Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-15
Vol. XVI 7.
Mr.. Wisey's Report.

Mr.. Wisey's Report. $50 71
We commend to our readers the following extracts
from the seventh annual Report of the State Super
intendent of Common Schools = sr-..,k a..
This Report is now in press, and will soon be
ready for delivery. 1t contains much Of interest
the subject of education. The Superintendent gives
cheering account of the progress of Common
Schools and of education generally throughout the
State. We hope to find space soon for extracts
from this interesting document
"This report is made to your Excellency at time
Of trial to you, and to all patriotic guardians of the
public interests. ..... .r-.-. '@
The popular heart, North and South, has been
deeply stirred by the recent startling but natural
developments of principles springng originally from
opposition to those teachings of inspired Writ which
humble man and exalt God .s,,- - 2
There has long been growing disposition. in GER
tain quarters, to defy humanity and practically to
ignore the idea of mans sinfulness or frailty and
this cannot be done except in open contradiction to
the lessons of all experience, and to the doctrines of
the Holy Scriptures.
Such conclusions too strike at the root of all au
thority, Divine and human; for every law is re-
straint an abridgemen of natural liberty, and, there
fore, an outrage when imposed on beings whose IN
stincts are all just and holy, and thus entitled to
qualification. These most absurd and most danger
Gus doctrines once swayed, for brief period, the
heart of whoe* nation; and it was hoped that
they would be forever disgraccd by the bloody hor-
rors, the unparalleled atrocities of that Reign of
Terror. But the recent exhibition of opposition to
all established authority, springing up armed from
the bosom of American society, and distinguished
with the sympathies of large class of protessed
reformers has dvuged the existence Of this fearful
:. u. Ill
are uncertain Of the extent of the infection, there is
"a natural and general disposition everywhere to fear
an outbreak of this most dreadful scourge of hui
manity.
These very acts. so fraught with danger to every
class of people, demonstrate the utter fallacy of
the doctrines in which they have their root and
were there other evidence, these alone indicate
with sad and overpowering force of argument the
depravity Of man, and the necessity of divnely
dained authority to restrain those instincts and pas
sions whose full development in action would cause
the determination of our race.
Their natural fruits suspicious, evil-surmis-
ings alterations bitter hatreds fraterna strifes in
short, to blight that confidence and mutual depend
ence which hold society together and to convert the
whole human race into horde of plundering and
murderous Ishmaeites everywhere lying in wait
for each other, and fighting over the natural foun-
tans and fruits of the earth They cause US to put
much lower estimate than we ought even on our
fallen humanity; and, as natural consequence,
tend to arrest for the time, the progress of every
benevolent agency, to unsettle the foundations of
all order and subordnation to destroy all national
and social cohesion, and to split society into nnu
merable hostile fragments, converting whole nations
into the condition of the pancstrcken camp Of the
host of INDIAN where every mans sword was set
against his fellow.
In such crisis, when all are disposed to fear and
mistrust their nearest neghbors the public men of
the country have high and most difficult mission
to fill; but there is one rule which, if faithfully H.
lustratcd in action will certainly lead to safety and
success. 1t is rule which no people afford to
violate, but one more easy of observance by pop
ulation like that of beloved State than by
those whose former departure from it has involved
us in our present troubles.
1t is the rule of absolute right understood in the
pure light of Gods infalble Word and surely a
people, who for generations have made the teach
ings of this Book the only standard of public and
private morality, cannot be in danger of being sud-
denly and universally overcome by those fanatcal
delusions which originate in persistent attempts to
wrest these Scriptures Of truth to the purposes of
human vanity and pride
| We are, therefore, comparatively strong in the
conservatism of sentiment, the soundness of the
popular heart caused by the long custom Of imbib-
ing our moral philosophy from the pure fountain
of truth; and our first, greatest and most perma-
nent interest as people, well individuals, is
to adhere strictly and honestly to this method of
reasoning, and this principle Of action
Let U.s. then, manifest to the world our confidence
in the strength of our social and political fabric,
based on such solid principles by continuing calmly
to administer them in their proper spirit, and by
| the light of inspired wisdom.
| In such state We ought not to anticipate fierce
and bloody hostility between races and ranks and
classes merely because there are different races,
ranks and classes for it is not the existence of such
diversity that creates danger but the spirit which
anmateS the hearts Of individuals, and is reflected
in the public administration.
The very first human government was the family
of Adam, and it was ordained by God himself-and
in this society, consisting of only two persons and
they lone fesh," there subordination, subjec-
ton Of one to another for mutual good
And there can be no society, in wicked world,
without diversity of interests and classes and the
peace of every social and political system depends
on Just recognition of the mutual dependence Of
every rank each other, and of the mutual obliga-
tions which this interest imposes. This sense Of
mutual interest and reciprocal duty has often been
illustrated in incidents connected with the history
of slavery in midst; and glorious fruit of this
true policy displayed before the eyes of all the
world in manner most honorable to the servant
and to the governing race, in the refusal of the
former at Harpers Ferry to use weapons thrust in.
| " HdtIuo III ucStlOyHi uaoIeiS
able longer to maintain their authority.
There is as much danger of prejudice between the
rich and poor, and between the different professions
as between master and slave; and while the love OF
money is the root Of all evil it must tend continually
to ALLEVIATE from each other the hearts of those who
love it above oil things and have il, and of those
! who thus love it and have it not And all at.
tempts to enhance this alienation and widen the
breach between classes of citizens, is just as dan
gerous as efforts to excite slaves to insurrection
and the principle which would justify the latter,
would inevitably lead next to the destruction Of
those professions which are falsely considered by
some as more honorable than other honest callings
then to the violent plunder of the rich, and finally
to fierce and endless struggle among the plunder
ers over their respective shares of booty.
But why should we, in North Carolina, fear such
attempts these to lineage and let loose on society
the worst passions Of our fallen nature?
| cnch ipctip ctv r.. hut these hp0SfS