v. , i I , . : , -V-"-'
. i 7. J . ':.--.f , .:. .
' 'LIFE IS ONLY TO BE VALUED AS it IS USEFULLY EMPLOYED.
ASLTE YILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 28, 1840.
NUMBER 13,.
! "BY J. tf. yilBlSTr.
knqm" m published at Two
" N"S-abfeto nntu aD arrV.r.g T.d.
zSSJut" "V iMertcd St 5? DaU"
1- th (int. and Twenty-Five Cent far
7mefm.d twenty
MISCELLANEOUS.
rr h nixMrowl Chrintim JournaLl
mlP LNFLeENCE OF INFIDELITY
t INDIVIDUAL AND NATIONAL
ON INDIVIDUAL-
OIABAC11SK.
n . oAah n met. iniit KPmica uave
... . i ..-..: .
II 1H IIUW 1 . ' I
;i.:;ination of theiropinions, and that
mons, ana
ithnim. ha. - !rt mineral, been
in general, been
b"""V ' ' I .. .
proportionea
MdBohngbrokewas onh studied and em-
braced by men who, Lke themselves, had a
taste for mctaphysicaljursuits, amT conse-
eaoe on tno masses 01 uie poniuauou.
Circumstances are now, however, ; greatly
chanced. Infidelity has orlatc years been
divested of that mysticism in which her for
iher friends enshrouded her. . folic has been
exposed in all her crossness, to the view of
common men, anu muiwuucs wuo -wma,
forsooth, to vindicate their rUrht of think-
ioebr themselves,- hav not hesitated to
JLk her. Once.' skepticism seemed
onlyto flourish in tho closet of the man of
J - .... .. . 1
L m iuiii MMV lt llllf mint M III I1L
tj.i j :.n.. ua ,,- K mn I
icutij ..v.n , ..j I
virulent wfll hb onposiUon be", to the doc-
trincs ofthe cross! Once, skepticism stoop.
cd not to the humbler classes of society; but
now, her advocates are plying tho poor
man with their arguments, anxious that he
also may Iw jiuhibered among their:, vic
tims. V It is iuteresting as well as Instruc I
tire, to note the zeal with which they are
. - . ... ... . i
attempting to disseminate their views. They
have UKr lecturers -men who are skilled
in the art of making "the worse anncar
the better cause." They have their halls,
where there may bo nightly seen hundreds
uf our toil worn mechanics, who. bv rush-
iinginto skepticism, seem desirous of infu
sing a new element of misery, into their
I aireaay aggravated lot. ; Iney have their
nublications ; and thnw.' Iilcn kt mnnw nl
inuuen iuvb, pxq ; evew now ' circulating
throughout our population, leaving behfnd
'them sure and fearful indications , of their
desolating progress.?1 Tffshort, as far as
the world can see, nothing is "wanting to
secure the present success aud' the future
triumph of tbcif principlcs, ' -'
: And even supposing that our modern
skeptics were successful in their attempts
to impose upon the community even sup
posing that they were to prosper, in the
war which they are . at present waging
against the common sense of mankind
would the brilliant results which they anti
cipate, be realized t : Fortunately, we do
not ncea to theorize, in order to come at a
correct answer to - this question. The
wnrM k. 1.I Ko4 : .1.. i 1
ny. i o jam then, we would appeal.
What then has been the effects of skep-
t r cniAn U C 2J:'l L
Il... :,. -jv. u ?i i I
vmiii vu aiia vuaii.u:r t ui mil rrm Mnn i
their public and nrivnt virtnoa T TTa. n I
cherished and matured in them those graces
which clinff to maiTfnllpn ihih k k I
and which tt II ii an trkiwliinflr!r rf tKnt nn. I
roevalDuritv of which thft-R;Mn wkn 1 1
Has it hanwWI tmm the. tinmiin vw I
ry trace of selfishness, and filled the bo-
som or its vntnt-iM wiih mimnaoa nfmml tn
allmanliiiwtt rninatinmtv Tin. nil
this, and it U nrr thia noonnnr thnt ohn A I
Serves the homnnp. nnr? rrcmrri nf pvprv h I
' I
ing : it is on this account that wo would
pray and labor for her diffusion, until
the
whole world h hmiKrtit within rr
hu-
Jnanizinc? mflnenco. Rut infiilplitw
JiasJ
hever Vet nrrxliifVHl imchvKlMao fruit
Wherever ithnannrvnrort it hum KlioKtoU I
evenrholv nrinrinlfl Na..' i... i
j cr- i
nourished, whr-n 11a. I
J J -' wuawa A V vaaiuu iiaa L TLI I
ed infllinncA ' CW i. ..u..... I
there have hfii U wkn n. w-u I
would can irttmiiofi. k, Km. v.- I
" " UVUI VIV.U .IIO W VI H I
hot furnishnd a fanrfi.i . .v. I
. - . .V. r. .UUm UTCV IWfC
principles which thev hekt2trv--.rrrr t
nr. .a ..........
We
cannot but respect Rousseau. - A
was r and en thia iiwnimf r, t.t I
him that hnmnn ' ihu.li ..... . - - I
strain US to vield tn I
" ...v.i vui IMIU1V9 UNI I
ed though hiBimnml - i.t
retained to the but a kiirk iMt;. r
virtue : and thim wn
wunca a eubwT tmnn iiu I
claims and nntinnn. Wn -nri-j vj
pwe. ; He had also a hat! tn I
I-- v.vHoiuiio aau mtirfVicru, vtf- uc I
all its
Was reanv nt all ;. t. I
cause With thn Ani.nu.IIT.Ji..' I
Christian, he
character nearpr thnn nv mnn ti ma i
W, - ' " ' OJ V X. U , i
Dlut I. . . ' I
- - uu j. uuiai uv nnjic. i
"M. IIB WM an .llutiJ i . i:. IT.
VUM hlfl ft-olinmi ttu Kt.nJnl f 1.1-
" " OMICSfc J II rt'Jt 1 1 V IIH
Bis : anil rui .....( 1 u jj .i... v.
responsible for hia osinrfiwt at mMl..l
' okhwiw mo iuca uiut ne was
but at that a J .u .
- v man. n w - nmi iiin nmPTi -
I - a -.wto ft ru7 OUH I
kincrlv Sll.a I- 1 tW. I
j ,u m iua iuo. . lucrR was i
ltll lm Blu nraciisc. no i
'"iiness to which - ho did hot atooix'f
1 in. a J 1 . . 1 m mmmm - T
Then wr point , to
bis own confession, where , each one
may see ior nimseii to wnat lntamy infidel-
My may oring even a uousscau. . ,
nn i tr.i.- - .1 i i
iuo we v ojwure as anouier example tl
uie nuscnici wnicn lntuiuuty has wrought
luqi, ana wtuco Have earned him so
niach fam? ., : ara incIi,ned to ay. that
I we cou,I Ji have SDared tliat
we couiu 111 nave spared that man ;" but
when we think what a degraded wretch be
A- li --.1 1 a i.-
" "uir uiicu mo, KiKUUUC
powers were prostrated to the basest pur.
poses, we feel that "it had been better for gard as an object of disgrace, appears in my
the world if he hud never been born !" He Judgment lobelMe very thing by which the re
was as basely" : hypocritical J as . ho was Vnuhlir
J grossly sensual IIo could kneel before
the passing pageants of thcchurchofllome,)
and with ''upturned, , reverent eyc.1 , ho
i mum auoro utc enwa ui jeaus. uie svmooi
1.1 J l .1 -r T ii. 7 t i
i . . . . ..: .
I nl mMn 'a MHnmnl a. K!
when
"rJT
v " - .V V "'"r" v- " "
I cenuous DODUiace. Had Voltaire bedn a
common man be would have ended his days
M man "and accordi , whcn
't hi.
cM fJ ; m which
works have
thrown around; the
name of France.
But why go on with tins enumeration T
hut tuuunr luuuuiuy in ircr uuvuiuuui'
'!. r .11 . :c.i..i:.. i j
trogress, and tell of the misery which she
as brought on many noble spirits t We
refer you to the lives of Hobbes, Shaflesbu-1
ry, TindaLand Bolingbroke, and we bid!
7" nKnow a,uercnt uieso men wouw
hal,r.horls; n.r mibued
'lttUiepnncip.es or tueOospeL: We point
VfUltn I ffcril rmnA inlulfklitv'. mactortiuwa I
; l "'"J " imioiviuivvv.
.1 & j i.ni. . - i
uwu iio Biiuii ou csccruiea US lOIlJT
"'T Parana we on you uiuik
?W wretchedness this would be,
tMHMWHJ nv fc SUIlfSU14Vf UUU U IIUI1KUI
reason, the uuidei s god, were cstablislied
on the throne of Deity ,v. ; -j 4v i
It may here bo asked, "do
you main.
tain that infidelity foineff cases attended
.;. nau.B. i m it
with such, .injurious consequences T Have I
there never been individuals decidedly skep.
tical in. their views, whoft conduct has I
been so exemplary, that-it has won for
them the esteem and confidence of the com-1
munity " ,That there-have, been such
persons, we do not deny ; but we hold . that I
their immorality is not traceable to their 1
skepticism. " Had their principk?s been al. I
lowed fttso cojRs, hod they been permitted
ta exert their luuana unnirainca mnuence
on their hearts, they wouldKno doubt have
produced the same results ; lor we hold
that the moral infidel is, to the full, as ano
malous a character as the immoral Chris
tian, ilnthe present state of things, a man's
comfort is insensibly connected with his
character. - When his reputation is lost,
his ruin is secured, f Thus is h, that multi
tudes who have long since lost their rcspact
for Christianity, are deterred from enter
ingon a career of open and of shameless
proflieacy.. Were these wholesome re
straints removed, were mankind to lose
sight of the broad and" palpable difference
between virtue and vice, it is to be, lea red
that many of your moral
infidels would
aroP uuer "sguseana give evioeuco ui
skepticism has influenced them lust . as it
has influenced other men.
Tlieinfluence of infidelity upon national
' . ' l
ihanMo. hoohui imn v mfirkorl It t I
. ; .u. : ,k;u tK twm M f
sMauww saw ax -
relisrion have been elevated to tho seat of
government, and in which they havo been I
allowed to keislate" inaccordahefi with
tlicir own views and wishes, are execcdinff. I
hr rare : but thev are numerous enough to
imnreas us with the truth, that skepticism
w as iU adapted to the happiness ot nations,
as it Is to oromote the lntcrcsi oi inaiviau. I
mIr. TTia first case which we shall advance
in nroof of this, is that of Rome i and let it
not be thought that we are dealing unfainy individuals, whose talents secured for them
by infidelity, when we are thus bringing it the attention and respect of their fellow cit
into contrast with heathenism. Absurd izens declaimed against the abuses ofjhe
and irrational though the . religion of the j
Romans no doubt was, it assumed, as true, I
many principles of the very first importance I
to tho nrcsnrvatinn of social order.
ihus, 1
whl h man mind was oVhased hv the
- r- .. .. . - i
apiMiml ritA which a deuianinflr nncsthood I
ouw " J I V,
Knl iralitutrut An1 itnrvnafvl it wna f1fMlted I
hvthrviivntinnnf a minnrintnndincr Provi-1
J I 1 rt - I
nAhv lw otil! mom suhlimR doc. I
--uw,tw wi ...u wU. . I
nf future atnto A nil Kn U lumnn. I
bered. that unlike the religion of many pro-1
fessing fJhnsUans, the rites and Ceremonies
w. -- v - ' .
wicYiin wT-n nnt npriip.tn and !
i-ul uilv miiiiinrA nr rjinnrp I
m;rV.t fl(t -: Tkov won. nt-inrH with I
tiw. oariiat nnit Ynnct r-liArishral amoriatlon I
iuu:m mv.mm. .r . J ... ..w .-
rv.n nnnln nnJ ia-tntrfA into thA I
Unmimnrat wfll n thn mot innnortant I
f tiro And ht h also bn keot I
t-u tint thplm wim not thn KhfflAn of I
f tti , "onmmtinf Hr! rriprf lv.',! Its I
vaav i'vu a, w uv vutw.i -r-- - j - i
rTua wer w-lehratedbv the Door and by 1
:' th-a nV-'.nl Kw 'tVi 2rn. I
tt nnhm'Wi-nmi nnt tn rinmhln I
. The I
rttiriibntip nlAnrinrT in th triiimnhs of his i
K.ian ' vv. wtuv.
ucuior uciiv lo winwn
bed his success. . The
. " , - -
lated in his ca reer of conquest when ho re
membered that he was contending for his
ftmintrv's altars as well as for her homes,
and when he returned from the hewot car-
UUlf! WIVIVU TV tilt . luuivi-mv-,.. - r
O . -. -fsa . a. .' L.
mrv. ins iuiyul uui uj irit uio w
lioa ox names. Ana let u, noi uo uiuuku
that all these observances were vaim
They cemented as by a bond of bras the I
In his folly he ascrf. an infidel) the confession--;' ' We have in wan? 8Wrd on high he gave the or-
" , , n I 1- J i
I members of that great republic, and rnade
the , most . discordant materials act, in
I unison lor the promotion of the common
- I . . m . . - . .
gooa. 1 ne tesumony ot 1'olybius i
I a skeptic;
i will show that the religion of un
"Among aU thd useful Institutions,'
"ays he,"tbat demonstrate tlie superior ex
eellenco of thn TJr.mn1 ommmmMt. the
I most cnrutidernlilp Mrhnnfl i thn nninion
I ... . r. r I.r 1
I Wbich nmn ii am tauaht ttf hnlrf -Cnnccrn,
in the mvis and Owl trthirh nthrr nwn. rr..
sUtion, which is impressed with
rors,and influences the private
all its tcr.
actions of
the citizens, and the public administration
to a degree that can scarcely bo exceed
ed. Thcancicntstherefore.actcd not absurd-
V? 001 .wul g000 reason, wnen tney in.
eulcated the notions concerning the , gods
and the belief of infernal punishments ; but
much rather are those of the vresent da to
be charged tcilh rashness and absurdity, in
endeavoring to extirpate these opinions
for, not to mention otbcrcfTccts which flow
ironr such nn institution, u among the
Greeks, for example, a single talent only
be entrusted to those who had the manage
I ment of the public money though tliey
tn mniin.1.:.. ' :
iw uwu. un,uc,. wiiu ua-luuiiy
scalsr and twice uany wHnes9esth;y
I are unable to discharge the trusfr'reposed in
them wjth integrity. But thfi Romans on
the other hand, who In thejeourso of. ttir
wgisirocies, ana m emoaraies, aisuursc
the greatest sums, are i proswled oh, byHie
single 'obligation or an oath, to perform
1 hrir fllltv with tnrinlnhlA. Itrinnofv Anil
J " ... nuu
: .i i
as in other states, man is rarely . to. be
found liose. hands are pure from public
robbery, so among the Romans it is less
rare to discover one not tainted ' with this
crime.'' Hampton's Pohjbius, vol.
bookvu '. : r . '-'.m :
111.
Such iis Rome in her best and most pros.
pcrous days Such were tlie principles which
gave strength and stability, to her. power.
ifiiiH. r.. u j . . . i .: I : . . 1 .
Had she retained them, she would long
have continued the empress of the world,
Had she embraced . Christianity in their
stead, she would have become a blessing
to the nations ; and the tribes whom she
had goaded on to madness by her tyranny ,
wouia giaaiy have acknowledged her su.
prcmacy. But a less glorious destiny awaiu
ietf ner.
brought ruin and effeminacy upon Greece,
soon began to spread itself among tho Ro.
mans. Tha change effected by its influ.
enco was not at once perceptible. Indeed,
even after infidelity and atheism had been
almost universally embraced, the republic
seemed' for a tune to be more firmly based
than ever. But the splendor which then
invested it, was like the glory of the setting
sun, which shines forth in aU its brilliancy
for a moment, and then is lost in darkness;
And could it- well be otherwise? Could
the state prosper when the tics which had
so long bound its citizens together were for
ever broken T Accordingly, the name of
Home was soon slighted and despised ' by
the nations whom she had formerly en.
slaved ; and those tribes who, to avoid her
vengeance, had once succumbed to her au.
thority, rolled in like a flood upon the land
t. ttJ J 1 .1 J. A
B PP.ressea wem, na sxyeu ikh
uwuuvuiw v-wui. uuub n-
swept irom ns oosom every . vcsiiro oi
. .
Mwn'wrargrenness.
livo only instance in modern times in
which the avowed enemies of revelation
have possessed the supreme power and go-
vcrnment of a country, is that of trance
during the greater part of the revolution.
iJ"g ueioro uai evem we peopie iwu uo
eun ro ue wary o uuu sysiura oi eccium-
astical domination to which they had so
long succumbed, and. accordingly, when
Romish church, and denounced religion as
the cause oi an nnman woes, i they met
with a large amount of public' sympathy.
l ne innaei party, at ail times mprcstea in
tlho nrocress oi thcu views, rcioiced i that
. t r . i - - - i i .
. - -T". . . . . .
thev had at least gained the favor of thepop
CJ J
ulaCC ThcT looked forward tO Still RK)K
decisive triumphs, and fondly anticipated
the dawniiiff of the day. when swerstUton
. . .
would be dethroned, and when to reason
- ... ,J - ' .
would be committed the management o: at-
lair . . r.nue aia tney imagine, tnai wncn
. I f I .1 ,1 1
thev were thus striiun! at the root ot ail
rclimon. thev were overturning-' the bul
warks of social order i-lhat when thev were
teaching their countrymen to dishonor the
J
law of God. thev were also instnictiuff them
to violate and dishonor the-; law of man.
When revolution brought desoialiotroh their
country, thev saw thev had gohaT too far.
But thev could not crush the evil nrincioles
whichthcy had called into extetcM's' Lw
j ; - - T- t-i
lmnntont and iinnvailintr tormf on ihfi wild
and dRstructireonirointm or .Tthe monttter
which, in an evil hour thev had. created,
The ease must havts been extreme which
gious sentiment ; but this is not the way to
regenerate the world. 1 - . -
We shall not attempt to sketch the nor.
rors of the French revolution. Once the
theatre ofthe useful and ornamental arts,
it seemed to have become, under the influ.
ence of atheism, the chosen abode of eve.
ry evil principle. All the religions m the
world went declared to'bf the daughters of
r.,rir wna atimii. nrOaerib nar auncnttitinn. dfHtroved all reh. 1 utr n anomcr lnsutni me uara, massive
ignorance and error.; By a decree of the
National Convention , the existence of the
Deity and the doctrine of the soul immor
tality, were formally disavowed : and in or
der that the world might have tho benefit of
their folly,- this was ordered to be transla
ted into every language under heaven.
Public worship was of course discontinued.
The churches were converted into "tern
plea of reason" and women of profligate
character, who, by the acclamations of the
populace, had been constituted tutelary
goddesses', received that homage which
can only with propriety be paid to Deity,
And infidelity had also its sacrifices of
uiuuu. iuiin ine , snort period oi ten
years, no less than three millions of human
victims were offered at its ; shrine.
"France, says an eloquent writer, "du.
nngthot period, was a theatre of crime,
which had excited in the mind of every
spectator amazement and horror, ' The
miseries of that single nation have changed
all the histories ofthe preceding sufjbjinga
oi mamuna mio laie ra it's, ana nave been
enhanced and multiplied without a prece
dent, without a number, and withoutanamo.
The kingdom appeared to be changed into
one great prison , the inhabitants convert
ed into felons ; and the common doom of
mankind commuted for the violence of tlie
sword, the bayonet, and the guilotine. To
contemplate men it seemed for a season
asi ii me Kncii oi ine wnoic nation was
tolled, and the world summoned to its
execution and its funeral. '
Such are the evils which infidelity lias
uivugm ujuu iiiuiviuuais anu nauons. t
is-painful to reflect that multitudes -in our
k. .-1. : i: ., i ..
own country are at the. present moment
exposing themselves by their skepticism to
similar evils, and it is yet more painful to
reflect that tlie abettors of dcistical opin-
ioi are permitted tcisseminate-the-pot-
son oi tneir principles, unchecked and un
resisted by ; the , ChrisCah" part of - the
community. We believe that our country
can never be brought into tho condition of
revolutionary France : but the very fact
that skepticism is now introducing wretch
edness into many a family, should rouse in
to vigorous action the slumbcrim? energies
ofthe Christian church. And were bclie-
vers' sufficiently alive to tlieir duty, thev
could with case banish infidelity from our
land. All that is requisite to guard the
poor man from the attempts of the design.
ing gainsaypr, is to tell hint what the Bible
into contrast with the pruriency of skep.
ticism. - Were, mfidchty thus exposed to
the light of knowledge and of truth, it
would speedily wither, "and it would - nlti.
matchdie... "
. . ; . v ; , From the Casket - -
STORMING OF STONY POINT.
The night had already settled down
gloomy and forbidding, on the evening of
the 15th July, 1779, when the .advancing
column of a little arm v, whose uniform be
tokened it to be American, emerged from a
thick wood on the shore of the Hudson,
and in an instant tho whole dim and shad-
owy prospect, disclosed to them along the
bank ot the river, opened to the sight
tar away lay Verplanck s J'pint. now bu.
ried in a mass of shadow, white on the other
i k.i . v" .
siae oi ine river, dark, gloomy, ana trown.
ing, rose up tlie craggy heights of Stony
oint Washed on three sides by the Hud.
son, and protected on the other, except
along a narrow road, by morass, the Fort
was deemed one of the most impregnable
upon the river, and its capture regarded as
almost impossible., Yet to achieve that
gallant purpose,' this Utile army was now
upon its march. .. ' .
A turn in the road soon hid them from the
river, and after a short march or some nun.
utes duration, they arrived within a mile and
half of the enemy s lines, and halting at
the command of their officer, formed into
columns for the attack. Beginning again
their march, they soon reached the marshy
ground at the base of.Jhe hilL .
nisi : sum ine iuw vuec oi uie ireiie- i
J : .-aV ITT Ala. . I . I" al.
ra-romremvwc
nnri hilt '
Tho order passed in a whisper down the
line, and the column paused on the edge of
the morass.- It was a moment ot suspense
and peril. Every man felt 'that in a few
minutes the fate of their hazardous enter.
prise would be determined, and that they
would either bo cold in death, or the American-flag
waving in triumph over the dark
iromontory ahead, now scarcely discerna.
ble through the thick gloom of midnight
Yet not a lip quivered,,nor a check.blanch.
ed in that crisis. ' About twenty paces in
front or the column, had halted the forlorn
hope of one hundred and fifty men, . with
unloaded pieces and bayonets fixed, while
farther on a smaller group of shadowy
forms could be seen through the obscurity.
accoutred w ith axes to Cut throuch the abat-
itfros? V. Each man had a piece of white paper
in his hat to distinguish him from the foe in
the approaching melee. The pause, how.
ever, afforded, was but momentary. The
general had already reconnoitcred the ap-
column was moving steadily to tlie attack.
:- It was a thrilling moment, during which
that devoted band crossed, rapidly over the
marsh, r As yet the enemy had not discov.
ered them, i Even the hearts of the oldest
veterans trembled with the eagerness ofthe
moment of suspense.
Already had the foremost of the pioneers
reached the abattis, and tho quick, rapid
lnroachra to the still xilrnt nmmofitnrv. and
blows .of their axes rung upon tlie night,
when suddenly & shout of alarm broke from
the fort, tho gun of a sentry flashed throu
the gloom, ami1 in an instant all was uproar
uuu vu.uii. niuuu cue UOIUUIUIIUU lOrUU-
cations. Not a moment was to be lost."
- 44 Advance ! advance !" shouted. Wayne,
as ne pressed rapidly on towards the abattis,
followed in death-like silence by his indom.
itaCle troops. ' ; ; ' 9 ': ' j:
' " To arms ! came borne on tho night
breeze from the fort '!to arjns to arms!"
and then followed the quick roll of the
drum. - ' .
" Itr an instant tho enemy were at .their
posts, and as uio gui(ant contincutals still
maintained their silent but steady march.
fire, such as only desperation could pro-
auce, Durst irom every embrasure of tho
tort. ine incessant rattle ofthe musketry,
the roar of the artillery, the crashingof the
grape shot, and the lurid light flung over
the scene by the explosion of the shells;
and the streams of fire pouring from the
fort, formed a picture which no ben can
describe. Yet, amid it all, the daring as
sailants steadily advanced; Uioiigh not a
trigger had been pulled in their ranks.
faithful to the commands of thcirgcneral,
though trembling in every limb with eager
ness, they kept up their silent march, amid
the fiery tsmpest, as if impelled bv some
godlike power, On-ron-s)ii they prcss-
ed. ' ' ' '. -"j.-'' "
The whirlwind of fire from the fort ceas
ed not ; yet still they dashed along, charg
ing at the point of the bayonet,;ovcr abattis
and Bulwark, until the enemy, - borne back
by their impetuous onset, quailed- before
them."-The" works were forced. Then,
and not till then was the death-like silence
broken.- A sound rung out from the vic
torious troops over all the thunder of the
battle. It wna lhcaiehaard?f ..success,.
It was heard by tho head of the column
behind ; it passed down their line." was
caught up by tho rear, and a wild shout,
making the very welkin tremble, rung out
as they dashed on to the attack. "
I he contest was short, but terrific. Ovcf
bulwark, battery, and prostrate foes, the
gallant continentals,-headed by Wayne,
pressed on, and driving all bclore them,
met the column of tlicir little army, with
an enthusiastic cheer, in Uie very centre of
the enemy s works. In another moment
tho starry flag of America waved triumph.
aniiy over ine Daiticments.
descnbeTITthough' the contest had been
so bloody , not a man of the enemy fell after
resistance ceased. The prisoners were
disarmed, a guard placed over them, and
sentries posted on all tlie commanding po
sitions around -tho works. The morning
gun announced to the British fleet in the
river that Stojiy Poisr was won.
RtnDmr or Tma. Swiftly elide our vears
they follow each other like the waves of the ocean.
memory cam up Uie persona we once knew,
the scenes in which we once were actors tliey
appear belore uie mina lite tne phantoms ol a
night vision. Behold tlie , boy, frjoicing in the
gaiety of his soul; the whoels of time cannot move
too rapidly for him the light of hope dances in
hit eye, the smiles of expectation pUupon his Up
he looks forward to long years of joy to como
his spirit burns within him when he hears of great
men and mighty deed he wants to be a man
he longs to mount the bill of ambition, to tread
the path of honor, to bear the shout of applause.
Look at him again he is now in Uie meridian
of life core has stamped its wrinkles upon bis
brow djsappointment baa. dimmed the lustre of
his eye; sorrow has thrown its gloom upon bis
countenance he looks back upon the waking
dreamt of his youth, and Jighs for their futility
each revolving year seems to diminish, some,
thing front bit little stock of happiness, and he
discover that the season of youth, when the pulse
of anticipation beats high is the only season of
enjoyment. Who is he of the aged locks? Ilia
form is bent and totters his footstrps move more
rapidly towards the tomb ho looks back upon
the past hie day appear to have been very few,
and bo confesses they were evil. -the magnificence
ofthe great is to him vanity the hilarity ofyouth.
louy-ne consider now soon uie gloom ol
I (iratn
must overshadow the onc-and disappointment the
other the world presents little to attract, and
nothing to delight him, still, be would lone-then
put his days though of " beanty bloom," of
1 7 - -
" fancy's Hash," or music's brcath,"he is forced
AJew
DniiL must conaiona
him to idiocy or the grave yet this was the gene
rous, the high soulcd boy, who beheld his ascend,
ing path of life strewed without a thorn. Such is
human life, bat such cannot be tlie ultimate desti
nies of man. ------
ErraAOapiNAav Dncovsav or as axnerr Pawr
ixo FftEs m India. When Warren Hastings was
Govenor General of India, he observed that in the
district of Benares, a title below the surface of the
earth.ia to he found a stratum of a kind of fibrous
wooden substance, of various thickness, in hori.
tontal layers. Major Roebuck, informed of this,
went out tea spot where an excavation had bera
made, displaying this singular phenomenon. In
digging somewhat deeper for tlie purpose of fur
ther research, they laid open a vault, which on
examination proved to be of some sixo, and to their
astonishment, they found a kind of prising press,
set up in the vault, and on it more ble types,
placed as if reay for printing. JErery inquiry
was set on foot o ascertain the pmbuble period at
which such an instrument could-have been placed
there, for it wascviditatly of modern origin, and
from all the Major could collect it appeared prob
able that the place had, remained in the state in
which it was found for at least ene thousand years.
Wc believe the worthy Major on his return to Eng
land, presented one of tlie learned associations
With a memoir containing many curious specula
tions on the subject. Paper we know to have
been manufactured in the East many centuries
before we had any knowledge of it; and we have
many reasons to think that the Chinese have been
acquainted with the mode of printing they now
employ many centuries before Fanste invented it
in Europe. . It certainly does no credit to the in
ventive genius of the Komans, tq know that tney
approached so near as to engrave in a etyle not to
be squalled in the present ajfe, on genu and tones,
and of course the taking of impresses from them,
that they should still have remained ignorant of
the art which has bestowed so aiany blessing on
mankind, . ... . .
POLITICS OF THE DAY.
A liCttcr from (bo President of Uie
"Vi-. ; Vatlteel States., K .; "
WaSHIMGTOIt, JcLY4, 1840.
. Gentlemen: I have had the honor to re
ceive the invitation which you have been
pleased to give me in behalf of the democrat
ic citizens of the counties of Fayette, Wood
ford, and Scott, to be present as a guest at
a public meeting and entertainment to be
held by them at the White Sulphur Springs ,
in Scott county, Kentucky, on the 11th in
stant. - . - . - - .
Truly grateful for this mark of their res
pect and kindness, I can but regret that
my public duties will not permit me to ex
press my gratefulness face to face.
. That I have been so fortunate as to se.
cure "tlie entire approbation ofthe democ
racy of Kentucky, that they look upon mo
as "true to the Constitution of the . United
States," "the representative and advocato
of their principles in the Executive Depart-.
ment of our. Uovcrnment," cannot but af
ford me peculiar satisfaction, coming, as
it docs, from a highly respectable portion
of the ancient and time-honored patriots of
that noble State, and from the sons of those
who, in their day, were the "pillars of the
republic History, gentlemen, must be
false to her duty when she ceases to inform
mankind that it was by Kentucky that tho
first cfiuctual blow was struck at tho dan
gerous principles introduced into the ad
ministration of our Government soon' af
ter tlie adoption of tlio Constitution prin 1 -
ciplcs which had already led to acts ' of p
fearful usurpation rand th reatened specdi-
ly to destroy as well the rights' ' of "tho""
States as the liberties of tlio People. . It '
was Kentucky 1 resolutions,- backed by
those of her patriotic parent. State, which
ohaiMtwl llut-AM-nniilti' imltlijxmiiD'O' '.and L
n r . I -
brought back the administration of the Gov
ernment to the principles of. the Revolu.
tiop. For forty years the democracy of
the Union have looked upon those resolu
tions as the creed of their olitical faith;
political degeneracy has been marfced by
departure from tliat standard, and, liko tbiu
original language of the Bible- in matters of
religion, they arc the text book of every re-'
former. ir ' i.
Nothing could more effectually prove
the purity ofthe principles then announced
than the progress they have since made in -the
minds of menj . While, even the paron
posed them has come to be - considered a
term of reproach, if not of ignominy ' and
insult, the principles ofthe Kentucky res
olutions, in profession, if not in fact, now
enter into the creed of every political sect,
and the once derided name borne by their
apostles and advocates, is' considered an
essential passport to popularity and success,
Nav. more, tlio People, almost with - one
voice, have recently recognised and conse
crated the principles of tlwee resolutions.
by an act as unpressivc anu empiiuuu as n .
is possible for a nation to perform. Sinco
your letter has been laying before me wait
ing for a reply, it has become my agreeable
duty to confirm the fiat of the nation set
tling forever the unconstitutionality cf the'
sedition laws of 1798, by approving an c
for tlie relief of tlie heirs of Matthew Lyon,
refunding to them a fine collected of their
ancestor under tlio law in question. Par.
ty prejudice, judicial authority, dread of
me precedent, respect for that which has '
assumed the form of law for -forty years, .
have successfully resisted tlus act of justice;
but at length all are swept away by tho ir
resistible current of public opinion, and the
sedition act has been .irresistibly decided to '
be unconstitutional by a tribunal higher
than the courts of justice the sovereign
People of the ynitcd States. V. The patri.
arclis of Kentucky and Virginia, the men
who, in that day, midst obloquy and insult,
voted for or sustained the Kentucky and
V irginia resolutions of 1799, cannot but
rejoice with joy unspeakable in witnessing
the final triumph of the pure, principles to
which they then announced their allegi- -
ancc.: 1 ney and tneir descendants navo
a right to glory in sceingTliose. principles
rccoirntsed, even at this late day, by tho
acclamations of a nation , and one of the ty . .
rannical acts against which they protested
virtually expunged from tho records of the
country. . ;i . . ,
While to aged patriots it is a subject of
congratulation and joy , it teaches tho young
that cnons at rciorm in uie uovemmeni oi
tlicir conntry ought never to be considered
hopeless as long as there is anything to im
prove, and that, if tlie fathers do, not enjoy
the fruits of their exertions in the cause of
democratic principles, they are. certain to,
fall in blessings upon the children.
I am most lwnny to inform you, gentle.
men. that I have this dav sitnicd tlie bill for
tho establishment of an Independent Treas
ury, a measure of which you speak in deci
ded commendation. JJy this measure, tue
management of nn important branch of our
national concerns, after a departure of near
ly haU a century, will be brought back to ...
the letter, as well as to the obvious spirit
and intention of the Constitution. The -system
now superseded was, in fact, one of
those early measures devised by the friends
and advocates of privileged orders, for the
Durnose of perverting the Government from
its pure principles and legitimate objects, .
vesting all power in the hands of the. few,
and enabling them to profit at the expense
of the many. ,1 Joed no inform you , gen
tlemen, thai the eficct of depositing the
public money m banks , was to lend it to
those institutions, generally without inter
est, to be used as a part of their capital, and
V