Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-06

ty. the allegiance of intellect. Neither the
forms, the names nor the fashions of the
world can keep it from the high places of
earth. The splendor of wealth. which it COM
mands, the charm of beauty which il attracts.
the bravery Of youth. which il fires the rights
of humanity. which il defends, the beraldry Of
rank which it ontshines, all proclaim the |
supremacy of intellect. II Is confined to no |
rank, but rises superior to all conditions. He |
who signs for position and influence may COM |
pass both through it's aid. He who can claim |
it for his own already Possesses title to the |
homage of men. As have said. intellect |
claims. no rank for itself. but it renders its
possessor worthy of all ranks. II gives him a
control over the taste and sentiments of men. |
which nothing else can confer. 1t attracts to
him the confidence of man, as to a well-de-
Tended tower in the hour Of danger. Such is
the history of the world from the days of
Moses and Herodotus TO those of Prescott and
Allison.
/ may illustrate what mean by reference
to one of the professions of life. Much as
they have been vilified, often in good humor.
sometimes ignorantly and in malice. the MEM
hers of the har in this country and through
out the world have enjoyed the confidence of
men. and filled place in their admiration
which is above all rivalry We need not
search afar for, the truth and secret of this
statement. The legal profession affords
wider scope for the intellect, it inculcates and
begets a more rigid and universal sense OF
justice, and it has offered 10 the world
nobler array of brilliant and useful talents
than all other callings in life. This is the
mystery of its power. As a general rule. its
members are not distinguished for wealth
The labor of the intellect do not always yield
this. The profession are not so ambitious OF
riches as of fame. influence, position. IL is
not rank or the names of things. that give
limit
ly the equality of all men. are more unosfen-
tatious in manner, more willing to stand on
common level, or more unselfsh in the de-
fence of right and Justice everywhere. Many
of the brightest Jewels of the profession are
taken. from the lowest stratum of society,
! and its honOrs. open to the competition OF all,
are won by the worthicst. 1t exerts an In
fiuence over every department of govt rlment
and every relation of life, but it is not the in
fiuence of rank or wealth. From its members
have gone up men to lead our armies. nil our
pulpits, write our histories, to control our
Congressional assemblies and dignity our
TX cutive offices, to direct our press,
and to investigate, expose, and adap,,
to practical sublime systems of municipal
and international law, which are the
basis of liberty in all countries, and by
whose unseen but powerful presence al
once the simple happiness of the hreside II
preserved and the grandcst schemes Oh COM
mercial and political intercourse pursued. IL
is the mghtiness in intellect, that has invest
ed this profession with its in1uencc--"t lntcl-
lect judiciOusly controlled and directed 10
the pursuit of all that ample and wlde-reaeh-
ing truth which has the most practical reia-
ton to the multiform engagements OF li..
What intellect so cultivat, d, has done Tor
this profession, it will do for every class and
calling among men. 1t has no favoiltes IN
society, but seems Oftenest to ind Its olrlh I'D
those ranks where we would be least lnciih'd
to seek for the elements OF greatness ana
power. There is but one law for classes ana
for individuals in proportion as they become
intellectual and cultivated. they will rise III
social Importance and break down the seem
ing barriers of b'rih and circumstance and
accident. 1t is within the rank that this work
of reform must operate. The impetus may
sometimes he given from without, but III,
active principle. the reformatory element
must exist within. Social ranks must re-
dress their own wrongs. reform their own cn>-
toms, and establish their own balance. Tx
ternal appliances can scarcely reach beyond
the surface of things. This is most evident,
as well from observation from reason. ii
social depression be the result of ignorance
and intellectual torpOr it is to he am linrattd
by knowledge and mental vigor: If 1t be the
consequence of idleness and poverty, II Is tn
b. avertrd by intellectual energy and its GER
.
id .as and a false standard, however hallowed
they may be by age or legitimate by tradi-
ton, il is to be remedi,d by fearless asser-
ton of those rights ever recognized and pos
sesScd by merit--Of that supremacy OF virtue,
to which all artificial distinctions and Gus
tomarv error must yield. 1t were difficult To
estimate the untold millions, that have been
expended in the benevolent enterprise OF
converting heather world. or the countless
m ph
death in utter rejection of the heavenly truth,
that was intended to enlighten and reform
their social and religious condition The
very limited success of the enterprise has
shown how difficult thing it is to reach the
heart of society and change its vital currents.
bv proposing to it whatever reforms and faci-
ltirs for Improvement. while the application
is merely to the surface. The expedition to
Japan. wisely set on foot and ucc'ssfnlly
prosecuted by our government, though chiefly
looking to commercial results, will do more
to chriStianize that populous empire, than all
the efforts of the most active missionary
society for quarter of century, without ii.
1t is when the new faith is taken into the
bosom of society. shedding its sunshine upon
the fountain of social life, making its reia-
tions substantial and beautiful that the altar
and the idol crumhle together. and give place
to that spiritual truth, which appears merely
abstract when preached, but becomes eminent
| " practical when lived. IT is the acting, not
| the preaching of religion. that makes it at
| tractive and commends it to the adoption of
| the iniidel. 1t is when christianity Is seen in
| all its beautiful effects upon the social rrla-
| tons. illustrated by the order of household
| and the civilization of community, that
| society destitute Of il feels lis need and ap-
preciatcs its excellence. The mute eloquence
of a christian family is more persuasive than
argument and defamation And so 1t is in
| all social progress. Reforms are Effected
| when the rank feels its own necessity, its own
| want of elevation, its own capacity tn adj
vance. and. with sense of its inferiority.
goes right heartily to work in the labor OF
| transforming and elevating itself. Every
such stratum of society has within itself the
elements of successful revolution. The power
| of example and persuasion may be great but
| il is insufficient without the aid of sef-action
| and internal effort. Such. too. is the history
| of the reformation of every private character.
| The tears of affection and the denunciatiOn of
| impending ruin alike avail little. unless they
| arouse and reunite the shattered energies, and
direct them To the work of self-purification.
II is not one character that is to reform another.
hut each must do the work of its own eleva-
| ton. must perceive its own weakness and
supply its own strength. And the utmost
power of example will fai'. the rigid obliga-
| ton ofpledges will he short-lived and the en-
couraging cooperation of sympathy and broth
erhood will lose its stimulus and its support.
unless the individual regard these only as 20
many aids. and cease TO rely on them a. sufii-
Client instruments for the work of reformation.
The same is the law of ranks aad classes Of
men, whose reforms are 10 he effected upon
the same principle. The best directed system
Of propagandism will fail to redress what are
popularity regarded as the wrongs of class.
| The rank must reform itself. in conformity Ia
the social law, which have stated. IL the
| light of knowledge be needed. the want iN
manifest one, and the evil removed by its
supply If any other basis Of respectalility
and Influence be deficient. the. appropriate
application is as deteuninahle and readily