1 MBF MIlJ)EllimAf t I have sworn uou the Altar of Cod, eternal hostility to cVory form of Tyranny over the Blind of Mail." Thomas Jefferson. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN S. INGRAM; tdlnmc I. Firtho C61amtiia Democrat. I'tiii: vision op coxfrfrcius. x roLiTiciL ALLrnonr. "Tis Education forms the common mind." ffino pleasant afternoon in th6 s'ummcrof , I walked from my cottage for the pur pose of amusing myself Vith a ramble in a aeighboririg gr'6vc, after having read a very iftMcsfirtg debate in a deliberative body. The; pleasant season' of the year tho sc- ,ren6 aspect of the heavens the music of tthejjbirds Hhe verdure of the landscape, & the murmur ttfthcrifls. snrithnd rav mind Jntoltfahquilitv, and unbent the tension of thought, occasioned by my previous read - ihgA After having walked myself weary bygaining many a summit for a prospect, jWiil descending many a Hope to examine 'Ujojbrakcs and the minerals along the brook, -lljreturnci to a rustic scat near my cot, shaded with lofty trees and unrobed in the pendant foliage of a grape vine which twi- ncdfits tendrils round their stalely branch- seated myself in the shade, and was soon in thai indolent mood which is best japtcd to that species of contemplation which has no definite object in view. A state of inaction soon incrcassd mv indo lence of mind to a ddgrtie beyond that in ffifuch men are impelled by motive-, and I instantly found myself in a vision. I saw ajlong plain or valley extending infinitely before me, to which I could perceive no dlf&Uc bound. Throilgh this valley I per fived two passages or high ways, which Lplainly perceived had their beginning from ffnjcomrnori point, and after running a vast Jdjstancc in a similar direction, though not precisely parallel, I could indistinctly per ceive that they were likely to have one common termination. There were various passages from one of these roads to the oth er.jlsoine of which were easy and others difficult of access sonic were dd'vercd with blood and bones, cithers desolate and drea fyjvhilc some were burnished witli gold andjeurtained with piirple and scarlet) silk Smnvclvct. I observed that all the irans Versc paths had an inclinalioil from me, or Onward, and that there! were an infinite 'number of them arid that they were so constructed as to admit of being travelled 'only, the one way: There were also appa rently as many from left to right as in the opposite direction, but those which led in course were comparatively abandoned hndLsolitary, and showed that they had been buTaeldoin trodden, t observed that bdlh roads were crowded with people of all ages nsexes, but that the male part vastly 1 .t .t. l it l i jjivjiumiuruiuu m uiu luu nunu passage, Asthc multitude emerged from the common gqalj; it appeared that a number took tl-o left hand track from the start, and even some females wctlt with thom biit the majority of Uie mass seeiriod by instinct to incline to thdfright, which was by far the smoother, greener, arid mdfo shady road though I thought the othdr the more splendid. Ujion examining more cldsely, t observ boUhat the two roads were separated by a partition of very singular" nlaterial and for mation. It was more than semi-transpa-rentjand extended across the collateral pas Sages in tho samo manner as in thei space 'be'iyccn them. This partition was so form Was to admit persons to pass through it t sometimes with, arid sometimes without sporf, and yet without making any ori xQk througli it, and without deranging jts Mparts. I observed that a foW passengers 'tyete forced from the right hand to tho left , Irand road without their consent, but that matt mord Were fdrced in the opposlto di rections. What appeared very singular to hie was, that when one matt cither by him self, or through the aid of others,- had passed the partition, without any laceration, ho tojptently drew a multitude thrdiigli after XWrri leaving no passage opoij.- It frequent JyMiappenod that a multitude who eipected to "be helped through were left behind 6mc of whom were seen with woful conn- euanccs using vi !em n."1 -i ' l n , CfeOQMSiaU, CjOr.tojBSA COITISW, PA. SATURDAYS, AtTLiY i'837i this subtile Wall so as td admit them'; oth ers, fess 'fctout in heart, contented them' selves with heaping curses and imprcca tioiis 'on those who had Vlbtalned a passage, It was matter of astonishment to me to see how tho crowd on the right pressed towards the wall, especially after they had made considerable progress in their journey but those on the left almost universally drew off'from the partition and walked on the extreme opposite margin of the road Thoso who entered tho left hand road at the goal, universally kept aloof from the divi ding ground, except a solitary individual now and then, who walked ndar tho parti tion, more with a view to watch those on the opposite side than from any sincere de sire ofgdihg over to them; and if anv one did go over he was commonly despised by those he had left. It frequently happened that individuals who had passed over from right and left, were murdered before they had made any considerable advance and that very few escaped of all the numerous hosts who passed the partition by violence, if they ventured to the opposite side and tried to walk with those who entered at the beginning-. Notwithstanding that those who stood behihd could plainly sec all thai befel thvsc who preceded them and ad mitted that they had made an unfortunate stride admitted that they had relinquished safety for danger pcaco for anxiety hap pincss for vexation, and aid &, co-operation for opposition arid distrust, yet they all ap peared willing and even anxious to arrive at the same position themselves; observed too in the formation of this very singula! party wall, that it was so constructed as to interpose no obstacle at all to passengers at certain times and places, and that at oth er times arid places it was utterly imposs1 bio except by the utmost violence. Upon looking more closiily I ascertained that, on 6t)nle occasions, persons obtained admittance to the left road by violence to great; that tile fissure in the wall was visi ble, and on some occasions d fearful chasir remained. These rents wcro in some in stances repaired, and so dexterously too. as to leave no sicatricc. I was much sur prised to sec that those who forced tile pas Sage which refused to close iisdlf rarclv halt ed to assist in closing it, but hurried for ward to the opposite side, leaving the hole open for tho convenience of any future ad- venlurer who should choose to use it. In some Tew instances those on the left, made efforts to close the breach, but it was more commonly Dlosdd by thoso dn thd right and d chance time by tho united labor of both. I saw several places where a breach had been repaired, which left the curtain pos sessed of all its former elasticity, but from the traces Bfulbdd surrounding the spot, 1 was led to believe that the act, cither of riia king or repairing it, had been disastrous to lite actors. After examining tho dividing material and the transverse ways, I turned my attention to tho two paths, and to those walking iii them. I saw them on either side frequently loiter itnd examine thd va rious objects around them sdnie with ap parent satisfaction, many with anxious de sires, & still more with disappointment and despair depicted on thdir countenances. They very frequently stooped down and picked up shining sand, glittbririg fossils, arid mariy other substances with ivlillih the ground was jir'oftiscly strewed and I ob served that those who through superior in dustry, superior Craft, or any other cause, had secured most of tliesd treasures, seem ed to value themselves most, and commonly assumdd to themselves many airs on that account. They werp evidently much at tached to theso treasures arid clung to them with the most tenacious adhesion, but fl!ill (iidy we're" usually scattered with profusion, to Sdcury a passage to tho left Ii3nd road. Sometimes an individual, already in the much desired path, invited another to come thfouglt tho party wall to' him", and some times even parted with his glittering toys, or lent his hand to assist him m Ids pas saro. Tli'-pr, in.n vr,-. ,t , , 'ii hi-' .'i t.i f' 'iu, of tli'" c '-e-,! that did occur, I concluded the object of this ap'p'arc7it kindness, was really to subserve some selfish end, and that the protegee was introduced more for the convenience of the master than of himself. I now observed with astonishment that nuVnbprs of persons were every 'moment lost sight of on the leftj hand road, before they -approached the further end and many even before they had reached half way. 1 could not clearly perceive the manner in which they disappeared, but found that there were numerous elevations and de pressions, precipices and gulfs, in this road, and yet I could only perceive them at in tervals, and "never twice alike or in the same locality. From this changeable, un stable quality in this path I was led to sup pose that many entered it without any knowledge of these dangers, and all with out knowledge of their particular location, or any certain method of shunning them. To an inattentive observer this patli was as smooth and even as the adjacent one, and much better supplied with artificial orna ments anil accommodations: 1 looked in tensely on this path, and faintly and imper fectly discerned that these elevations were usually supported by arches and some by pillars but could not ascertain on what these supports were founded. There were loors in these arches, or bdtween the pil lars, and I now saw several persons has 'cning forward dn a lower level and simul taneously spring up to attain the higher inc. I almost shrieked when I nhsr.rvnd that out of the whole number only one e.xhed the desired spot; several fell against this door beneath them, which being loose. wung open with their weight, and they vere precipitated into the gulf below and wre never heard of more, One rema:ne, - taniling on the level which he had before iccupied. I could plainly perceive chagrin lepicted oil his countenance at his failure to noiint the step and he and tho hiultitude diottt him renewed their preparation for a second leap with as much assidliity as if no accident had happened. I saw innu merablo accidents & attempts of this kind, uid on examining closely found that tin failures were frequently caused by tricks I saw a set of adroit men entangling the feet of the multitude with vines and other incumbrances to prevent their success when they nladc the final leap, and that many of these toils and fneshes were made by per sons in the right hand road. Some who failed to attain tile eminence at which they aimed fell down to their former level, and some lower, without nlaterial injury, and ori reVovering from the shock, walked on with as much alacrity as bcToro, and fre qucntly succeeded in a future atteiilpt. I observed however that there was obvious dissatisfaction and grief manifested in the conduct of those vVho failed in any attempt, and that those who had failed ffequently grew weaker at every fsilure, Confolltidc'd with the mystical chart bti. fore me, I turned toevervrtartofitinsearch of some data on which to ascertain its mean ing, its beginning and its end: being disan pointed in ihy search I exclaimed, 'Oh! for an Interpreter! when looking up I perceiv ed bcrore me a supernatural visage, which appeared to be viewing mo with attention . -o and interest. I feared to inuuire his busi ness, yet I anxiously desired to know and while I was studying a phrase with which to address him, lie said with ineffable sweet ness, "Confucius,- I am the angel of in struction, and have come iri obedieneo to thy request to interpret in some degree the scene beford thee. "The plain before thee" continued ho. "is that of hn mnn lifethe left hand road is" that of public preferment, and the other is that of domes tic avocations. The goal is the commence ment of rational facility, ami those taking the road of p'fdfo'rme'fit fr'cfm the goal are' those borri to hereditary honors and poyers. l hose who pass froni tho domestic road to that of preferment by the collateral passa ges aro those who wcro born without bo- ,ii I ' ! ! , r ,V r u,u,4 t 'ii, Dr.i.i"v lu.r.P", iir.o ..tmu.ji ed d.slinction-and the reason that thou didst not clearly perceive the plan of the entrance into these roads, is that rationally and naturally, unaided by prejudice; all men would enter on the same track and pass to the other througli their own exertions, but owing to powers cither real or supposed, some families have been permitted to enter the World with Stlnnrinr nrivilpirnc nnrl hence the possibility of entcringthe road of prelcniicnt without any agency of their own. I he partition is the constitution. ciiarter of our rights, or frame of govern ment, cither written or otherwise, that sep arates the governed from those who govern and it is more or less transparent in pro portion to the right reserved to the peo pie oi inquiring into the conduct of those in vested with the powers of govcrririknt. The reason that the collateral passages leading from left to right arc forsaken, is, that few men willingly dcfccend from high stations to assume more humble ones vnlnn. tarily and those who have be'ch compell ed to do so, have usually been dealt with in a more summary manner and sent to in significance througli tho trap doors. With this interpretation thou canst understand tho rest of tho chart thyself now therefore take this spy glass and examine its struc ture more minutely." I took the glass, which my perceptorhad previously adjusted, and turned it to the arches and pillars which supported tho el evated parts of the road of preferment. I perceived then instantly that some of them were founded in the affections bf the peopMb others m some real or imaginary decree of an oracle, some on superstition and ig norance, and others stood oil a naked sword; My preceptor then explained: "The arch es that stand on the affections bf the peo pic," said he, "are stronger in proportion to the equality with which they bear on an pans anu me eminences which arc sup'poited by them are usually attained and occupied by men frbm the tight hand road. The arches are a firmer suppdr't than tlie pillars, because the more an arch is pressed tho iiiore closely its parts adhere, and in cline to One common centre. The arches arc those governments which encircle, cov er artd protdct all their citizens; aiid tho pillars, are those which build up one order of society to the proscription of all others. The pillars are riot so safe a support as the arches, inasmuch as they consist of but one patt iri ti detached situation, and all weight added to It tends to destroy it, because It tPlllIs (n r ennipifinn mwl ,. .i i .1. -1 tends to a separation and destructioii of thai unity, riicy are further less safe, because the foundation is more narrow, bears more unequally on tho people, (even if the foun dation be in their affections at all,) and thus a heavy pressure on the column destroys the base by reason of its small size. But the columns are very frequently raised on nothing better than ancient tradition of he reditary capability lo sustain it and that capability sanctioned by no other argument than a sword's point. Some othercolumns stand on a naked sword alone, and the mo ment the weight increases beyditd that which the strength of a sword will sustain. it must inevitably fall."' I then turned the glass towards the termination of the road. and perceived that the two ended infinitelv nearer together thari they were in tlfo mid dle. There were a few splendid recepta cles at the end of either road, arid I found numerous individuals arrived at them but the greater number were landed in the com; mon depository oblivion. Here. bowcr er, I discerned one or two places at which tho doUateral roads leading from left to right crossed tho path of "domestic avocations" and enddd their nursuera in an infinit.'lv worse situation than that which fell to the lot Of most of the" occupants of the latter path. Ihis receptacle was calle'd ivp'amv: While many of the votaries of preferment ended there, but few of those travelling in the other path fell lowor than oblivion. My preceptor reminded mo that I was spe'idi'i" int'-ht'iui- on tl.n m j t, - us oi't.m T op- a lyuvd .is u at. NYimlicr 12 ford a retrospective view of thd plain before mc. I consented, and he adjusted the glasscs accordingly. I now perceived the two roads with the party wall much more uuuau man neiorc; i observed, a man pro pelled by popular force from right to left along a verv nlain. misin'ino.V i a I T -ViiaVUlill path, till he arrived at an elevated position m the path of preferment. He mounted it without emotion', and sustained his position with dignified firmness, till having sub served the end for which he had been thrust forward, he stepped down to the common level with cheerfulness, took the first path which led back to the domestic road, and never looked back with longing eyes. I saw this man pass through two or three evolutions of this kind and finally saw him repose in the most solid, though plain de pository at the further end of the way; "This man is Cincinnatus," said my pre ceptor. I applied my eye to the glass again: I saw an old gentleman high in the road of preferment, vhom 1 took, from his costume to be a Naval officer, holding out his hands and interceding with his son, at the thresh hold of the way, to f:jllov him with all speed The youth; however, contrary to custom arid tho advice of his parent, inclin ed to the right, and after a time I saw him with ruddy countenance walking fieside his mother in the domestic road. The old gentleman showed great dissatisfaction at this, arid I think did some acts of violence, hut tho youth press-ed forward, blithe aiid unassuming. Presently I observed a mul titude pursuing this boy with darts and lances, both among the travellers on the right and left paths. He did not seem to fear them, yet he suffered sbveral wounds. I lost sight of him sometimes, and then found him again. After a time I saw him mount a high eminence in the path of pre ferment, though I could nbt teli how he ar rived there, nor see whero he passed the party wall. I thought however that his father had constructed steps by which the youth wa3 secured against the trap door be neath him, arid Upoh which he ascended. t' now saw the party wall in certain places become niore transparent I saw an ocean, a wilderness, a tribe of Indians and a church, pass in the distance before me; after which my friend bade me listen. I did so, and keeping my eye to the glass, saw a multi tude of people of every denomination, sect and party, on either side the transparent party wall; I saw them with one accord 1- 1 I. . t kneel down, and each one raise his voice at the same moment in prayer to God. I heard their prayers they were all ad dressed in different forms and languages, and for various objects, yet all distinct and articulate, and what seemed most strange, was, that they all prayed aloud at once, and yet I heard ea'-h as distinctly as though but one had spoken. I observed the lead ers walk forth and prdclaim universal free dom, love and g'o'o'd will but I saw, too, that his countenance betokened anger when some one laid a sword in his path. He re plied by holding dp td tho admiring world a picture of "a lion arid a lamb feeding to gether.'' After he had suffered considera bly from tho toils and traps sot for him, I sa'v him enter a beautiful eminence, hung round with brown cloth at the furthor end of the road, where ho has rested over since. "The last man thou hast seen," said my precepter, "is William Penn." "Look again," said niy friend. I did so, and saw a muScular youth enter the plain by the right hand path. He was early pressdd towards the party wall he passed it ho encountered many dangers, but com monly reached his object tho wall grew more opaque in places he returned to his' first path with' grief solemnly depicted on his countenance. I saw a band of heroes with whom he kept counsel. I saw them assumo a firm attitude, and heard them proclaim, "all men are by nature equal." I saw tho first pprsir,;e at'eepi ! u-n ;V ip i ! - J. ii? -ni': :;. 1 pr.t ..i: -.; ;v , : ' ty i' c',.aj 1 1 ,i".-.y all minor ctf- 0--..wj ti b
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