than Washington had ages before proclaimed the same truth. In this valley of the West, upwards of four millions of freemen, have with astonishing rapidity peopled the fairest regions of our republic; and the eventful 35 question to be resolved is, how we shall most happily fashion the elements of these rising communities; whether by our benignant regards, they shall aid to strengthen the cords of our union, whether they shall cherish the principles of private and public virtue, or whether 40 by our neglect, they shall be left to exhibit the melancholy spectacle of universal degeneracy of manners, among a people, but yesterday born into political existence. Sir, this is the true, honest question. We cannot and we ought not to evade it. It is put to us as 45 Christians and as American citizens. These sister states of the West possess capacities for good or evil, that cannot be trifled with or disregarded. Rightly influenced, immense blessings will reward our philanthropy-but should we suffer them to grown on, with no moral cul50 ture, foods of wickedness will by and by come over upon us, that will sweep away the last vestiges of hope and freedom. I lately heard from a distinguished citizen of that section of the Union, the evil, and the antidote in one short sentence. While deploring the frequent occurrence 55 of street murders-sometimes by men high in official stations, he remarked, that the terrors of law interposed no check, and that his hope rested in the reformation of public sentiment: there, said he, the mischief receives its countenance and there we must look for its 60 corrective. This was the language of truth and soberness. When the late movement in Philadelphia, was announced, it was hailed as the harbinger of incalculable blessings. A fountain was to be opened, whose healthful streams would send forth richer benefits to the valleys 65 of the Mississippi, than all their majestic rivers. The Sunday schools will reform that perverted public opinion, that sanctions the deeds of the transgressor. They will purify the elements of society; they will arrest the torrent of corruption; erect the standards of sound O principles, and, by the blessing of heaven, save the country, and perpetuate her liberties. A cause, thus exalted in its aims, this evening addresses itself to the philanthropy of a generous people. It becomes not a stranger to press this suit. It befits the occasion, 75 however, to say of it, that a nobler charity could not well engage our sympathies. To raise an empire of immortal beings to the dignity of virtuous freemen; to send forth moral influences among them, that shall establish the basis of political prosperity; that shall raise a protec80 tion around the sacred privileges of the fireside, and secure the hearth and the altar from rude invasion. And more than this—to open to them the pathway to a blessed immortality, to fill up time with social comforts, to gild its close with consolation, and crown the whole with 85 imperishable happiness. Sir, what are earthly sceptres -what is human wealth and greatness, compared with such a vision? And in the just hope that it may shortly be realized, who can longer grasp his gold? Where or how can wealth accomplish for us, more substantial 90 or sublime pleasures. Patriotism in its boldest conceptions, cannot aspire to a purer bliss than this-To elevate an extensive region of enterprising men, to secure them from the wasteful influence of irreligion and crime; and bring up millions of our fellow men, to the purity of 95 a virtuous community. Sir, failure in such an enterprise, would be no common privilege. But we need not fail. The faithful consecration of our best efforts, is destined to demolish the throne of the prince of darkness: and honored will be the humblest man, permitted to raise 100 a finger in the work. EXERCISE 59. The folly and wickedness of war.—Knox. Two poor inortals, elevated with the distinction of a golden bauble on their heads, called a crown, take offence at each other, without any reason, or with the very bad one of wishing for an opportunity of aggrandizing them5 selves by making reciprocal depredations. The creatures of the court, and the leading men of the nation, who are usually under the influence of the court, resolve (for it is their interest) to support their royal master, and are never at a loss to invent some colourable pre10 tence for engaging the nation in war. Taxes of the most burdensome kind are levied, soldiers are collected. so as to leave a paucity of husbandmen; reviews and encampments succeed; and at last fifteen or twenty thousand men meet on a plain, and coolly shed each 15 other's blood, without the smallest personal animosity, or the shadow of a provocation. The kings, in the meantime, and the g andees, who have employed thes poor innocent victim to shoot bullets at each other's heads, remain quietly at home, and amuse themselves, 20 in the intervals of balls, hunting schemes, and pleasures of every species, with reading at the fireside, and over cup of chocolate, the despatches from the army, and the news in the Extraordinary Gazette. If the King of Prussia were not at the head of some of the best 25 troops in the world he would be judged more worthy of being tried, and condemned, at the Old Bailey, than any shedder of blood who ever died by a halter. But he is a king; but he is a hero;-those names fascinate us, and we enroll the butcher of mankind among their 30 benefactors. When one considers the dreadful circumstances that attend even victories, one cannot help being a little shocked at the exultation which they occasion. I have often thought it would be a laughable scene, if there 35 were not too much of the melar.choly in it, when a circle of eager politicians have met to congratulate each other on a piece of good news just arrived. Every eye sparkles with delight; every voice is raised in announcing the happy event. And what is the cause of all this 40 joy and for what are our windows illuminated, bonfires kindled, bells rung, and feasts celebrated? We have had a successful engagement. We have left a thousand of the enemy dead on the field of battle, and only nine hundred of our countrymen. Charming news! it was a 45 glorious battle! But before you give loose to your aptures, pause awhile; and consider, that to every one of these nineteen hundred, life was no less sweet than it is to you; that to the far greater part of them there probably were wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sis50 ters, brothers and friends, all of whom are at this moment bewailing that event which occasions your foolish and brutal triumph. EXERCISE 60. The Warrior.-HARBINGER OF PEACE. 1 A gallant form is passing by, The plume bends o'er his 'ordly brow; Young knees are bending round his way, 2 Fair forms have lent t'heir gladdest smile, White hands have wav'd the conqueror on, Soft tones have cheered him, and the brow 3 The bard hath waked the song for him, And every tongue, and every èye, 4 (<) The gallant steed treads proudly on; In strife that iron heel went down And foremost in the ranks of strife, 5 Dream they of these the glad and gay, That bend around the conqueror's path? The horrors of the cónflict day The gloomy field of déath The ghastly sláin-the severed head- 5 Dark thoughts and fearful! yet they bring 7 Mén-Chrístians! pàuse-the air yc breathe, EXERCISE 61. Death of Ashmun.—MRS. SIGOURNEY. 1 (-) Whose is yon sable bìer? To rest in manhood's pride? How gain'd his cheek such pallid shade--? 2 (6) The hoarse wave murmur'd low, Upon her billowy strand;- 3 (-) Ah! well I know thee nòw, Of ruthless war swept by, Their teacher when the storm was past, 4 Spirit of Power,-pass òn! Thy homeward wing is free;- Tòil might not bow thee down, |