The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-13
JUDGE z. COLLINS LEES LECTURE.


Judge z. Collins Lee delivered tho Seyen+b Joo
ture ofthe Courso bef,ro tho M,u,.Iaa I--,.....
... IN " "" i"sti'u''
hS'o.i"'ioh' vi iuesoay evening. Ills SUBJECT was
the Progress OF the Age" The Judge after re
erring to the present prosperous cond;tion of ON,
countr,, ord oa,x,o.,i a., -.
nat;on a.. .ls &C .'''1en' oi suei
=, ' "p'n 'ie Pe,soi'i anu poiitlcal rights ano
dressings by them, proceeded to refer brief
ly to the wonderful events and personapes which
DISTINGUISHED tho canturv AVID oo, :; t;L
anu "se III WHICH "el'e'
i.e uou''eu whether any era OF ancient or modern
times, could present parallel-nether the age OF
Percles or Augustus, nor the later PROGRESS and
glory of the Eizabethan age, could compare at ali
to the wonderful progress of social and political
rights and blessings in North America. since the
birth of Washington in 1892 That the improve
ments of the present age in all that concerns
moral and physical condition were wonderful and
surprising
The bold and daring spirit of research and inves-
hgation had discovered new modes of action and
opened new channels of thought, penetrating at
once into the highest and lowest works of creation
measuring with accuracy the weights and orbits
OF every planet and sounding the depths of ocean.
old things may be said to have passed away,
and all things are becoming new"
lie dweit with emphasis on the true value of edu-
cation, made attainable by all through free schools
and mechanic institutions like that in which the v
were now assembled and enforced the great i'm
portance of popular education as the only impreU-
nable safeguard of social privileges in an age
like this.
That it was not fleets and armies-the extent of
commerce or territorial acquisition and extended
sway, we should look to for the continuance of per-
sonal or political freedom and happiness, but the
moral training and individual schooling of the pres
ent generation.
That courts of justice, the scalold and the
prison, while necessary, were poor and made
quate narrier against the crime and insubordina-
ton which IN this age imperiled life and property,
and sapped the very foundations of law and order
No criminal code, though as bloody Draco's, en-
forced by the arm of military despotism, could so
efectuaiy preserve the peace and well being of so
clety and prevent the sad consequences of crime as
the educating of the people, in whose hands the
bible might be early placed, lamp to their feet
and guide to their path.
lie referred In this connection to several States
of the Union where the free school system pre-
vailed, and contrasted the moral condition of the
people with those in other States, where education
was not as generally encouraged or diifused.
Among the agencies which must also promote the
penehcial progress OF our age, was the press;
winch Tree and unshackeled could now present
10 every reading man, and for one cent, the
daily and current events and business of a COM
munlty-and although evils were inseparable
from its freedom in age and country where every
man was sovereign, and every scrib5ler believed
himself a statesman, yet the benefits of free
penny press far outweighed its vices-'for error
becomes harmless when reason is left free to combat
it" and the same channel which CONVEYS the poison
will also provide the antdote So, that, if with
common schools we extend the influence of re-
ligion and knowledge-the press thus free, cheap
and general, can do no harm.
He then referred to the principles on which our
Government was founded and paid a touching
tribute to the great men who, under Washnpton;s
lead, established our Constitution and Union Hn
said that these principles had been written by the
hand of God on their hearts, and borne bv Standsh
Calvert, Penn and Raleigh to the new world bnt
with the glorious future afterwards realizedl as
dimy anticipated by them as are the features of q
first born infant to the mothers homes" 9a,te
motifs, erat Romanona condere aeotep.' The great
work of Washington, Hamilton and other compeers
the Constitution of the United States. and the
Union which it formed, must be maintained. and
could only be safe throush the y;rtnn and ;ntlE