Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-09-18
FROM TIE aArIosAl rsrxLIlc ENC Err,

/ IS SNPeu'e"cy OF the general government
making provision for education and in
ternaI Improvements.
= No season can be more favorable than
The present for considering how far il is
constitutional ar expedient in the general
government To direct its attention to the
great objects OF education and internal inn
tprovements. That this is a question
which, al some future period not remote,
must be decided, all will agree. While
conflicting opinions exist with regard TO
the relative invesii,ure Of power on these
points among the union and the states.
and on the expediency of its exercise by
either'H IS easy To see that either much
may 'oe omitted which onght to be done,
: or that mich, that is done, may be effeGl-
ed IN an Improper manner. Thai serious
ny conflicting opinions do exist on these
| points IS most certain. There are .un.
suoubtedly respectable authorities for, as
We'll as against the interpretation OF the pre-
neral government. The expectation, that
the general government will at a proper
season exercise powers, with which i, is
conceived to be invested, is the not ,,nfre.
quent pretext Tor an omission, on the mart
OF me states, 10 attend TO objects allowed
70 DC Of great importance. Nor will this
attention be property bestowed until the
leading question, who are the constitute
onal repositories ofthe description of pow.
ers alieded 10, shall be settled. Is il moi
then oEgreat importance at once TO come
10 a decision or which such interrstinsr re.
suHs depends Is there a member OF the
community that does not feel a strong in.
terest IN carrying forward with ylpor.
those improvements, which the boundless
held presented by our country, the habits
-oi onr citizens, their spirit of en,errrize,
and their wealth, so forcib.y re-
comtnend. Whatever, then, facilitates
this progress will be welcomed with gene.
raj and hearty appreciation.
In addition to these interesting conside-
rauons there are others which ouph, IN
nave great weight IN producing an atten.
Ton To these points al this lime.
rs nation we are. now in our nfancv
and we possess, perhaps in higher de-
gree than we shall, at any future period.
that purity of motive, and singleness of
view, so we'll calculated 10 lead or ;,,ao..
, men.s to The happ st decisions. iI,ho,
personal feelings and interests do, in some
measure, iningle their alloy with the pure
currency OF patriotism, our pubic coun-
CHS as well as the public mind, are nm.
questionably more free from it than thew
eanbe expected TO be In one more advanc.
ed state. sfhis then IS the favorable sea.
, son Tor cool reflection, for,disinterested
dslIberation, for wise determination.
Nor is it altogether unimportant that we
N nv \ I.--
nal tranquility. There is nothing of natl
onal Importance that deeply agitates the
puoiic teeiiDg there Is no external danger
to absorb the public attention. Our af.
fairs, external as well as internal, wear the
falrest aspect and every new day either
brings us some additional benefit, or re.
lieyes US from some previous evil. How
long this sunshine will continue, il is moi
Tor limited intelligence to say. Thouoh
The policy OF our government, and the nur.
suits OF our citizens promise long seasoo
OF prosperity, the sky may, at no distant
DAY, be overcast, and the tempest, which
has, IN the old world, shaken so many en-.
psres TO their centre, may burst upon ne.
Let US then, before this evil day arrives.
seize the opportunity that now oEiers--.an
~-'''y I'h'eh never retOrn--.Of
coming to decision on points so interest
ing to our future prospects, and 80 closely
interviewer with the leading features of ma.
lional policy.
How shall this interesting enquiry be
made There ace two ways, each Of (which
Possesses its peculiar advantages either
by discussion IN the public prints, or in
the national and state legislatures. As
the one msy,if vigorously conducted, lead
TO the best conclusions, il would appear
only important, IN the present view, to a.
( dept, 10 the FIRST instance, either course.
Some advantages would arise from the dis
cussion of propositions, in the FIRST instance,
in selecl and legislative body. II may
be PRESUMED, that in this case, more light
would he shed ON the subj q from the su
perior powers OF The legislator, and his SUI
perior inducements to exert them. Bit.
ON the other hand, there would be, per
haps, 10 The preyions discussions of the
public prints a greater exempdoff from
personal or local views, a greater freedom