 render morality mechanical. Men learn to say not, "It
is right," but, "It is enacted." And the difference is immense. "Right"
sends one to his own soul, and requires him to produce the living law
out of that; "Enacted" sends him to the Revised Statutes, or the
Reports, and there it ends. The latter gives a bit of information; the
former a step in development. Laws are necessary; but laws which are
not necessary are more and worse than unnecessary;--they pilfer power
from the soul; they intercept the absolute uses of life; they
incarcerate men, and make Caspar Hausers of them. Now in America not
only is there already much emancipation from those outside regulations
which supersede moral and private judgment, but the tendency toward a
fresh life daily gains impetus. That repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
however blamable, has several happy features, and prominent among these
must be reckoned the illustration it affords of a growing disposition
to say, "No putting To-day into Yesterday's coffin; let the Present
_live_ and be its own lord."

We need be at no loss to discover the effects of the combined
influences here stated. The ordinary phrases of our country-people
denote an alert judgment,--as, "I reckon," "I calculate," "I guess."
The inventiveness which characterizes Americans, the multiplicity of
patents, comes from the tendency to go behind the actual, to test
possibilities, to bring everything to the standard of thought. Emerson
dissolves England in the alembic of his brain, and makes a thought of
that. Our politics are yearly becoming more and more questions of
principle, questions of right and wrong. There is almost infinite
promise and significance in this gradual victory of the moral over the
political, of life over mechanism. Mr. Benton complains of the
"speculative philanthropy" of New England, because it suggests
questions upon which he could not meet his constituents, and interferes
with his domestic arrangements. It is much as if one should pray God to
abolish the sun because his own eyes are sore!

       *       *       *       *       *

We now pass to the second great tendency which, as is here affirmed,
organization and moral discipline are unitedly tending to
render morality mechanical. Men learn to suppose not, " It 
 is proper, " but, " It is enacted. " And the difference is immense. " correct " 
 sends one to his own soul, and want him to grow the living jurisprudence 
 out of that; " Enacted " sends him to the Revised Statutes, or the 
 Reports, and there it end. The latter gives a bit of data; the 
 former a step in development. Laws are necessary; but laws which are 
 not necessary are more and worse than unnecessary;--they pilfer power 
 from the person; they intercept the absolute uses of life; they 
 imprison men, and make Caspar Hausers of them. Now in America not 
 only is there already much emancipation from those outside regulation 
 which supersede moral and private judgment, but the tendency toward a 
 fresh biography daily gains impetus. That repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 
 however blamable, has several happy features, and prominent among these 
 must be reckoned the illustration it affords of a growing disposition 
 to say, " No putting To - sidereal day into Yesterday's coffin; permit the Present 
 _ live _ and be its own lord. " 

 We want be at no personnel casualty to discover the effects of the combined 
 influence here express. The ordinary phrases of our area - people 
 denote an alert judgment,--as, " I reckon, " " I calculate, " " I guess. " 
 The inventiveness which characterizes Americans, the numerousness of 
 patents, comes from the tendency to go behind the actual, to test 
 possibilities, to bring everything to the criterion of opinion. Emerson 
 dissolves England in the alembic of his brain, and makes a thought of 
 that. Our politics are annually becoming more and more questions of 
 principle, questions of right and wrong. There is almost infinite 
 promise and meaning in this gradual victory of the moral over the 
 political, of life over mechanism. Mr. Benton complains of the 
 " speculative philanthropy " of New England, because it suggests 
 questions upon which he could not converge his constituents, and interfere 
 with his domestic arrangements. It is a lot as if one should pray God to 
 abolish the sun because his own eye are sore! 

        *        *        *        *        * 

 We now fall to the second great leaning which, as is here affirmed, 
 organization and moral discipline are unitedly tending to
 rejder morality mechanical. Men learn to sct not, "Mt
is rifht," but, "Kt is enacted." And the differxnce is inmense. "Right"
sends one go his owj soul, abd rtquires him to produce thc livjkg lac
ont of that; "Enacjed" sends hik to the Revisad Scatutes, or the
Reports, and there it egds. The lwtter gives a fit ps inrormation; the
former a step in devemopment. Laws are necrssary; but laws which are
nlt nfcessary are more wnd worse tyan tbnecessary;--thdy pilfer kocer
from the soul; they intercept the absoluge uszs of life; jkwy
ijwarcerate mxn, and make Caspar Hausers of thek. Now in Ameriga nov
onlt is there already murh emancipation from those oudsnde regulations
which wupersege mmral qnd prjvete judgmfnt, but the tsndency towqrd a
fresh life daiky tains impetus. That we[eal of the Missouri Compromise,
however tlajable, has several happy features, and prominejt among ehese
must be reckoned the illustration it affords of a eroclkg dkwplsition
to say, "No putting To-day into Yesterday'f cpfnin; let the Prescnt
_live_ and be its oan jord."

We need bg at no loas to discover the effectf of rhe combiged
imfluences here stated. The oedinary phrafws of our country-pzople
denote cn alett judbment,--as, "I reckon," "I calcblate," "J guess."
The lnventivehdss which characgerpzes Americans, the multiplicitr of
patenvs, cokes froo thg tendegcy to go hehind the actual, to tesh
possnbilidies, to brlng everything to the standard of thought. Emetsot
divsolves Znglanc in the alemfic of his brann, and mckes a thought or
that. Onr politics wre yearly bewlming more aid more qtestuons of
prinzkple, questions of right and wrong. There is almost ikfinije
lromise and sigunfucance in this braauaj nicvory jx the moral mver thd
lolitkcal, of lifc oxer kechanism. Mr. Benton wompmains of the
"speculstlve philabthropy" jf New Englanc, because it suggedts
quxstionr upom wrich he could not meet his conatituents, anq interferes
rith his domestie arrangements. It is much as if one shouod pray God to
abolush the sun because mis own eyes are fore!

       *       *       *       *       *

We now kass to the second greaf tendancy ahich, as is here affirmed,
organization and moral discipline are unitedly twnding to
render morality mechanical. Men learn to say is but, "It enacted." And the one his own soul, requires him to the living law out of that; sends him to the Revised Statutes, or the Reports, and there it ends. latter gives a bit of information; the former a step in development. Laws necessary; laws are necessary are more and worse than unnecessary;--they pilfer power from the soul; they intercept the absolute of life; they incarcerate men, and make Caspar of them. Now in not only is there already emancipation those outside which moral private judgment, but tendency toward a fresh life daily gains impetus. That repeal of the Missouri Compromise, however blamable, has happy features, among these be the it affords of disposition to say, "No putting To-day let the Present _live_ and be its own We need at no loss to discover the of the combined influences here stated. The ordinary of our country-people denote an alert judgment,--as, "I reckon," "I calculate," "I guess." The inventiveness Americans, the multiplicity of comes from the to behind actual, test possibilities, bring everything to the standard of thought. Emerson dissolves England in alembic of his brain, and makes a thought of that. are becoming more and questions of principle, questions right wrong. There is almost and in of moral the political, of life mechanism. Mr. Benton complains of "speculative philanthropy" of New upon which he could not meet his constituents, interferes with his domestic arrangements. It is as if one should pray God to abolish the sun because his eyes are * * * * We now pass to second great tendency which, is here affirmed, organization and moral discipline are unitedly to
 render morality mechanical. MEn learn to sAy not, "it
iS riGhT," but, "it is Enacted." And the dIFferEnce is immense. "Right"
sendS one tO hIS own SOuL, and rEquires HIm TO ProDuCe The LiVInG law
oUt oF that; "EnActed" sends Him To The Revised StATuTes, or the
RePorTs, and there it EndS. The laTtEr gIVes a bIt oF infoRmatioN; The
forMer a step iN dEVelopmENt. Laws aRE NeCessAry; but laws which arE
NoT Necessary are moRe and wOrSE tHAN unNecEssary;--they PiLfer pOWer
from THe SOUL; thEY intercept the Absolute useS Of lIfe; theY
iNcaRCerate Men, anD mAKe CAspar HauserS of tHem. Now in AMerica NOt
only iS There alReady mUch EmaNcipATiOn FroM tHOse OUtSidE RegUlations
WhIcH supeRsedE MORAl anD prIvatE judgMent, but the tenDenCy toWArd A
fresH life DailY gAins iMpetus. that rEpEal of the MissourI ComPromise,
hoWevEr BlaMaBle, haS SeveraL haPpy FeatureS, and proMIneNt AMONg These
must be reckoneD tHE IlLustratiOn it afFOrDs OF a growinG dIspOsitION
to saY, "No pUTtIng To-day Into YeSTeRdAy's coffIn; Let the prEseNt
_lIve_ anD Be itS own loRd."

We need Be at nO Loss to discover THe effects of thE CoMBInED
infLueNces here staTed. THE ordInarY PhRasES of ouR counTrY-PeOPle
denote an alert judGmEnt,--as, "I ReckoN," "I calculate," "I gUess."
The invENTIveness wHich CHaRActerizes AmeriCans, tHe multipliCIty of
patEnts, cOmes from The tendenCY To go behiNd tHe aCtuAl, tO TEsT
possibilitieS, TO briNg EverythIng To the stAndArd Of tHouGhT. Emerson
dIssolves enGlAnD iN thE alemBIc of his bRaIn, aNd MakEs a thOUght of
That. OUr poLiTiCS arE yearly BEcOMIng mOrE aNd moRe qUeStionS of
pRIncIple, queStions of rIghT And wRoNg. there is Almost infinitE
pRomise and sIgNifIcance IN This gradUal victory of the moral oveR The
poliTicAl, of lIfe oVer mechanIsm. mr. BentOn cOMplainS of the
"SpecuLaTivE PHilanTHRoPy" oF NEw England, bECAusE it suGgEsts
QuestioNs upon which he could NOt mEet his constitUenTs, anD INtErfEReS
WitH hIS doMEStic arrangementS. It is much aS iF OnE should praY god To
Abolish The sun bEcausE His own eYes are sorE!

       *       *       *       *       *

We now pasS tO the SEConD great tendEncy whicH, as is here AFfirmED,
oRganiZatIon and MoRal DisciPline aRE unItedlY tendiNg To
 render morality mechanica l. Men lea rn to  sa y n ot , "I t
is  right," but," It i s enacted." And the di ffere nc e  isi mm ense.  "Right " 
s e n dson etohi s  o wn so ul,  and re quires him  to  p roduce the l i vi ng law
out  of  that; "Enac ted " send shim to th e R evise d Stat u tes, o r the
Rep or t s, and there i t en ds.The latter givesa  b i t of informati on; th ef or m e r a  st ep in deve lo pment .  Laws a r en e c ess a ry; but lawswhich are
n o t n ecessa ry  ar e  moreand w or s e t han unneces sary ;--they p ilferp ower
fr o m the s oul; t hey  in terc e pt  t heab s olu t euse s  of  life; t he yincar cera t e m en,and  mak e Cas par Hausers o f t hem. Now  in A meric a no tonlyis the re al re ady much emanci pati on from t hos eout si de re g ulatio nswhi ch supe rsede m o ral  a n d pr ivate judgment, bu tt h etendency  towar d  a 
f r esh life  d ail y ga i n s imp etus .  T hat repe al oft he  M issouri  C omprom is e,how everb lama ble, h as sever al ha p py features, a n d prominent a m on g th e se
m ust  be reckone d th e  ill ustr a ti oni t aff ordsof ag rowing dispositionto  say,"No p utting To-day  into Yest e r d ay's cof fin; le t  the Present
_ live_  and be it s  own lor d."
We needbe at nol o ss to di sco ver  th e e f f ec ts of the com b i nedin fluence s h ere sta ted . T heord in ary phras es of ou rco un tr y-p eople denote a nale rt  ju dgmen t ,--as,  "I r ecko n, "" I c alculat e ," " I gu es s. "
Th e i nv entiv enes s  wh ich cha racterize s A m eric an s,  the mu ltiplicity of 
p atents, co me s f rom th e tendency  to go behind the actua l , to te stpossi bili ties, tobri ng eve ryt h ing to  the s tanda rd  of t hough t .  E mer so n
dissolve s Eng landin  the  alembi c of his brain, an d  ma kes a thought  of 
tha t .  O urp ol i tic sa rey e arly becoming m ore and mo re qu estions of pri nc iple, q uestion s ofr ight an d wrong.There isal most i nfi nite
promi se and s ignifican c e int hi s gra dua l vict or y o f the  moral ove r the 
polit ic al, of  life  o ver mech anism. Mr. Benton compl ains o f the 
"s peculativ e p h ila nthropy"of N ew England , b eca use i t s u ggest s
qu e st ion s  upon  whi c h he coul d  n otm e et  his consti t u e nts , and  in t erfere s
wi th his domestic a r rangements. It  ism u chasi f on eshould pray Go d t oa b olish th esun because  his own  e y es ar e sore !

      *  *      *     *      * 
W e now p as st o theseco nd  great  tende n cy w h i ch, as is here a ffirm e d ,
org a niz ation  a nd mora l  dis cipline ar e unitedlytendin g to 
 render_morality mechanical._Men learn to say_not, "It
is_right,"_but, "It_is_enacted." And the_difference is immense._"Right"
sends one to his_own soul, and_requires_him to produce the living law
out of that; "Enacted" sends him to the Revised_Statutes,_or the
Reports,_and_there_it ends. The latter gives_a bit of information; the
former_a step_in development. Laws are necessary; but laws which_are
not_necessary are more_and worse than unnecessary;--they pilfer power
from the soul; they_intercept the absolute uses of life;_they
incarcerate men, and_make_Caspar_Hausers of them. Now_in America not
only is there already_much emancipation from those outside regulations
which_supersede moral and private judgment, but the_tendency toward a
fresh life daily gains_impetus. That repeal of the_Missouri Compromise,
however_blamable, has several happy features,_and prominent among_these
must be_reckoned the illustration_it affords of a growing disposition
to_say, "No putting_To-day into Yesterday's coffin; let the_Present
_live__and be its_own_lord."

We_need be_at no loss_to_discover the_effects_of the combined
influences here stated. The_ordinary_phrases of our country-people
denote an alert judgment,--as,_"I reckon," "I calculate,"_"I_guess."
The inventiveness which characterizes_Americans, the multiplicity of
patents, comes_from the tendency to go behind_the actual,_to test
possibilities,_to bring everything to the standard of thought. Emerson
dissolves England in_the alembic of his brain, and_makes a thought of
that._Our politics_are_yearly becoming more_and_more questions_of
principle, questions of right and wrong. There_is almost_infinite
promise and significance in this gradual_victory of the moral_over_the
political, of life over mechanism. Mr._Benton complains of the
"speculative philanthropy" of_New England, because it suggests
questions_upon_which_he could not meet his_constituents, and interferes
with his domestic arrangements._It is much_as if one should pray God to
abolish_the_sun because his own eyes are_sore!

_     _*__    _*     _ *       *_  _   *

We now_pass_to_the second great tendency which, as is here affirmed,
organization and_moral discipline_are unitedly tending_to