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evil to the social condition of mankind, by being carried too far beyond 

 the design of its original introduction. It has too largely interfered 

 with the republican character of our own people, and even taught some 

 to affect to despise labor, and to consider the " sweat of the face" as- 

 servile and ignominious ; so that, while perfumed with the aromatic 

 essences of oriental climes, such would even disdain to sit beside the 

 uncorrupted tiller of the soil, and partake with him in the production 

 of his own labor. So, also, with the mere lady of fashion, who in for- 

 eign silks and expensive cashmeres will idolize a piano and spurn a 

 spinning-wheel, worship a dunce, and affect to despise the practical 

 common sense of the husbandman's wife or daughters. I speak not in 

 disparagement of, nor would I be understood as casting the slightest re- 

 flection upon members of well bred society, who take an interest in the 

 aflfairs of life, and do not wrap themselves in their own conceit, while 

 in possession of that which cost them no "sweat of the face," and spurn 

 the condition of the rest of mankind ; but, living in a republican na- 

 tion, reared under the influences of republican institutions, and deeply 

 venerating the memory of their republican founders, I feel naturally, 

 inclined on suitable occasions, to strike at those follies which, like nox- 

 ious weeds in your gardens, in their effect upon valuable plants, are cal- 

 culated to weaken or impair the legitimate fruit of genuine republi- 

 canism. 



Much is to be done to preserve the republican character of our peo- 

 ple, and to prevent to too great an extent such classification as would 

 conffict with the original feature of the institutions of our free society. 

 The policy of our people should be to preserve American traits against 

 the insidious encroachments of foreign manners and customs, and to 

 perpetuate the pure simplicity of the revolutionary spirits of 1776. 

 The old matron of that day, over her cup of tea, could be to her neigh- 

 bor at the same time the lady and the republican woman, and exhibit 

 an ease, cheerfulness and dignity of manner which would equally adorn 

 the American ladies of the present age, and at the same time add brill- 

 iancy to the beauty of republicanism. With our republican fathers no 

 affectation in their intercourse with each other could have induced them 

 haughtily to extend the kid-covered tips of one hand, while with the 

 other the moustache, if any, would be arranged, when, probably it 

 needed no arrangement ; and to hasten the termination of an interview 



