The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-10-25

con o5s,rs-zs th.,i il is more dirncu.t 10 un-i
learn errolrs than to learn them thata per-
SOD w 20 has been instructed In c-rour until
twenty, cannot rcnpunce what he has learnt,
OF eSp.oie the rules in which hc has been In
structed, under sixty years. According to
this process of reasoning, Christopher Gore
would not have been calculated for the. Chief
Magistracy OF Massachusetts, nor Charles T..
Pinkney for the Presidency OF the United
States, before they had each arrived at ninety
1t is my fervcns wish, that the good people
of Massachusetts, viii soon tell the former
gentleman that they Can dispense with his
further services until he arrives at this age.
lie and his friend MIR. Pinkney, if their facul-
ties are not impaired by time, may then be
proper candidates for office. They may then
be Legislators as famous among our country
men as OH Ncster among the Grccians.-
Not denying then, that the Federal party
have an equal share OF talents in our country,
although five eights Of which they arrogate
II Themselves, are of English manufacture,
will now proceed to make few remarks on
the modes OF instruction practisca in the u
r;;tcd States. L science here, Is not yet
conducted to every mans door, it may with
pfopricty DC said, that in no country is know
ledge and Information more generally disffus-
ed. III every man is not a philosopher or
deep read politician, he is at least able to
scan the measures of his government, and
Judge Of the conduct of his rulers In diff
fcrent parts of our country, schools, acade-.
mics and colleges are erected, where ii every
one cannot receive publck education, all
cen receive such an one as will render them
competent to all the common occurrences of
life. Having evinced in manner too plain
TO be insund erstood, that there is in the ag-
gregate, as great requirements in our coun-
Try as in any other, and that IL the arts and
sciences have not arrived at as great pcriec-
tion as in other countries, they are yet in a
state of progression and if our literary
taste is not yet formed, we consequently
have as many specimens of original genius as
xny nation in the world, which can be proved
both by induction and by exhibiting exam
pies.
am now-induced, for obvious reasons, to
turn my attention to the mode of education
in my native State. The question has been
propoundcd, and often to no purpose, for /
have not until very lately, been able to solve
it, why Rhodc-Island, foremost in our revolu-
tionary career, rendered so illustrious and
distinguished during our late war, should be
so far behind her sister States in literary es-
Establishments, administrations for the diffusion
of knowledge. began at first to search for
its solution, in the charter and laws of our
State.4 Nv search WAS fruitless. I well
knew that this State, which was the last to a.
don't the constitution Of the United States,
would never consent to have her individual
rights consolidated with, or absorbed in
those ofthe general government. In read
ihss at last some Of the late acts of the Assem-
biy,I Ifoindit,amongother things, s,enacted, s'tha
ehch and every town in this state, shall annu
ally cause to be established and kept at 'tht
expcnce of such town, one or more free
schools" sc. SC. But to my great surprize
before had gone far, found this liberal anc
enlightened act was repealedyes repealed be
fore it was carried into operation. Why thi
good people of this State could have emerg
ed from darkness to fight, sunk again int
darkness, before they co uid have cxpcrien
ced the benefits arising from the proli6cl
rays Of the sun of science, was to me mys
.tsry, whose hidden recesses were. loo!
time impervious to my sight
Lat length found that to the tatriotiek ex
eriions of man whose greatness that powe
has constituted, Bolingbrose says ever
Ounce may use, this State is greatly ihdebte
for the repeal of the above act.
81 80. EURYALUS.