No. 149,] 



that has thus transformed a worthless plant to be the staple of 

 our Southern States'? It is the cotton-gin, which has placed the 

 south, and all the manufacturing world beside, under a lasting 

 debt to the genius of Eli Whitney. 



And still another wonder springs from the abundant fountain 

 of American ingenuity — a more mysterious marvel than the 

 world has ever seen before. Men converse a thousand miles 

 apart, and harnessed lightning is their Mercury. The bolt of 

 Jove is become the veriest slave of Morse. 



Suffering humanity shares alike in the discoveries ol science. 

 " There is not a nerve of our corporeal system but may become 

 the channel of suffering, not an atom that may not vibrate with 

 agony." But fell disease is losing half its terror in losing all its 

 pain. The victim of the surgeon's knife wakes from his ethereal 

 dream, to pronounce with grateful praise the name of Jackson. 



These are a few of the illustrious men who will go down to 

 history as the benefactors of their race, and whose discoveries 

 have contributed largely to make up the grand aggregate of in- 

 fluence which our country is now exerting upon the world. 



The extent and the degree of moral ascendancy possessed by the 

 United States in other lands is a matter, which while it may flat- 

 ter our national vanity, is pregnant with subjects for reflection. 

 The proofs that it does exist are many and obvious. History 

 shows it, and every foreign mail adds daily evidence to the accu- 

 mulating mass. But the full extent and character of that influ- 

 ence can only be known by those who "see with their own eyes, 

 and hear with their own ears," the work which America has 

 wrought upon the world. 



In discussing this portion of our subject I shall present illus- 

 trations drawn from personal observation, or reliable authority, 

 and if, in so doing, it should appear to some to savor of unwar- 

 ranted display, my apology must be the increased interest wliich 

 is generally felt in individual experience over secluded specula- 

 tion. 



