The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-23

of academic innitutions, NUT he inevitably &C.
companied by inequalities in the accumulation
OF property as opprefIive and vices in its expen-
ditnre as odious and ruinous, as have ever re.
tuited from any fyfem oflegafed monopoly.1
10. You have opened the career Of perfonAl,
profenional and political diftinetion to the
claims and competition of individual virtue and
talents But, can you expect to behold nu-
merous and accomplished Iuccefiic., of compe-
t'iors, a competition conducted with generofi-
ty and ardour, or umpires qualified to adult
their rival pretendons with difcernment and
mPartiaty, unlefs the rifing generations are
carefully cultivated? Where, but in the bo-
ION of philosophical fchools, fhedding the clear
and concentrated lights OF fcieuce on the fnf.
ceps,b!e mind; of youth, can enlightened legifla-
tors, accomplished practitioners of law and me-
diclne, eminent instructors of youth, intelligent
and vSi!aot editors, or virtuous and able men
OF Shy deicription, where elfe can they be form
ed.
IL. The American revolution has abolfhed
the ar'ttocratical diftin6tions, phiiofophy has
extinguiibed the chivalrous and romantic gal
iantry by which the fphere of female influence
was 10 widely extended; but you feem to have
uHgcneronfly forgotten, that it is orly through
the medium of 4 more liberal fyftem of female
education, that the fair fex can receive juft
compensation for the infringement of their in
iiucnce, or be qualified to perform the delicate
and momentous duties, that NUT neceffarily
devolve on the u.atrons and daughters of To-
vereign people.
l2t The periodical delegationofpo political power
emanates from the decilions of the general will,
the administration of government, is fubletfed
TO the INFECTION and controul of public opini-
on ;docs it not then manifeR ltrange and omi-
lion fr la
means of diff'ufng the knowledge neceHary to
guldethe decifioDs of The general will, and arm
public opinion with fufficient vigilance, pene-
tration and energy, TO eyercife privilege, 70
important and fublime Could any thing but
pcrfoaal knowledge OF the fact make it credi-
bic, that in Scotland, Switzerland and G erma-
ny, even in the henightcd realms of Ruilia, in
ittuticns for the iuflruetion of youth and the
general diffuiion of knowledge, are more will
lingly Imported and more literally endowed
both by individuals and by government, than
in the United States of the new world In
countries where the general diffulion of know
ledge is uueifental or at beit but ornamental
than IN tociety where the acquiiition ofknew-
ledge and the cultivation of talents, conftitute
the principal iottce ri Peripna nappIneis. the
bef intrument of public ufefulnefs and the only
houourable aud legitimate claim to political G.
lcvation: In countries, where the general diff
futon of knowledge may endapger the liability
OF the exiting form of government than in "A
fociety, where its dif3ufion contributes the only
fold foundation on which political nNitutions
can rePoie, and the pursit fountain from which
municipal regulations can proceed. In coun-
tres, where public opinion, however, enlghten-
ed, could be nothing more than the impotent,
pafiive and often afflicted spectator of the move
ments Of the political machine than in a TO-
ciety where public opinion eZerciles not only
vig'aut infpeGtion but 4 conitSnt and efficient
controul over the administration of government,
aud is in fact, Immediately or remotely, the re-
gulatcr every political movement.
Is. Can it be for a moment forgotten by the
American people, that the form ofgovernment
they have eftablifiied, and the fituation in
which they are placed, preient fpc0ace novel
and momcn.ous, to which no parallel exits in
the records of hitory, or in the condition of CO.
exilfent nations9 Their iultitntions are an inno-
walton on The experience of ages. They are
performing an experiment the raolt important
that genius has ever conceived they arc ell
truited with the conduct of an enterpriZe the
mott complicated and arducus, that reafon,
aided by providence and fortune has ever at
tempted for the emancipation and Happiness of
human kind. They nuft feer their admirably
conitrnttcd and we'll compa6ied ak, freight
ed with the world iaft hope, in the teeth of an
'NFtiiS tuIiSiitp on tllc oOiOtD or a Horny o.
cesn and under the frown of a tempefuous
Ky How profound ikouId be the wifdom
bow Goniunnaste the prudence how compre-
henlve The knowledge! how difinereted and
energetic the fouls of the men, to whom for
tune has confded an undertaking 70 Wait and
fublme How inquilitive iboud be great
majority of the people how fage and patriotic
their legislators how energetic the inftruc-
tors OF their youth how vigilant, how Impair
tia, how intrepid the conductors of their
PreileS how diffuGve, how rapid, how various,
how incehant the circulation Of knowledge in
nation, called TO act on the grandet theatre
beneath the viiible diurnai fphere" & {. RI
Eng into defines beyond the reach of mortal
eye"
a. Such would probably be the reflections
that would ruth upon the mind, and fuch the
exprefiions that may be naturally conceived to
burf from the lips of an intelligent Granger of
ardent feelings, who upon WHITING Virginia,
Should obferve the general negletf of the means
ofacquiriug and difiufnS ufefni knowledge.
Milton, Bteea'ber lStb, 1896.