Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-10-21
Fran The BALANCE.
ON EDUCATION.
No. XIV.

II would be a deG7able Circumstance, if
people, Of an attrocioaay vicious charac-
| ter, might have no children to corrupt by
their influence and example. Happy it is
for a commonwealth, when fuch morbid
members are not in a Gtnation to tranfnit
AMI psrpetuate their vices, through line
Of poaerity. A predominant vicioufnels
Of difpofsion and conduct, IN parents, IS
like potion cat into fountain, that can
not fail 10 corrupt the Areams, which flow
from it. The condition, in winch the
children offuch parents are placed, is mott
ialnensable. They draw in contasion
with their infant breath; and from the
fountain of their lives they fuck the potion
Of alps. It is recorded in facred hlitory,
concerning Ahaziah, who was a very de-
PRAYED prince and fcourge to the people
over whom he reigned, that "his mother
was his councillor to do wickedly; and no
wonder it is, that he "drank mighty
like water" when the empoifoned cup
had been thus prciented to bis infant lips
by the mother that bare him. Similar
initances are not uncommon in the hiltory
Of human depravity. In every age, and
almof in every country, there have been
forne parents, who, if rot by the express
council of their lips, yet by the fagitious
example of their lives, have depraved their
children and trained them up TO ruin; and
in proportion TO the number of fuch pa
rents, there is danger Of she lois of liberty
in free fate.
Both reafon and experience bear witnefs
that the permanent exiffence of freedom a
mong any people ehentlally depends on the
general prevalence Of public and private
virtue. Unlels this water oflife repleniih
its roots and lnvigorate its branches, the
facred tree of liberty will foon wlther and
die. If the great MATS OF a people become
deeply corrupted, vain would be the et-
dcacy Of charters of rights and the bea
fyltems OF government, for the fecurity
and perpe,uation Of their privileges. =
Though political contribution might be
feat them from Heaven, and angels in
human form might adminii.er it, iuch a
corrgpted people could not remain either
free Or happy. In this view, the public
iaterca is eaentia!.y affected by the man
ner in which parents train up their child
ren: becaule every family that Is brought
up in idgene.s and vice, is to the nation,
like a polluted aream, flowing into a
common releryoir, AID which tends to
corrupt the whole MATS. Therefore, as
the education of children, as well under
the domeftic roof as in fchools, is cir.
cumfance upon which the national interelt
is deeply TAXED, it is proper fubject Of
legitlation, and requires the vigilant at
tention of government.
In the mott famous among the ancient
republics, this fubjea was deemed natl
onal concern, and Of primary Importance;
infomuch that their venerable FACES, le-
gislato.s, and magiitrates wore deeply
engaged in eifablihing efficient laws and
regulations for the educaticn of all claacs
of children, agreeable to their ideas of
virtue, and according to the geniules of
their relpe6fWe governments : and there
is much caufe to doubt whether republican
freedom can long fubla among any people,
whole government negleefs this all impor-
tant point. It is devoutly to be wilhed
that the government of the United States
might be veited with power to raiie per-
manen, fund, amply fuficiens for the edu-
cation Of the children Of The par. The
hand would deierve to be wishered, that
faouid be held up in oppolitlon TO mea-.
fare 70 conducive TO the national lnteref,
as we'll as neceaary to the welfare and
ufefulnefs Of qa.t number Of the riing
generation.
The concurrent voice of necenity and
humanity require, aifo, that the govern.
ment ihould pofeis and faithfully exerciie