Texas in 1850. By Melinda Rankin. Page: 13 of 196

16

TEXAS IN 1850.

Institutions of a moral character are to be the basis
upon which to build the future prosperity of Texas.
Religious principles, or rather Bible principles, must
accompany every enterprise which has for its object
the good of society. Other foundations have been
undertaken upon; but experiment has fully proven,
that no superstructure of human improvement can long
stand, unsustained by the unerring principles of God's
word. The caviller may object to this sentiment, but
he need only to look abroad over the civilized world to
see that in proportion as Christianity is a living principle
among a people, so do they stand forth in intelligence,
freedom, worth and power. On the other hand,
as infidelity pervades the spirit of a nation, in the
same proportion has she sunk in the scale of political
existence and moral excellence. For an example, let
him observe the contrast between Mexico and New
England: the one a perfect specimen of civilized
degradation (if the expression may be allowed,) and
the other a rare model of the vital principles of Christianity,
carried into every department of moral enterprise.
The worth of the puritan system is already recorded
on the page of history, and may, with propriety, be
referred to as a controlling element of power in the
development and progress of society.
A system embracing the right elements of power,
is permanent in its influence and increasing in its
strength from age to age. All else is superficial and
transient.