Part 32 (1/2)
Marion continued a islature, until orders were issued to repair and put in commission Fort Johnson, to the command of which he was appointed, with the pay of about twenty-two hundred dollars per annuh this salary had been voted hi the war, yet it was not continued to hier than two or three years, when it was reduced to less than five hundred dollars annually
Nureatly hurt on this occasion, and, I dare say, much worse than his own For he was a man who cared very little for money; and besides, about that time he entered into matrimony with that excellent and wealthy lady, Miss Mary Videau, ith her affections, bestowed on him a fortune sufficient to satisfy his uth they had been far less ation on hiladly yielded to his sense of what he owed to a generous and beloved companion, and with her, retired to his native parish of St John's, where, amidst the benedictions of his countrymen, and the caresses of numerous friends, he spent the short re every rural sith the dear wo on the happy retrospect of a life passed in fighting for THE RIGHTS OF MAN, and fondly cherishi+ng the hopes of a better
Chapter 31
The author's last visit to Marion -- interesting conversation on the importance of public instruction -- free schools shown to be a great saving to a nation
I often went to see Marion Our evenings were passed as ht have been expected between two old friends, who had spent their better days together in scenes of honorable enterprise and danger On the night of the last visit I everfor ten, I asked him if it were not near his hour of rest
”Oh no,” said he, ”we must not talk of bed yet It is but seldom, you know, that we meet And as this may be our last, let us take all we can of it in chat What do you think of the tilorious times,” said I
”Yes, thank God!” replied he ”They are glorious times indeed; and fully equal to all that we had in hope, e drew our swords for independence But I aht so
”Oh! knowledge, sir,” said he, ”is wanting! knowledge is wanting!
Israel of old, you knoas destroyed for lack of knowledge; and all nations, all individuals, have coht ere too happy to change so soon
”Pshaw!” replied he, ”that is nothing to the purpose
Happiness signifies nothing, if it be not known, and properly valued
Satan, we are told, was once an angel of light, but for want of duly considering his glorious state, he rebelled and lost all
And howCarolinians have we not knohose fathers left theant estates, handso that the most luxurious could desire? Yet they could not rest, until by drinking and ga, they had fooled away their fortunes, parted froars and blackguards on earth
”Noas all this, but for lack of knowledge? For had those silly ones but known the evils of poverty, what a vile thing it was to wear a dirty shi+rt, a long beard, and ragged coat; to go without a dinner, or to sponge for it a relations; or to be bespattered, or run over in the streets, by the sons of those ere once their fathers' overseers; I say, had those poor boobies, in the days of their prosperity, known these things as they NOW do, would they have squandered away the precious ht themselves to all this shame and sorrow?
No, never, never, never
”And so it is, most exactly, with nations If those that are free and happy, did but know their blessings, do you think they would ever exchange theenians, for exaovern; paid no taxes, but for their own benefit; and, free as air, pursued their own interest as they liked; I say, If that once glorious and happy people had known their blessings, would they have sacrificed them all, by their accursed factions, to the Romans, to be ruled, they and their children, with a rod of iron; to be burdened like beasts, and crucified like malefactors?
”No, surely they would not”
”Well, now to bring this hoovernive us one, better calculated perhaps to protect our rights, to foster our virtues, to call forth our energies, and to advance our condition nearer to perfection and happiness, than any governnifies even this government, divine as it is, if it be not known and prized as it deserves?”
I asked hiht this was best to be done?
”Why, certainly,” replied he, ”by free schools”
I shook my head
He observed it, and asked islature would look to their popularity, and dread the expense