortunate as to possess such a favorable
mental organization. No person can be
ever truly happy unless he gives scope to
the reasoning powers. Especially when
the mind embraces the subject of religion,
should the power of reason have full sway.
But many persons think that, in order to
secure happiness to themselves, they must
not exercise, on the subject of religion,
the reason that an All-wise Being has
given them, for such purpose. Away
with such fanatical delusionl Shall we.
not use the noble gift for an excellent pur-
pose? What subject is fraught withmore
interest and happiness to man than cor
rect knowledge of the Creator and his
Laws? From what source can we derive
so much enjoyment, as from the study of
the Natural Laws? WHO'S not impressed
with reverential degree of admiration, as
he beholds the countless beauties which
display the wisdom and benevolence of
the Creator? Who can tell the amount of
happiness man will yet enjoy in this sphere
of existence = when selfshness, bigotry,
and prejudice, shall cease to affiict the ma
tions OF the earth, when the Pulpit shall
preach the true position that man stands
In relation to his God-when the Press
lends its powerful aid to reform mankind,
on all subjects, calculated to promote their
welfare They who make our laws have
a true Philosophy on which to found them.
When this philosophy is applied, then will
ultimately be the case, cannot be doubted,
if we review our present society and that
of by-gone ages.
CoRPULENcE A CRIME. The ancient
Spartan paid as much attention to the