in good government. And we cannot have faith that good government is possible, and may be secured, unless we have faith in individual virtue and integrity. Because

virtue must first exist in the individual, before it can be interwoven with civil government. A good governmeut can not exist among a community of thieves and robbers, because they possess no individual virtue to infuse into their organization. Therefore, the true American citizen must have faith in individual uprightness, and having that faith, he will use all his influence to promote righteousness and honor, among his fellow citizens, that a great majority of them may become honest and upright, and thus be able by their united action to establish a just and good government. A good citizen will not stir up the evil passions of men, nor incense one race against another.

We have in our country a class of per-.

sons whose whole sympathy appears to be confined to the black race, also another class who have good wishes only for the white, or European race, and intensely hate the black man and his descendants. The feelings of the former are partial—not embracing the broad principles of humanity, but the feelings of the latter, are not only partial, but extremely wicked.

The doctrine of Jefferson that all men are created equal, is, in truth, self-evident. Equal in what? Not in physical or intellectual strength, but in national rightsthe right to live, to be free, and to pursue happiness each in his own way, provided he does not interfere with the rights of others.

Any man who disbelieves or disavows these rights, will prove himself but poorly qualified to discharge the duties of the true American Citizen.

Man's conformity to the principle necessary to make him a good citizen, will de

pend much on intelligence. Hence a good citizen must be intelligent, and a promoter of schools and learning. And not merely of that learning which teaches the child to read and write, and the science of numbers and magnitude, but also of that higher science, which teaches the laws of his being, and the relations he holds to his Maker, and to his fellow men. A child being endued with this knowledge, will be enabled to see that his happiness and safety lie in the path of truth and honor.

The peaceful operations of this government have been disturbed, and the time was when the overthrow of the Republic was in danger through the machinations of wicked and ambitious men. Why did this trouble come upon us? Was it not because corrupt and unprincipled men were elevated to places of honor and power? Most certainly. And was not their elevation accomplished because the more moral and up

right men in community neglected their duty as citizens of the Republic. Did not this class either remain at home or scatter their strength through party prejudice, and suffer the vicious to control the affairs of this government in their own way ?.

Many think that they are good citizens, because they attend church on the Sabbath, wait on the duties of the sanctuary, and look after their private affairs. Such services are commendable and should be performed. Such men in some respects, are the salt of the earth-the light of the world. Yet they forget that their religious privileges and enjoyments depend on civil government. And in order to maintain the government, it is necessary that they should attend political meetings and conventions, that good men might be put in the field as candidates for office; and then go to the polls, that the best men might be elected to make and administer the laws of the

Not

country, to the end that any person might be protected in the exercise and enjoyment of all his rights and privileges, whether civil or religious. The correct principles which are taught in the family, in the school, and by the honest and faithful minister of our religious faith, must be interwoven with our civil establishment. by any means to alter the constitutions of the states, or the constitution of the United States, so as to make a religious test the condition of holding office, but simply that we should require moral and religious principles to be more manifest in governmental affairs.

In supporting religion and learning we we lay the basis of a good government, but if we neglect to organize a government on such basis, we leave the seats of learning, and our fire-sides, exposed to the attacks of the rebellious, corrupt and ignorant, who for the want of good government flourish in