The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-08-01
seIrReIiance.
ny HEy. PRESIDENT WHITE.

N~-@Nf
der. This is the Divine arrangement Every
departure from it is loss of power to the exempt
ed individual. Every pound weight placed
upon crutches diminishes muscular ability to
walk alone. The less one borrows, the more he
viii own himself The more he rests on his own
basis, the more firm will il become underneath
him, like the stones for foundation, which grow
more immovable as the augmenting superstruc-
ture presses upon them more heavily. He that
has little selfreliance, viii very soon have little
to rely upon. He, that undertakes himself
whatever his hand findeth to do, will soon find
his abilities commensurate to the most noble
achievements.
These suggestions which are true all our at
tributes of influence, are emphatically true of
our intellectual faculties A selfrelying journey
on foot over few degrees will enrich one with
more Of the power of truth, than the traverse Of
a hemisphere in luxurious conveyanccs. II a
man would acquire might of intellect, let him
take this Independent mode of travel through
all the fields Of knowledge II has been already
intimated that literary aids and teachers are by
no means to be abured. Let us go to all the
great masters of thought, and to all the wisdom
which past ages have wisely treasured OF the
works of the present time, let us read the mas
culine, suggestive, original which stand as the
indices and prototypes of an age. But let us
turn to them as we would to survey garden or
park, not to thrust the lawns, and fountains,
and trees into our pockets, but to catch outlines
to familiarize projection, TO warm our love Of
beauty, to awake inspiration, TO harmonize the
spirit within with The glorious spirit of nature
without Let us apply to all the fountains of
knowledge, not to fill a reservoir, but simply to
water the plants growing on our own spirit
We may for while appear little brighter, by
means of borrowed light, but it will be cold and
waning. We may appear little higher upon
the shoulders Of giant but twill soon be per-
ceived that our heads are not whit farther above
our feet, than if we stood in all humility upon
the ground Selfdependencc creates and works
dcep-soiled field which sends up an nexhaust
able luxuriance; dependence makes garden of
exotics, set in boxes and vases, of little beauty
or fruit, or life, away from their own native soil
and air. Let our educated men plant their own
crops and reap their own fields. Let them never
think of a cabin-passage through the world. Out,
would say, out to the forecastle, take the helm,
seize the ropes, work the ship, read the chart,
consult the compass hold the quadrant to the
stars. Let me urge, not selfesteem, but strong
selfreliance. Let what we leave " iH sudm me
mOridDs" like the silk-worms, be issues from
fountains withnus.
Religious integrity is also an element ofpower
Purity is the largest element of that omnipo-
tenoe which invests the supreme Divinity
Equal is its Importance and rank in the charac-
ter of man When nearest the Deity in excel
lcnce, he is nearest the Deity in power. 1t is no
necessary that we consider, or even know, the
reason that moral goodness gives men sway 1t
is only necessary that settle it with ourselves
as practical truth, never for one moment to be
forgotten or disregarded, that God has been
pleased TO constitute goodness his own, and
mans great agent of influence, uniformly and
universally. Men are constructed, designedly,
so as by predispositon and instinct, to bow down
to moral goodness and do it honor. The perse-
cutor of the righteous Is not to be found who
does not carry in his heart secret appreciation
of the purity of his victim.
Let there be within us an ever-throbbing and
strong conscientiousness. Let it chrystalize our
character; let it cvangelize all our life. Then
we shall have one devoted advocate and friend
in every man who may be within our sphere,
one consentaneous conscience issuing from the
entire humanity in the midst of which We move,
and our truth. With such an advocacy, and
such an awakened confidence, the power of cul-
tivated mind becomes immense, commensurate
indeed, to everything which God wishes men to
do in this earthly theatre. Endowed with the
of high Christian sanctity, and intel
lectual faculties and sensbiities all subordi-
mated, men will sink and disappear in no narrow
fractions, religious or political They win be
identified with the great party of righteousness;
with the supreme interests of the human race
1t has been by walking in such a sphere of mans
being, bypossessing purer inner life than the
multitude, that the reverend dead whom we
specially honor, become mighty on the earth.
They who, like them, preserve great rich heart
giving nutrition to all their powers, and like
them stand clean and clear in every Office, shall
open abroad, influences as bland and blessed as
they can desire to leave upon their generation
Almost at will, they shall be able to turn the
vital currents of thousands into one current, and
their opposing, multitudinous opinions into one
tide. In the addresses of him, who cometh to
men with character sound to the core, data ap
pear more legitimate argumentations more logi-
cal, conclusions more conclusive. Truth on his
lips seems more Divine, injunction more imperi-
Gus, appeal more mighty. The understanding
may be vigorous, eruditen profound, memory
library, but the warm soul of purity wanting,
he who would carry us captive, is no more than
One that hath pleasant voice and can play well
on an instrument. Would man be as elo-
luentas the heavens, which in luminous utter
nnces declare the glory of God, then must he be
as transcendently pure. '....,,..-.
FIeURISe UR.-The Boston Courier, an able
and very moderate paper, Figures up the
result of the election this fall as follows
I13 electoral votes; Lincoln