Excerpt from The Introductory Address of the Historical Society of the University of North Carolina: Delivered in the University Chapel, June 5th, 1844

In making this remark, however, it is not in my mind, that, on this occasion of the opening of our Society, you are to expect of me more than simply to lay before you the scope and importance of its objects, and suggest some hints how shay may best be pursued. Even with this limit in view, I feel the perplexing extent of the task before me. And this feeling you will at once appreciate when you perceive, that my duty leads me to a consideration of the philosophy rather than the facts of history and must necessarily embrace a wider range of oh servation than could possibly be Opened by the events, however varied or significant, of a single State or period. The husbandman, who would realize a harvest at all adequate to his labors, must not only plant the seed produced by a former year, but also cultivate with the skill gath ered from former experience. So in the investigations of history, ourel'forts, to lead to any tolerable success, must be so linked with those of the preceding generations of men as to ensure a perfect exemplifica tion of every point, individual or social, moral, intellectual, or political, which we design to make practical, or permanently useful to ourselves and others. Besides, it is not so much the mere events of past time that we need, as it is the agency by which they were respectively brought to their issue. In constructing, after some ancient model, a fitting temple to liberty, it would help us little in our work merely to collect together the ruins of the most beautiful structures that ever adorned classic ground. Te effect our purpose, we must study, and compare, and adjust these remains of the olden time; and moreover call to our aid in restoring what is lost, an accurate knowledge of the sci ence under which they first arose to beauty and perfection.

It is true, that in researches limited to our own State; in simply tra cing out the causes, which, under human agency and human responsi bility, have steadily tended, since the first white man set his foot upon our shores, to the encouraging result, that, on this day, is so gratifying to all our hearts there would be much to entertain us, much to im prove. But to do this effectually; to travers, with proper success, the narrow field here lying before us, we must consent to the laborious process of coming to our work, through the long and intricate and mul tiform windings, opened in the annals of other States and by-gone times; of forming our conclusions and making due, self application of them, after having, with the spirit of true philosophy, viewed man, in all the depths of his complex and wonderful being; in all the varied shapes into which by the hand of providence he has.been cast; all the dif fereat scenes in which he has been called to act or suffer; all the countless struggles, mental, moral and physical, in which he has been made to bear a part; all the defeats that have covered him with shame, all the successes that have crowned him with honor; with all the vast agencies, that have united to help him on to victory, or conspired to thwart, and humble and destroy him. But in reaching this far off goal, penetrating to this ultima thule of historical research; we are not to suppose the way either dreary or barren of good. Scenes of the most thrilling interest will open upon us at every step; and while, at times, their disclosures may sadden our hearts and leave us with a mortified and chastened spirit, they will not fail in the end, if we are at all faithful to ourselves, In yielding the brightest and most substantial rewards.

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