The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-07-15
Tor the Lancaster Ledger.
- WESTWARD THE STAR OF EN-.
PlRE TAKES ITS WAY"

This expression used by one of earth's
most gigantic intelects, you'd require vol
nmcs for Il minute consideration; but we
only propose TO notice few leading events
illustrative of its truth.
we find on reference to that great guide
for man, the Bible, that so early as man
first Entertained the then dull idea cf migra-
ton, that all his energies were bent west
ward. Adam when groaping under the
curse of an angry God apd oppressed with
the sins of generations yet in the womb of
time, might have been seen slowly and sad,
iy journeying towards the setting sum-
Here we may remark that those who were
exposed to the judgments and those who
fell victims to the dreadful anathemas of
the creator, were foiced or chose to seek
an eastern home. Thus we see him who
embrued his hands in fraternal blood-wilh
the brand of the murderer on his guilty
brow, fleeing to the land of Nod, where he
might drag out the remainder of his days,
In the corrod!ng agoaies of miserable
soul. The Ark bearing within its sacred
bosom the remnants of n cursed world,
safely guided by an almighty hand, stemed
It's way over universe engulphcd, to Ara
rats Mount.
Again, when the aocks of the great Pa
triarch Of the Israetcs had become oppres-
sively numerous he proposed TO his neph
~, that there shonld be NO strife between
them, or their herdsmcn, and therefore to |
seperate on the right and left. The latter
choose the left hand-Mark the awful COLI |
sequences. Yet again. Ie find an omnipo-
tent power leading the hosts OF Israel, un-
injured and unharmed through billowy |
sea, impelling them by an irresistible hand
10 find western home.
The Journey of mankind westward was
impeded or rather retarded for time, |
while the mighty empire of Roman in
tellect and genius held its sway. Rising
ms it did to dazzle and aston;sh world with
meteoric spendor-to eliminate then to |
sink, only to be remembered as the Counja- |
zion stone of future increased greatness Of
western empire and civilization.
The mad uncontrolled ambition of n ,
Caesar, who struck the dagger to his coun-
trys heart, resulted in the destruction of
one puiss0nt empire, only TO plant the germ
Of another in n western land with augmen.
ted means Of usefulness for future genera
lions. Little then did the proud, naughty
Roman dream what wondrous results would
flow from acts so base and tyrancal Lit |
tie then did he think the soil on which he |!
trod would nourish the sons of n nation, re-
EowneG alike for all those virtues which |
render man worthy of the high destiny
marked ost for him.
Coming first in the rapid whirl of time,
we see William the conaueror, governing
the land, and guiding the people who lent
zest and impaired vgor to Cnsar's widest
hopes and aspirations. Ruling them, though
be did with an iron hand, establishing laws
which no doubt were strongly impregnated
with tyranny in its worst and most obnox-
ious forms. Still we are constrained and
admit that during the reign Of this wonder.
full man, England caught glinpses Of her
future greatness, through mediums origin,
ated by him. Even now her ablest chan
ceilors and Jurjsts devote their whole lives
to a diligent study of this system of laws
from which the natien has deduced code
unsurpassed and unequeallcd for high
toned morality and inGexiDle justice, by any
other system knowp to man. Traces Of
Williams Feudal Laws still exist on these
the Godblessed shores of our western
world. Here, our next essay will begin in
which we shall more clearly show that the
march of improvement and civilization has
been simultaneous with that of empire
RIP VAN WINKLE