operation, favorable both to the body and the mind. I shall thus be entitled to take precedence of Smithson, and shall demonstrate that the money power is not the greatest that can be exerted in all cases, for the accomplishment of philanthropic objects.

Politics form the great staple of our literature, and as it is manifest that most of these pieces are intended to be staple articles, I have selected from them a due proportion on that subject, without neglecting those which are more general in their application: and as I find that I have the essays of different authors on various subjects, shall continue to make such selections as will be profitable to all, and thus confer a benefit on my fellow-citizens "beyond the power of gold."

ESSAY ON MAN.

CHAPTER VII.

CONCERNING PHYSICAL AND METAPHYSICAL MATTERS.

The cheated nation's happy favorites see.

JOHNSON.

And though we lay these honors on this man,
He shall but bear them as the Ass bears gold.

SHAKSPEARE.

In our first chapter we discoursed of man physically; and subsequently have directed our attention chiefly to things material. But it is not of our plan, as some might infer, to neglect those metaphysical themes which are as proper to our subject as the material portion of it. We do not, however, consider the metaphysical sciences as necessarily forming a part of our subject, and yet we intend that our discourses shall improve and strengthen the minds of those who peruse them diligently and attentively.

And indeed we could not, if we would, dispense with metaphysical discourse in treating of man; for even his physical concerns require, and are influenced by, metaphysical operations. Thus, when he takes quack medicines, it is necessary to their proper operation that the faculty of credulity should be powerfully stimulated; and when a demagogue wishes to carry a measure with the people's aid, the same operation of the same faculty is necessary; and further, it is necessary that the faculties reflec tion and judgment should be lulled by mental narcotics.

A due attention to metaphysical science is the more necessary in consequence of the controversial propensities now prevalent, not only in political and religious, but also in scientific, matters. It is therefore requisite that men should be taught so to exercise their judgments, as not to be deluded by sophistries, nor puzzled by the course adopted by some controversialists in propounding their arguments; such as the method, frequently resorted to, of asking questions which are considered unanswerable, except in favor of the arguments of the propounder; and thereupon assuming an air of triumph as though asking the questions must necessarily produce conviction. For instance, when the celebrated remark of Oxenstiern to his son, that very little intellect is required to govern a nation, is quoted, and it is asserted that Mr. Van Buren first, and Mr. Polk afterwards, were elected merely to try how little of that quality is requisite; and the hearer, if a true, orthodox Democrat, denies, as in duty bound, the truth of the proposition: the question is then asked, "what else would they have been elected for?" with an evident expectation that the answer will be, as with most people it would, "why really, I don't know ;" just as they would answer such questions as, "why are the South Carolinians making themselves so ridiculous?" or "why is a pig's tail curled?" or "why do the Democrats 'thank Heaven' that their candidate never did any thing to distinguish himself?" In such a case, a common person would be nonplussed; but this would be quite unphilosophical, and it would also indicate an ignorance of metaphysical subtleties that would be quite inconsistent with the character of a modern controversialist. Those especially who understand the doctrines of progressive democracy, and are qualified to defend them, can always dive down deep enough to find an answer to any question however puzzling, that will serve their occasion on any emergency.

It is generally understood that progressive democracy prefers the downward progress, that being the easiest course; and as it

is le premier pas qui coute, it made a step down from John Quincy Adams to Andrew Jackson, which cost so much that it was supposed it would prove the correctness of the above saying, by taking every thing valuable to pay the cost, so that the subsequent steps could not cost any thing. But this was a mistake; another very costly step was taken down to Mr. Van Buren, and after going down so low, it was thought by some that our downward progress must be arrested from the very nature of the case; but even then we had not got to the bottom of the ladder, but had a tumble down to Mr. Tyler! From him there surely can be no descent; and the next step to Mr. Polk must be either an ascending step, or one on level ground. Which of these it is, will be tested by the course of the heroes and sages of the Palmetto nation. These bright geniuses appear to have made a discovery, that it is easier for the people of the United States to descend to their level, than to raise themselves up again to that on which their patriots of the revolution left them, and they are holding up their bugbears of Gen. McDuffie with the long bayonets, and Gen. Quattlebum with his gunpowder toasts to frighten the country into the adoption of their measures. If these heroes find that we are still in a descending course, they will wait awhile before they declare war against the United States; but if we should be on the ascending scale, they would immediately set about the conquest of the country.

The fundamental doctrine of political economy, according to the Palmettans, appears to be that there can be no wealth in the world except what is produced by the lash, applied to the backs of negro slaves. One of the eminent statesmen and true gentlemen of that country made a visit to New-England, and discovered that free labor could produce wealth even where there was nothing to exercise it upon but rocks and ice. This discovery he made known to his countrymen, and was never thereafter appointed to any office, although confessedly the best qualified man in the nation;

for although they do not in that nation prohibit, by law, the communication of knowledge to whites as they do to the blacks, yet their aristocracy consider that it would be dangerous to their power to have their voters intelligent, (a singularly correct notion,) and therefore make it a duty of those whom they elevate to any official station, not to enlighten their voters, but to bamboozle them by "bragging and telling fantastical lies."

But to return to the subject of answering the question that may be' propounded to disciples of progressive democracy. It is very unphilosophical to be unprepared for any question whatever, and therefore the reply to that which we have been speaking of may be, that neither Mr. Van Buren, Mr. Tyler, nor Mr. Polk were elected to make the experimeut of the minimum quantity of intellect required to govern a nation, but to show how little of that attribute of man is exercised by those who elect our rulers. For, as a sagacious author professedly remarks, no man can be his own son, but must necessarily be the son of his parents; so the man who is chosen by others, cannot be the representative of himself, but must represent the taste and the knowledge of those who elected him. These gentlemen, therefore, may have been chosen to exemplify the different tastes of the different sections of our country. The people of the North are said to value successful cunning. Those of the South to value negroes-considering them as the representatives of a certain number of bales of cotton yearly, which bales are the test of all doctrines of political economy, of morals, and of religion.

Again, it is admitted by some that the administration of our government has become a mere society for the encouragement of political mendicity and mendacity—the former being the fruit of the measures of government, and the latter necessary to its support. Now a reply to such an accusation as this must be refuted by the argument of the progressive Democrat; but the course which it would be necessary to adopt for this purpose, is so recon