"The God of nature," he observes, "has designed the body for action; and all efforts to counteract this design, end of course in disappointment, sooner or later. The same God has designed that men should _cultivate_ {251} _their minds_; and I never can believe that this is deleterious in itself; it is so only when we neglect what he has bidden us to observe, i.e. daily discipline and effort to preserve health. "Students want vacations, journeys, remission from employment, &c. &c. and this at a great expense of time and money. Why? Because they will not be faithful, _every day_, to watch over their health, and to use all the requisite means for its preservation. Why should the farmer, the mechanic, the merchant, the physician, the lawyer, support a never ceasing round of employment, and the student not? Is there any curse laid by heaven upon study? No; it is inaction--laziness--that makes all the mischief, and occasions all the expense. This is my full persuasion from thirty years experience, and somewhat extensive observation." To these selections others of similar interest and importance might be added from the _Report_ from which they have been derived, particularly the numerous and harmonious opinions of literary men, _on the necessity and utility of regular systematic exercise to the student_; but our time forbids the indulgence, and the maxim of _Festina ad finem_ admonishes us to cut short this address. From the view that has been taken, we perceive then, with a clearness which cannot be mistaken, that the manual labor system of education is applauded by "a cloud of witnesses," and commended to our patronage and attention by arguments and facts innumerable, palpable, and unanswerable. Will the inquiry be misplaced, when we ask, Shall it _here_, (on this consecrated ground, this literary _high place_, which is destined to send forth a mighty stream of influence for good or ill, to an extent which no arithmetic can calculate,) shall it _here_ receive the countenance and patronage which it so richly deserves? Manual labor schools are already in successful operation in this southern country, and the prosperity that has attended them has been such as to silence the cavils of opposers, and remove the apprehensions of the distrustful. With all enlightened and candid persons there can be but _one mind_ respecting their practicability and their _peculiar_ importance in this southern region. It is the very section perhaps, of all others, within the limits of our republic, that is best adapted to their growth, both on account of its soil and climate, and in which, from its peculiar situation, their influence is most imperiously demanded.