The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-08-07

in the field, committing ourselves and our
cause to God, LEI US cherish the same conn
dence in our moral that we manifest IN our
PHYSICAL power, and independence, IN every
sense, is within our reach. There can be no
lasting danger from an external and Foreign
power. when the sources Of life within the I
BODY politic are ID healthy conditions: a
blow from without however serious. can onst
ly scouad, while disease in the heart is lnev-
liable death.
But there are other, aud. as we conceive,
paramount considerations, which should in
duce us TO keep up our educational system,
and to exert every other agency calculated
TO preserve society, and to develop oar NOR.
al and intellectual resources; and TO some OF
these we would respectfully and earnestly
cali your attention.
In the present condition Of things in this
world, wars are often necessary and justifa-
BILE; and such is the contest in which the
people OF the Confederate States are now en-.
gagged.
Nevertheless, eyery war is attended with
temporary eyis-and il remains with those
who conduct il to diminish or neutraliZe
them by means and appliances which God
puts within their reach. No such struggle
could be Just if il entailed evils which could
not be prevented, and which, in a moral
sense. would oyerbalance. the benefits; but
we are not of those who believe that war
for the defence Of our homes, and for such
institutions, religious and political, as those
with which we are blessed, is in itself Of such
. character. Its hazards to the moral condi-
tion of things are undoubtedly great, but for
this very reason il ought to prove an adyau-
tage to society, BY giving vigorous aud health
full exercise to all the moral faculties OF the
community. live are equal to this occasion,
we will feel that there are now devolved up
on Us the greatest responsibilities which
christian people are ever called upon TO dis
charge; and il wesbe endowed with the sen
timents which ought to animate us, we will
carry on this war IN the pulpit, in the scool-
room, at the iresde, and Of every other point
where we are assailed by the great enemy Of
human progress.
The minister, the parent, the teacher. and
every other laborer ia the moral vineyard,
will find this foe encroaching upon the very
grounds where he has been stationed for de-
fence; and in the minds and hearts OF our
Younger children there is citadel, whose
possession, BY good or bad principles Is to
! be decisive Of cur future fate. Upon this
trong-hold the enemy will bring to bear all
the subtle devices Of his internal genius
and while our ewes are wholly fixed on q
distant field, an encampment Of evil princi-
pies nay be fixed and fortified in the very
heart of our hopes. II cannot be expected
that the understandings Of the very young
viii grasp the great principles al stake IN our
controversy with the North; aud while they
are in the midst Of the more entertaining ex-
elements Of war, and out Of view Of It's ster-
ner realities, there is great danger that their
minds will become dissipated, and that they
will acquire habits which it will be dificalt
to eradicate, and which may unit them Tor
those great and solemn trusts which will
soon be devosed upon them.
We say, without hesitation, that all the
Young men who can serve their country ~
the field, and who are there needed, should
be encouraged to take Up arms IN defence q
our common rights; but after these have all
left our schools, there will still remain a yasl
number who are old enough to learn, and
who will be learning something, whether we
take pains to instruct them in the right way:
or not.
We know that il is natural for the parent,
whose heart is absorbed with the issues a.
stake In our great contest for freedom and
independence, to imagine that the restless
ness Of his children originates in feelings AMI
thoughts kindred to his own; bat we would
kindly snd respectfully submit, whether tn
natural indisposition Of the very young to ~
dicious restraints does not instinctVely avai
itseifof the confusion of the times. and wheth
er the excitement Of this class, fed BY sight
and sounds, only exhilarsting to them, can b.
long encouraged without serious injury {,
their future welfare, and to the success and
safety OF the country u whose rights and lib
critics they are, under God, to be the guard
anss
II would be lamentable 70 think that tn
glorious fruits won by the valor, patriotism
and christian manhood, by the toll, EMU
rance, and sacrifices Of this generation, shout
be lost by being committed 20 the hands
those who would have no conception Of IL
dignity and solemuity OF their trusts; an
permit Us to ask, in all candor. il idlenes
and animal excitement, reigning unchecked
among the very young, may not tend 70 sue
aresaltf
IL Is no sacrifice 20 children 20 releas
them iron moral restraints and from study
and thus. il ttey are 10 be free from prope
educational Influences. this day Of trial anl
discipline to the parent will be DAY Of lubl
lee and ieyity TO his offspring; and Will
the crisis will be developing the moral man
hood Of the former, and fitting him Tor b
task Of achieving, il will be debilitating an
dsarfng the mind and energies Of the o,heI
and rendering him incapable OF the equal
important task Of preserving freedom.
Another consideration which We woald
with Difference, submit 20 the people o. Mort
Carolina. Is The promising condition Of thei
educational system. and he very intImat
relations which Il sustains towards the M
terisl progress ~ the State.
Many " ihe States % the SJuihern Con
federacy produce some leading agncaltsra