he presides is great, and will be beneficial in proportion to his learning and intelligence. The members of the bar, being always in the habit of speaking in assemblies of the people, may serve them in proportion to their learning; and, as the population shall increase, and the republic grow older, the occasions for the exercise of eloquence will become more frequent. It is, therefore, important that the number of men among us, whose learning and knowledge of political economy are unquestionable, should be greatly increased, that the leading subjects of political interest may, in all assemblies of the peopie, be fully and ably discussed. Eloquence should be made the study of an infinite number of young men who make choice of mechanical pursuits, and those who take pride in turning up the soil, in search of wealth, as well as those who study and practise the learned professions. The improvements in the arts, and in agriculture, show how high science and learning may carry the destinies of farmers and mechanics. And with proper attention to the cultivation of the mind, a member of either of the last-mentioned classes will feel at ease, when brought into collision with an antagonist of the learned professions. As the bench of that court in Missouri which is charged with probate jurisdiction is usually filled with farmers, in order to preserve its dignity and usefulness, too much learning cannot be imparted to the generation that is to live after us. To avoid the disgrace that would fix itself almost indelibly upon Missouri, if the time should ever arrive when dignity shall be forgotten on the bench, learning must be generally disseminated. If a stranger should ever perceive at our seats of justice three judges on the bench, annoyed with solicitors of all ages and sexes crawling over their shoulders, and thrusting petitions, written and oral, upon their tired and sated organs, and making application to the judgment-seat through the back window, reproach would go abroad, that time and diligence could never efface. To recapitulate the inducements that urge us to encourage learning in the most perfect form, it would appear that soul, body, and property were insecure without it. Of the farmer without learning it might be said, "Heu magnum alterius frustra spectabis ascervum, "It is the practice of some men to contemplate the growing fame of others, while they are accustomed to lie in the shade :" or, poetically and figuratively speaking "On others' crops they may with envy look, And shake for food the long-abandoned oak." Without learning, the whole of the human family might be forced to exclaim, by way of apology, "If ignorance is bliss, 'twere folly to be wise." When the acquisition of learning shall fail to interest the people of this or any other state, the currency of the country can never cease to engage their attention. The value of money is known early, and the desire to acquire it is one of the leading propensities of men; and there is but little difference of opinion as to the influence it has in human transactions. The old maxim, that the love of money is the root of all evil, is not just. But it is as just as the hard things said of paper money. The use made of money is to obtain in exchange for it all the things necessity or luxury may require. Money, gold, silver, or paper, can neither clothe nor feed us; but with it we can procure food, clothing, and physic. It is therefore unimportant what may be the kind of money used, except so far as the handling of it is convenient or otherwise. The iron coin of Sparta would serve as well as any other currency in trade, if a cart and oxen could be wielded as readily as a small purse, or reticule. When a new beginner in the business affairs of life receives for the earnings of his personal labour remuneration in paper money, its value may be tested by payment for land and a cabin. When these are procured, and the land is stocked, by the same means, of what importance is it to inquire into the intrinsic value of the currency he has used, and which he can use again in trade, to increase his valuable and productive possessions? The preservation of its value is the business of the bank stockholders, by their representatives, their directors, and officers. If they find banking profitable (and they always do) they will preserve the solvency of the institution they have placed their money in, in order to continue the profit they have been accustomed to. Their ability to preserve the credit and the solvency of their bank cannot be questioned; for they have the beaten track of numberless institutions like it to follow. It required great ingenuity to construct a steam-engine that would propel a vessel, before the task had been performed; but since the successful application of steam to this object, the dullest mechanic is equal to the achievement. Banking can be in like manner imitated. Drawing bills of exchange suggested the banking system, that has enriched the world, and made paper the better currency, while gold and silver are more appropriately reserved to beat and shape into spoons. The advantages of an ample currency, which shall furnish for the use of all a portion suited to the ability of each, or his pursuits, may be illustrated by supposing the money used the tools by which a fortune is to be carved out; or by likening the use of currency to the implements employed in a harvest-field. A dozen men may all reap by the alternate use of the same sickle. But if each were supplied with a reaping-hook, all might employ their whole time with advantage to themselves and the proprietor of the harvest-field. One five-dollar note might, in passing from hand to hand, buy and sell a large amount of property. But a suitable number of these would extend the benefits of trade infinitely, and go far to equalise the pecuniary condition of men, and suit their possessions to their capabilities, or their prudence and frugality. The fortunate individual who is accustomed to lend his money at from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. per annum will affirm, with the most unblushing effrontery, and with hypocritical affectation of sincerity, that a banking institution in Missouri would be ruinous to the citizen whose subsistence depends on the daily labour of his hands. This is to ensure the continuance of his unchristian usury. The effect of a good bank in the state (which the legislature at their next meeting will certainly charter) would be to increase the value of property, real and personal; to increase trade, increase the amount of agricultural products, and enhance the value of pro fessional services, and the manly exertions of mechanics and labourers. It will, moreover, extend greatly the facilities of merchants and traders in produce and stock; and in all probability reduce the price of merchandise in proportion to the increase of the business of each dealer in foreign commodities. Whose tables, then, will be overturned, except those of the money-changers? Nearly allied to banking is that system of internal improvements that has been adopted in every state, and among all civilized people, except those of Missouri. If for no better reason, the wisdom of other countries and other people should be imitated here, to remove the impression that prevails, perhaps to a limited extent, that the population is much mixed with the native red-skins on our borders. While there is not a half-breed who enjoys the name or the advantage of being a citizen of Missouri, it is desirable to act like intelligent white men. If it should ever become the practice in Missouri, as it is in some dark corners of all other states, to select for representatives HONEST IGNORANCE instead of learned genius, it will require the exertion of all the talent of the general assembly of the state to overcome this accidental evil, and to enter manfully upon the improvement of that member, which nature has designed to become the mammoth of the union. Every representative who professes to consult the interest of Missouri should now act up to that profession. And if he desires to give facilities to trade-if he would give the farmer the cheap, safe, and speedy means of sending his produce to market, and allow him to choose the period of sending off the products of his farm and his labour; if the lawgiver would bring to the door of his constituents foreign merchandise, the necessaries and the luxuries of life, at a cheap rate, he must adopt the fashions of the age, and yield to the march of intelligence, that is extending through every fertile or productive country of the union railways, that throw into the shadowy background of the picture of human affairs the chef d'œuvre of the immortal Clinton himself, the parent of great works, and the god-father of science! If the objections that are raised against the improvements proposed in Missouri, on account of expense, are tolerated, we should be prepared to entertain a proposition to dismiss from the western waters the steamboats that are so costly, and substitute the oldfashioned keels and barges. If an intelligent people can listen with patience to those who propose to legislate for them, while they pronounce the country too new for the works of improvement in contemplation, and suggest that it is intended to tax the people for the construction of such works, or for a banking institution, the next proposition that may be expected from the same sage lawgivers may naturally be, to require the carrier-boys, when conveying a grist to mill, to put the grain in one end of the bag and a rock in the other. If such sophistry as that used by the opposers of the ten million loan shall prevail, a grave proposition in our legislative halls may be looked for, abolishing the dog-days, and striking that sultry season from the calendar. Following up the same system of lean and steril caution, the expense of shingle-roofed cabins may be saved to the present generation, by passing an act, requiring new-married people to take up their abode in half-faced camps. These ́remarks may be deemed severe, but the practice of flattering the foibles of men should end, and those who feel charged with the capabilities that fit them for high places in the gift of the people should cease to mislead and bewilder their countryThe period is near at hand, when the timid policy that has hitherto paralyzed the energies and hidden the mighty resources of Missouri, will be forgotten, and its advocates remembered no more!!! men. |