, 1864-04-16

sponge may he occupied by the same bulk of
water; that the space inhabited by a bodyand
soul is no more than that inhabited by the
body alone; and so forth and so on. Now.
if this question had never been discussed,
numbcrless errors, founded in appearance,
like those which have been alluded 10,
would st Il be entertained on this subject.
In Truth, there is no proposition SO sclf-evi-
dent that it may not be called in question,
and there is no question so one-sidcd that
the sides may not possibly be reversed.
A few centuries ago it would have been
thought by the most learned minds that
there was but one side 10 the question,
" Does the stellar Universe, including the
sun, moon and planetary system, go around
the Earth every twenty-four hours!" and
that side would have been supposed to be
the afii native, would have becn known to
be, from the evidence Of the senses. Now
the decision is entirely reversed Wemight
make the like remark respecting almost
any other subject. How many social, COM
merc'al. political and religious axioms may
suffer Ike reversal in the opinion of the
popular nind! The evidence of the senses,
the Strongest evidence, according to the ex-
act scientists. may be arIayed on one side,
and the evidence Of reason may be arrayed
on the oyhrr, of almost any question that
may be p,opounded. This shows the ne.
cessi y Of discussion. Ignorance and error
have the appearance and the evidence Of
the senses on their side, and truth and
knowledge have reason aud enlightened
perception on theirs. or course, in a fair
discussion, truth and knowledge will always
win. We will arrive at the great truth
which the question aims at through the
facts that lead to or illustrate it. Our store
Of knowledge will be drawn upon. and will
be increased, during the preparation for
and progress Of debate, and the truth VIC
aim at will be reached III the end. Not a
member OF this Lyceum, dare say, is as
much Of tyro in first principles, in practi-
cal logic, in science, history, and matters
and things in general, at the close Of a dis
cussOn, ms he was at the beginning.
! 3D.. Anotherand grand use Of ourinstitu-
tion is The attainment of gentlemanly ac-
complishments. Debating is as really and
as high an accomplishment for gentleman
as music and painting are for lady, and
that involves solid attainments in him as
shese do in her. Debating is one Of
The fine arts; and If it falls short Of this
character, its profession only serves to make
it the most vulgar of the vulgar, as music,
painting, poetry, architecture, sculpture
cloquenee and the drama, if they fall shol t
Of the character Of fine arts, are thore vul-
gar than things which make no profession
Of the artistic. Rudeness, coarseness. want
Of gehtlemanliness in debate, is us intoler-
able to o person Of artistic and refined
taste, as a daub for a,painting Of the Ma
donna, or q discordant improvisation for an
oratorio Ii We would render our debates
worthy the attendance of ladies, We must
make them high accomplishments. Wo-
man equally dislikes dispute and loves the
artistic, and unless we elevate dispute to a
character worthy the name Of debate, or Il
we let down debate to what might better
be termed dispute, We viii disgust and Of.
fend rather than interest and please the Ia
d.es who may honor US with their presence
But let tho explain more particularly
what | mean by the art Of debating. The
| uucSb cAduiptNb vi ~ uIe W DC eeeu Ill IuT-
lament and the halls of Congress, by those
who are priv legged to visit those places.
Parliamentary and Senatorial debate is the
model Of d scussion in the debating socic-
ties and Iyceums all over tho civilized
world. The Dirt Of debating is more ASST
cuousy cultivated by every young man
ambitious Of the Senatorial chamber, of
the position Of statesman in any capacity,
or Of legal eminence, than any other one
thing. And what are its characteristics !
answer: candor, fairness, respect for ones
antagonist, and disposition 10 assist rather
than defeat him, so that it shall not be
yourself, bnt the truth. that shall over
throw his position. The man Of true cour-
IaSe, with strength aud truth, or at least
honesty on his side, can afford to be gener.
oas. The Christian gentleman, who is
really the only gentleman, is aotuated by
charity, tie very soul Of generosity, always.
he not only cloves bis neighbor as HIM
self" and docs to others as he would that
they should do TO him." in all business re-
lations, but in all social relations he .,prc-
fers his heighbor 70 himself defers to him
pays difference to his character, to his tai
enis, TO his honest convictions, aud shows
more Willingness to be convinced than to
convince, to be defeated than to defeat.
Pcliteness is not only .kindness kind y
Expressed, ,'-it is generosity generously ex-
pressed. 80 s.v
What a contrast is this to the spirit we
witness too often in debates, in Lyceutns, in
polemic controversy, and even in the halls
If Congrcssl / am inclined to think that
physical ontosts--fsticufis, srurring, box,
ling, called " the noble art Of selEdcfence," "
lduelling, fencing, and "civilized warfare, =
are the first rude attempts towards the
development Of the beautiful and truly noble
art Of which speak +; and that the d.scour-
teous personalities, the sharp thrusts, the
combatiye tones and words which we some
t me, hear in debate, terminating not unlre-
guently in pugilistic encounters, duelling,
and civiliz d warning, in public places and
the fena Of life, arc pervefsions and degni-
daiiOus Of the gentlemanly art which W.
Is ok to cultivate hore. edfely >
But enough has been said on this point
The last but not the least Of the uses Of the
iyceum, which have proposed to myself
to mention, is the mental training and dis