Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-20

TO human nature, to suppose. when secta-
, ran fanatic can communicate the fervor of
his zeal to multitudes, and diffuse it through
remote regions when the fashion ola coat
can rapidly pass from the banks the Seine.
to those of the Thames, and from thence to
the Mississippi, that an institution calcuiat-
| ed for the preservation of political libcrtv,
and the advancement of social happiness,
should he consigned 10 oblivion and ohscu-
ritv, unimitated and unadmircd. IF the
minds of men are not always open to the
voice of reason, they will certainly Weld to
| the force of reason, when aided BY fact, to
the combined evidence of demonstration and
of experience.
Occasions do not often occur TO call for
voluntary combinations of individuals to ac-
complish great national purposes. One,
however, is about to be presented, in the
| disposal of the glebe lands, which will ena-
bic the present generation to omen a career
of happiness to the future, and one, which,
! it omitted or abused will furnish a subject
| OF gloomy retrospection and unavailnr con-
| TRITON. Noevent could have been more op-
perfume, and even providential, than the re-
version Of this fund upon the people at this
| time. The glebe lands were originally do.
| nations from the public, to sect of christi
an teachers, for the purpose Of supporting a
religious es enlistment, which was then na
| tronlsed by the government; whilst other
sects were not even tolerated. They are
the remnants and memorials Of an absurd
ana exploded alliance, between church and
| state, the offerings of big1try at the shrine
J ~ religious imposture and vet were thew
intended for the purpose of promoting such
instruction as was suitable to the preiudi-
ces and opinions of that day. The citizens
OF Virginia could not make a more ample
and honorable atonement for the ignorance
and mistaken piety of their ancestors, than
| by converting fund which was erroneous
! " created Tor the purpose of instruction in
the tenets OF particular sect, into fund
! Tor the maintenance and diffusion of GENE
raj and useful instruction.
Every circumstance connected with the
eScheatable property of the church, con-
spires to recommend it as fund peculiar
ly adapted for the purpose of an experiment
tai essay on the practicability of a radical
reform in rational cl=cation. II is pro-
perty which has devolved on the people, in
such way, as to be applied to public pur.
poses, without any sacrifice of property by
individuals, IN the form of taxation, or any
encroachment on the acquisitions of indus
try, or on the wealth of expected inherit
lance. If absorbed into the mass of private
prope rty, and distributed among individu.
ais, 1t would produce no sensible accession
to their wealth or enjoyments itwould not
be telt, and would soon be forgotten. Such
disposition of it, would be, in reality, the
most sensclesS waste, the most lavish and
Joyless prodigality; the substance which
should constitute the mental aliment of the
rising generation, would be pounded into
dust, and scattered to the winds. On the
contrary, If it is preserved and husbanded
as fund for the maintenance of some per
manent institution of general utility, it will
reproductive of a perennial harvest ofbene-
hcence, eternally commemorative of the
wisdom, patriotism, and providence, of
those who shall commence the undertaking :
parents VIII live to witness the beneficial
effects In the Improvement of their chill
dren, patriots, in the wisdom of the public
councils, and the philanthropist, i'm the pc
neral amclioration of the conduct of man
kind the friends of liberty will no LONGER
g have cause to dread the delusive arts of
treacherous demagogues, nor the explosi
ons of popular precipitancy civil liberty
Will not depend for security, on the fragile
support of constitutions, but will rest on 4
basis, founded in the hearts and understand
ings of the people.
Although the property in question is not
so considerable as to be an important object
to the people, for any of the purposes to
which property is generally applied, vet il
is amply sufficient to commence fair ex-
pertinent on the subject of general cduca-
ton an experiment which we have eve
ry reason to believe, would be crowned with
success, and productive Of consequences the
most extensively beneficent 1t is also TO he
observed, that the gradual and successive
manner, in which the die rent elebes
throughout the state will become vacant.
is singularly suspicious to a successful exc
cution Of the plan proposed. 1t will afford
TO the different parishes, am opportunity OF
profiting by the experience of those which
shall have preceded them of adopting
what may be worthy of imitation, and Of
avoiding the errors into which they NAV
have fallen. In fine, it we consider the diff
fcultv of devising any other purpose, pcr-
manently useful, to which 49, g'ebcs can he
applied, and compare the smallness Of the
sacrifice with the ma gntude of the object
TO be attained, it is impossible to hesitate
about their disposal, and not to consider
them rs a boon from Heaven, sent to rescue
mankind from an abyss of ignorance and
misery rather than as the plumber of SUI
dued < departed bigo;ry, to be souandered
with the thOughtlessness of spendthrifts.
and the improvidence of robbers,
shall undertake to point out the par
ticular mode, in which the glebes NAV be
most effecuaI'y applied to the support Of
public schools, nor enter into a minute de.