blind persons are occasionally met with who will need add that an object must be at least six inches seldom err in the color of a person's hair, if per-wide, and as high as the person's head, before its mitted to feel it. The softness, smoothness and presence can be detected in this way; and that pliancy of manilla hemp; differ according to the consequently, doors ought never to be left halfdies which it has received, in a remarkable degree; open in houses frequented by the blind. The curand many a superficial observer has been deceived rent of air which a half-open door admits, induces by the readiness with which a blind man will select the blind to believe that the door is wide-open; he the colors as wanted to weave a door-mat, believing walks boldly forward, and becomes aware of his that blind persons possess the faculty of distin- mistake only by coming into contact with the edge guishing colors by feel; a faculty which, in all of the door. To prevent these accidents, buildings ages, has been attributed to the blind, but which I appropriated to the use of the blind ought not to need not add, does not exist except with the con- have their doors swung on hinges, they ought to comitant circumstances already explained. It may be put on rollers, and be made to recede sideways not be uninteresting to mention here, that few blind into the wall, so as to present a wide surface to persons appreciate the faculty of distinguishing the person wishing to enter or to go out. Like colors highly; they are acquainted from their in- all other perceptions dependent upon the sensibility tercourse with the seeing, with the color of most of nerves, the power of blind persons to perceive objects which surround them, and when they in-objects without coming into contact with them, vaquire about the color of any particular object, it is ries materially in the same individual with the more out of deference to the opinion of the seeing, state of his health, etc. There are even times at than out of any value which they themselves lay which the blind tell us, that they lose it entirely. upon it. Some animals appear to have this faculty to a great Such is the importance of the knowledge which degree. Spallanzani observed bats, even after we derive from sight, that an individual deprived their eyes had been destroyed, and ears and nosof it, involuntarily strives, even during the earliest trils shut up, flying through intricate passages childhood, to supply the void by paying greater without striking aganist the walls, and dexterously attention to the impressions which he receives avoiding cords and lines placed in their way. The through the other channels of the mind. This un- membrane of the wings is, in the opinion of many, divided and intense attention to the remaining the organ that receives the impression produced senses, not only directly furnishes the individual by a change in the resistance of the air; but some with a respectable stock of knowledge, but en- experiments, made by Mr. Broughton, sanction the larges greatly the channels through which that idea that it may be dependent upon their whiskers. knowledge is derived. We accordingly find the In an experiment which he made on a kitten, he senses of hearing, feeling and even smelling, so found that, whilst the whiskers were entire, it was perfected in blind persons, as, in some cases, to capable of threading its way, blindfolded out of a assume the appearance of new and distinct senses. labyrinth in which it was designedly placed, but Thus, most blind persons enjoy the remarkable fa- that it was totally unable to do so when the whisculty of distinguishing the presence of dense ob-kers were cut off. It struck its head repeatedly jects, when in their immediate vicinity, without against the sides, ran against all the corners, and coming into actual contact with them. They are tumbled over steps placed in its way, instead of seen frequently, whilst walking very fast in streets avoiding them, as it did prior to the removal of the but little known to them, suddenly to stand still, whiskers. when one step more would have brought them into To the more perfect education of the other rude contact with a sentry-box or a lamp-post; and senses consequent upon the loss of sight, must also nothing is more common than to see individuals be attributed the delicacy of the touch of the blind. totally deprived of sight, walking in a grove and "The perfection of the touch of Saunderson-who avoiding the trees with as much apparent ease, as lost his eye-sight in the second year of his life, if they could see. The explanation of this phe- and was professor of mathematics at Cambridge, nomenon is very simple. By long and unwearied England-was often tested in the examination of attention to the different sensations which differ- ancient coins; for he could run over a cabinet of ent states of the atmosphere produce upon the Roman medals with his fingers, and distinguish the nerves of the face, persons deprived of sight be-true from the false ones, when the difference was come able to detect the slightest variation in the so slight as to puzzle connoisseurs with both eyes density of the medium which surrounds them; open to find it out." when the wind blows, they become aware of the It would be a great mistake, however, to believe presence of a dense object, by feeling that there is that the touch of all blind persons is very delicate. something before them which obstructs the current Individuals differ materially in that respect, owing of the atmosphere; and on a fine calm day the air probably to the different manner in which they surrounding any such object appears to them denser have been brought up. While some persons, foland "darker" than any where else. I scarcely 'lowing the true indication of nature, allow their nd, } Va. Institute for the Blind, children to feel every object within their reach, | most blind persons seize with keen avidity upon and even assist them in the investigation of their the sources of consolation which it offers, and that tangible properties; other parents again, not only not a few have become distinguished as performers remove carefully out of the reach of their children, and composers. any object which careless handling might injure, but even prohibit their unfortunate offspring from touching the most innocent and indestructible plaything. The result of these opposite modes of treatment is evident. While the first will astonish the beholder by the freedom and ease of their movements, by their accurate knowledge of the tangible properties of objects, and by the delicacy of their touch; the latter totter more than they walk, know not the most common objects apart, and have a touch as obtuse as that of seeing persons. THE BATTLE OF THE EIGHT. [The following lines have already appeared in print, and our attention has been directed to them by a friend. In republishing them, we depart from a rule, which we have found necessary to adopt; but we see in them so much of the spirit of poetry, that we think the compliment The memory of most blind persons is remarka- strictly due; and we desire, moreover, to cheer on, to farther efforts, the honorable gentleman, who is the reputed bly good. This fact has been so generally ac-author. We offer him our pages with great pleasure, and knowledged, that in Japan, as we are informed by invite his contributions.]-Ed. Messenger. the father Charlevaix, the charge of preserving the most important events, is confided to the memory of the blind. "The annals of the empire, the history of great men, ancient titles of families, etc., are not more enduring and faithful monuments than the memory of these blind students. They communicate their knowledge to each other, and by a sort of tradition, the correctness of which is never disputed, hand it down to posterity. The facility with which some blind persons recognize localities, and find their way through the most intricate thoroughfares, is also probably owing to the goodness of their memory. The direction, the length and the breadth of a street, the quality of its pavements, the height of the houses built upon it-are all landmarks which the blind notice and treasure up in their mind for future use. By careful attention to these details, they acquire an accurate idea of the location of even the most minute objects. Nothing is more common, for example, than to see a person entirely blind, when returning from a walk of several miles, put his hand exactly on the handle of the door which he wishes to enter. Connected with this, there is a singular fact which we cannot explain, but for the existence of which we have the authority of many blind persons. It is that all of them, even those whose eye-balls have been entirely destroyed, invariably walk with their eye-lids open; and that, if they shut them, not only they are apt to lose their way, but they cannot even walk in a straight line. The acuteness of the hearing of blind persons has been, in all times, a subject of remark. By the sound of their canes on the pavement, they ascertain the width of a street, and the height of the houses built on it; by the echo of their voice, they tell the size and shape of an apartment; and some, by attending to the minutest intonations of the voice, have been known to form a shrewd guess at the character of a stranger with whom they have spoken but a few minutes. Their talent for music hardly needs mentioning; it is well known that Slow dawned the day; the robes of night In inky folds, as if to shield And let thy better feelings stray Thy hearth-stone; and the voice of mirth Think, too, such ties, such hearths as those, To write a tragic tale in blood. Now pall'd in smoke, now robed in light, And deadly glanced the practised eye Supplied each fallen comrade's post, Still "onward, onward," rent the sky; For more than mortal mould must be Aught that a second time shall dare Or matchless Tennessee. Still they shout "on!" but faint and low; "Twas but an instant and no more, Fresh columns, stung with shame and hate, And many a mangled corpse and limb Stern as Gibraltar's frowning rock, They feel alone the marksman's art, Shame bids them stand, fear counsels, fly, And when we front them, man to man, The day will yet be mine. Nor yet a leaf of sad'ning yew. A SISTER'S GRAVE. The following lines were suggested on visiting a child's grave grown green and luxuriant with flowers transplanted from her own little garden. These had been her compan ions and instructers in health and in sickness, and now, with perennial beauty and freshness, seemed to be guarding her body in death, until the morning of the resurrection While yet too young to read in the book of Revelation God is Love," she looked "through nature up to nature's God," and enjoyed flowers as "the smiles of his goodThe green earth and blue sky, the lightning of heaven and the bow in the cloud were, to her, devotional incitements; and by a rapid development of intellectual and spiritual loveliness, she confirmed the words of ber Saviour "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." ness.' Oh, how sweet is the place where our sister sleeps In her quiet and lonely bed, Where the evergreen tree which she nurtured, keeps Its watch above her head. And her garden-vine has learned to wave Its beauteous green leaves there, As if to scatter upon her grave The garlands she loved to wear. Oh a sweet place of rest hath our sister found, Where she sleeps in quiet beneath the ground! And her own loved violets blossom there, And shed their perfume round As if to hallow each breath of air That comes to her little mound. And near it" the sparrow bath builded her nest," Oh, a sweet resting place hath our sister found, With the holy and happy forever blest, How sweet is our sister's Heavenly rest! Lewiston. C. H. L. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIEtor. VOL. VIII. RICHMOND, JULY, 1842. THE TARIFF QUESTION. "Look on this side, then on that." NO. 7. subversive of the vital interests of the country, or to oppose them, at the hazard of being considered the opponent or the champion of some politi[Because the Tariff happens to be one of the party ques-cal aspirant-a character which I not only disclaim tions of the day, we perceive no good reason why it should not be discussed in our columns, as a great national ques- and shun, but which, to me, would be peculiarly tion. We belong to no party, and have no party purposes prejudicial. Accordingly, it has not been without to serve. A few months ago, we published an article under the signature of "H;" advocating a Protective Tariff as a national good. It is an engrossing subject at this time, and we thought, that however some of our readers might differ in regard to it-there would not be one who could reasonably object to a philosophical discussion of a subject having such important bearings upon our national prosperity. It is treated by each of our accomplished correspondents, not as a party question, but as a question of political economy. The one advocates, the other opposes the 'Protective System.' The opponents on either side, are fortunate in their long been divided. The opinions of the Southern champions, for each of our correspondents is most skilful with the pen; being so nearly matched in skill, we leave it to our readers to judge which of the two has the right on his side.]-Ed. Messenger. To T. W. WHITE, Esq. a struggle, that I have gained my own consent to answer the communication of 'H.' But surely, upon this subject, any Southern man will be excused for maintaining my principles; and he will gain credit for candor when he says that he maintains them only in devotion to the interests of the country in general, and of the South in particular. Upon this subject, the North and the South have people upon it, your correspondent is pleased to ascribe to an unconquerable proclivity on their part to "metaphysical abstractions." As the division is strictly sectional, while the subject is national, we cannot but wonder, that all the wisdom should lie one side of the Potomac, and all the subtlety on the other. Whether this be the case or not, the writer in question certainly takes it to be so; and therefore he entitles himself to our highest respect for his candor. 66 Editor of the Southern Literary Messenger. It was with much surprise, and some regret, that I found in the April number of the Messenger, a long article in favor of a Protective Tariff. I coneur with you, that there is no good reason why It is magnanimous to confess our faults, espequestions of public interest should not be discussed cially those that have grown gray by time—it is in your columns. I think you would do well to noble to bow to the supremacy of unerring wisdom; reserve a portion of that valuable miscellany for and it is generous to inculcate these virtues upon such subjects, provided you do not throw the those we love best; but I marvel greatly that our weight of your Editorial character on either side Southern brother should have forgotten, that we of the disputants. Would you, for instance, sub-sunk into darkness under the very teachings which mit the articles offered, to a committee of intelli- proved so instructive to him, and by which he now gent gentlemen whose opinions are known to co- hopes to lead us into the broad sunshine of truth. incide with the writer's, and who, of course, would Facts," sir! Facts deduced from the writings of feel a lively interest in putting forth the ablest wri-Mathew Cary, the speeches of Mr. Clay, and the ters on their side, the Messenger might become statements of Northern manufacturers! Why, sir, one of the most valuable teachers of sound princi- we had them by the thousand, warm from the lips, ples, that ever was raised up in the United States. and wet from the pens of these very men in perIts circulation is wide, its position is central, and son. The first, flooded our country with factscould it only be secured from Editorial bias and the second, dressed them up in the richest drapery partiality, it is probably the channel which would of eloquence, and presented them to us; while the be selected, both by the North and South, for all third, thronged the galleries of the Senate and Recommunications of national interest. But even presentative chambers with pockets full of facts, under the best regulations, there are some subjects to substantiate every word said in their favor in which should be excluded from its columns; and I either house of Congress and yet, sir, in the think the one above referred to, is one of them. midst of this blaze of light-with sun, moon and Not because it is an exciting subject; but because stars, all shining upon us at once, and with the it is a subject upon which nothing new can be cannon's mouth threatening to shed a more dismal added. To revive it at this time, I think is pecu-glare upon us, if we did not wake up to our true liarly unfortunate for many reasons: I mention but interest, we sank down into the darkness in which one: it is even now a party question, and it leaves H' found us. I marvel then, that he should now to those, who like myself are indisposed to mingle expect to illumine our benighted understandings, in the party strifes of the day, no alternative but with small fragments of the great reflectors which to see in silence, doctrines disseminated which are hitherto shed their light upon us. VOL. VIII-54 6 It is due to him, however, to say, that he has | recognize these as "homeborn" friends. Their adduced some facts, that I believe were never dis-industry, is not home industry to me. Nor seems closed to the public before; and these demand our it to me very creditable to their hearts, or compliimmediate attention. I allude to the luxurious mentary to our understandings, that they can ask living and the high intellectual attainments of the our assistance under such circumstances. Nor do female operatives of Lowell. This is certainly a I envy the son of the South, his prudence or his new and most astonishing fact in the history of forecast, who would persuade our people to shut manufactures. But even admitting it to be true, I their eyes to all these things, and volunteer a bounty cannot admit the conclusion that 'H' would de- to them out of our earnings, in order to make them duce from it. Indeed it seems to me to cut direct-comfortable at home, while they hurl their firely against him. It shows of a truth, that Lowell | brands abroad. We should at least, it seems to would be an excellent school for our daughters; me, make it a condition of our gratuity, that they but by no means shows that Lowell wants any pro- let our home industry alone; and treat us with as tection from the General Government. I suppose much respect, as they do our slaves. I would not it indisputable that these ladies bedeck their sabe understood as making no exceptions to the above loons, furnish their libraries and escrutoirs, and remarks. I know there are many North of the load their tables from their earnings in the facto- Potomac, to whom they do not apply; but these ries. I suppose that their employer does not pay are in the minority; and they are not commonly them more than he can afford to pay them; and | found about factories. that time is allowed them out of each day to court You will, I hope sir, perceive that these matters the muses, or address themselves to the sciences.lie directly in the path of the discussion, and that This I understand from 'H' to be the state of they are not warped into it, merely to excite secthings now-in 1842-after the Compromise Act tional animosity. I know that I am quite as far has performed its office. Is it a "metaphysical from party politics, as your correspondent ‘H;' abstraction," to say that the master who can thus I believe that I take less interest in them, than he reward and privilege the servant, (if their ladyships does; and I am sure that what I write has quite will allow the term) must be doing a most excel-as little respect to coming events, as what he has lent business? Can he want protection? Is it fair written; but I cannot close my eyes to what is to conclude that Lowell is in a worse condition forced to their notice every day. than other manufacturing towns? What protection then, do any of them want from the Government? Having disposed of this fact, I proceed to consider' H's' communication more in order. Your correspondent sets out with the proposi tion—that there is an absolute obligation upon every PARENTAL government, and particularly ours, to protect the industry of its own citizens against førAnd here I have to say, that if all he contends eign rivalry. This is the proposition which he tells for be true, namely, that home industry ought to us, he means to discuss. Of course, we naturally be protected, still I maintain most earnestly, that look for the grounds of the obligation—as that it no citizen of the Southern States ought to advance springs from the nature of government in general, a cent for their protection; simply because nine- and from the terms of our Constitution in particu tenths of the labor employed in the factories of the lar. But we are disappointed. The proposition is United States, is not HOME INDUSTRY in any sense stated; but after following the writer through nineof the term. I would not create sectional differ- teen columns, I have not been able to find where ences; I would be pleased to see harmony and it is discussed; and it was only after great labor good feeling prevailing among all the members of and close investigation, that I could find any thing the Confederacy; but when I see whole months of in his piece referable to it. At this stage of the the time of Congress taken up with reading peti- controversy, I am in order to state, that no govern tions from the Northern States, praying that body ment has a right to interfere with the trade of it, to usurp a power over our own operatives, that is subjects, merely to favor a particular class; much dangerous to our peace, and irrespective of our less has the Federal Government that right. The rights-when I see our operatives taken from our two propositions are before the reader, and be is ports, and the Governors of the States to which respectfully asked, which is more consonant to his they are transported, boldly overleaping the bar-conceptions of common sense and common justice! riers of the Constitution, in order to protect them-I shall not here follow 'H' through his plaintive when I see the Northern press teeming with the lament, that the "innocent little word of two sylla most bitter taunts and censures of us, for not eman-bles, Tariff,' 'harmless and inoffensive as any cipating our laborers in mass-when I see the term in the English language,' and susceptible representative of the principal manufacturing State the most precise definition,'' should ever have been in the Union, (the very State of the classic Lowell,) associated with images of plunder and oppression." holding up a petition from his people to dissolve I regret it as much as he does; but I fear it will the Union, and hear him denouncing us upon all require something more potent than a definition to occasions as tyrants and man-stealers-I cannot dissolve the association; and certain am I, that if |