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heaven, and the earthquakes, whose trepidations are felt to the very centre of our globe, have superinduced a degeneracy, through all the productions of nature. Men have been frightened into intellectual dwarfs; and the 5 beasts of the forest have not attained more than half their ordinary growth!

While some of the lines and touches of this picture have been blotted out, by the reversing hand of time, others have been added, which have, in some respects, carried the con10 ceit still farther. In later days, and, in some instances, even down to the present period, it has been published and republished from the enlightened presses of the old world, that so strong is the tendency to deterioration on this continent, that the descendants of European ancestors are far inferior 15 to the original stock, from which they sprang. But inferior in what? In national spirit and patriotic achievement? Let the revolutionary conflict, the opening scenes at Boston, and the catastrophe at Yorktown,-furnish the reply. Let Bennington and Saratoga support their respective claims. 20 Inferior in enterprise? Let the sail that whitens every ocean, and the commercial spirit that braves every element, and visits every bustling mart, refute the unfounded aspersion. Inferior in deeds of zeal and valor for the church? Let our missionaries in the bosom of our own forest, in the 25 distant regions of the east, and on the islands of the great Pacific, answer the question. Inferior in science, and letters, and the arts? It is true our nation is young; but we may challenge the world to furnish a national maturity, which, in these respects, will compare with ours.

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The character and institutions of this country, have already produced a deep impression upon the world we inhabit. What, but our example, has stricken the chains of despotism from the provinces of South America,-giving, by a single impulse, freedom to half a hemisphere? 35 A Washington here, has created a Bolivar there. The flag of independence, which has long waved from the summit of our Alleghany, has now been answered by a corresponding signal, from the heights of the Andes. And the same spirit, too, that came across the Atlantic wave with 40 the pilgrims, and made the rock of Plymouth the cornerstone of freedom, and of this republic, is travelling back to the east. It has already carried its influence into the cabinets of princes; and it is, at this moment, sung by the Grecian bard, and emulated by the Grecian hero.

LESSON CLXXI.-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.-J. C. CALHOUN.

On this subject of national power, what can be more important than a perfect unity in every part, in feelings and sentiments? And what can tend more powerfully to produce it. than overcoming the effects of distance? No 5 country, enjoying freedom, ever occupied anything like as great an extent of country as this republic. One hundred years ago, the most profound philosophers did not believe it to be even possible. They did not suppose it possible, that a pure republic could exist on as great a scale, even 10 as the island of Great Britain.

What then was considered as chimerical, we have now the felicity to enjoy; and what is most remarkable, such is the happy mould of our government, so well are the state and general powers blended, that much of our politi15 cal happiness draws its origin from the extent of our republic. It has exempted us from most of the causes which distracted the small republics of antiquity. Let it not, however, be forgotten, let it be forever kept in mind, that it exposes us to the greatest of all calamities,―next 20 to the loss of liberty, and even to that in its consequences, -disunion.

We are great, and rapidly, I was about to say fearfully, growing. This is our pride and our danger, our weakness and our strength. Little does he deserve to be 25 intrusted with the liberties of this people, who does not raise his mind to these truths. We are under the most imperious obligations to counteract every tendency to disunion. The strongest of all cement, is, undoubtedly, the wisdom, justice, and, above all, the moderation of this 30 House; yet the great subject on which we are now deliberating, in this respect, deserves the most serious consideration.

Whatever impedes the intercourse of the extremes with this, the centre of the republic, weakens the union. The 35 more enlarged the sphere of commercial circulation, the more extended that of social intercourse; the more strongly we are bound together, the more inseparable are our destinies. Those who understand the human heart best, know how powerfully distance tends to break the 40 sympathies of our nature. Nothing, not even dissimilarity of language, tends more to estrange man from man. Let us, then, bind the republic together, with a perfect

system of roads and canals. Let us conquer space. It is thus, the most distant part of the republic will be brought within a few days' travel of the centre; it is thus, that a citizen of the west will read the news of Boston, still 5 moist from the press.

LESSON CLXXII.-FOUNDERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

WM. M. RICHARDSON.

The love of liberty has always been the ruling passion of our nation. It was mixed at first with the "purple tide" of the founders' lives, and, circulating with that tide through all their veins, has descended down through 5 every generation of their posterity, marking every feature of our country's glorious story. May it continue thus to circulate and descend to the remotest period of time!

Oppressed and persecuted in their native country, the high, indignant spirit of our fathers, formed the bold design 10 of leaving a land, where minds, as well as bodies, were chained, for regions where Freedom might be found to dwell, though her dwelling should prove to be amid wilds and wolves, or savages less hospitable than wilds and wolves! An ocean three thousand miles wide, with its 15 winds and its waves, rolled in vain between them and liberty. They performed the grand enterprise, and landed on this then uncultivated shore Here, on their first arrival, they found

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The wilderness "all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide."

Their courage and industry soon surmounted all the difficulties incident to a new settlement. The savages retired, the forests were exchanged for fields waving with richest harvests, and the dreary haunts of wild beasts, for 25 the cheerful abodes of civilized man. Increasing in wealth and population, with a rapidity which excited the astonishment of the old world, our nation flourished about a century and a half, when England, pressed down with the enormous weight of accumulating debts, and consider30 ing the inhabitants of these States as slaves, who owed their existence and preservation to her care and protection, now began to form the unjust, tyrannical, and impolitic plan of taxing this country, without its consent. The right of taxation, however, not being relinquished, but the

same principle under a different shape being pursued, the AWFUL GENIUS OF FREEDOM arose, not with the ungovernable ferocity of the tiger, to tear and devour, but with the cool, determined, persevering courage of the lion, who, disdain5 ing to be a slave, resists the chain. As liberty was the object of contest, that being secured, the offer of peace was joyfully accepted; and peace was restored to free, united, independent Columbia!

LESSON CLXXIII.-CONDUCT OF THE OPPOSITION.-HENRY CLAY.

[Extract from a Speech on the new Army Bill.]

If gentlemen would only reserve for their own government, half the sensibility which is indulged for that of Great Britain, they would find much less to condemn. Restriction after restriction has been tried; negotiation 5 has been resorted to, until further negotiation would have been disgraceful. Whilst these peaceful experiments are undergoing a trial, what is the conduct of the opposition? They are the champions of war; the proud, the spirited, the sole repository of the nation's honor, the men of exclu10 sive vigor and energy. The administration on the contrary, is weak, feeble, and pusillanimous,-"incapable of being kicked into a war." The maxim, "not a cent for tribute, millions for defence," is loudly proclaimed. Is the administration for negotiation? The opposition 11 15 tired, sick, disgusted with negotiation. They wish to draw the sword and avenge the nation's wrongs. When, however, foreign nations, perhaps emboldened by the very opposition here made, refuse to listen to the amiable appeals, which have been repeated and reiterated by the 20 administration, to their justice and to their interests; when, in fact, war with one of them has become identified with our independence and our sovereignty, and to abstain from it was no longer possible; behold the opposition veering round, and becoming the friends of peace and 25 commerce. They tell you of the calamities of war, its tragical events, the squandering away of your resources, the waste of the public treasure, and the spilling of innocent blood. "Gorgons, hydras, and chimeras dire!" They tell you that honor is an illusion! Now we see them 30 exhibiting the terrific forms of the roaring king of the forest now the meekness and humility of the lamb!

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They are for war and no restrictions, when the administration is for peace. They are for peace and restrictions, when the administration is for war. You find them, sir, tacking with every gale, displaying the colors of every 5 party, and of all nations, steady only in one unalterable purpose, to steer, if possible, into the haven of power.

LESSON CLXXIV.-GOD, THE CREATOR.-Fenelon.

Cast your eyes upon the earth that supports us; raise them then to this immense canopy of the heavens that surrounds us, these fathomless abysses of air and water, and these countless stars that give us light. Who is it that 5 has suspended this globe of earth? who has laid its foundations? If it were harder, its bosom could not be laid open by man for cultivation; if it were less firm it could not support the weight of his footsteps. From it proceed the most precious things: this earth, so mean and unformed, is 10 transformed into thousands of beautiful objects, that delight our eyes. In the course of one year, it becomes branches, buds, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds; thus renewing its bountiful favors to man. Nothing exhausts it. After yielding, for so many ages, its treasures, it experiences no 15 decay; it does not grow old; it still pours fortli riches from

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its bosom.

Who has stretched over our heads this vast and glorious arch? What sublime objects are there! An all-powerful Hand has presented this grand spectacle to our vision.

What does the regular succession of day and night teach us? The sun has never omitted, for so many ages, to shed his blessing upon us. The dawn never fails to announce the day; and "the sun," says the Holy Book, "knows his going down." Thus it enlightens alternately 25 both sides of the world, and sheds its rays on all. Day is the time for society and employment. Night folds the world in darkness, finishes our labors, and softens our troubles. It suspends, it calms everything. It sheds round us silence and sleep; it rests our bodies, it revives our spirits. 30 Then day returns, and recalls man to labor, and reänimates all nature.

But besides the constant course of the sun, that produces day and night; during six months it approaches one pole, and during the other six, the opposite one. By this beau35 tiful order, one sun answers for the whole world. If the

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