Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-18
yIRcINAAKe 6sNN
RI CH III O ND, 49,
THURSDAY, Js Is, 1871.


The ssident and Irectors of the Lite
rary appointed an act of the last
Gen] ssembly have Undertaken the do
ties agIM them, and addressed the follow
ing clfv4 letter to the gentlemen whom
they have selected, as attornies or agents, to
snperinted the collection of monies appropri-
ated to the Literary Fund in the several coun-
ties and corporations within this Common
wsalth.-The Readers of the Argus are con-
graduated on this important information, SO
interesting to the cause of free; government,
which, for Permanent existence, depends al
together ona general diffusion of useful knozo-
ILedg4 and 1iStne among the people.-It is
most Ptly 10 be hoped that Proclamation
for tgH work of instruction, thus hap
PLY Eon ence& will so on successfully =
that artAS uss ,tance will be given by the
Legisleture ;n4Hd that Public Schools will
soon be established throughout the state of
Virginia.
SIR,
The advantages of Education have
been too generally admitted, to require, at
this day, any arguments to illustrate its uti-
iity in developing the faculties of man, and in
multiplying his resources. Its effects ON Re-
ligion and on Government are infinitely inn
portant. 1t is Education which forms the
moral characters OF men and political char
acters of nations. Hence, in those ages and
nations in which little care has been bestow-
ed on,uiptellectual Improvement, Supersti-
tion, Bigotry, Tyranny and Slavery have pre-
vaned: And the enlightened Philanthropist
hndsit dHcalt T. determine which most de-
serves lbs ny, the melancholy Recluse,
whose scu13dl ousnicety on the one hand, and
stakenreverelac on the other, bereft him
OF every chi oyment for the present and of all
rational hope fer the future the blind in
furiate Zealot, whose intolerant spirit sought
less TO correct the errors than to satiate his
fury in the blood OF those probably more wise,
more virtuous, and more truly religious, who
refused to subscribe to his dogmas the
monster In human shape elevated 10 govern,
who, no sooner invested with power, than re-
gardiess of the benefcent purposes for which
ne ought to have employed it, abandoned
himself to his vices,-sought only the graft
hcation OF his own desires, and inundated
the happiness of his subjects on the altar Of
his passions ;-or the wretch, degraded al
most'to forgetfulness that he yet bore the
unage.ot man, who, wasted under oppression
and abJect in his misery, cast tifn6rous look
70 lteaven, AID tainted into the arms of his
Creatorl-It is time that scenes like these
Should have am end. But, however such ca
|lamiues nay continue to afflict our fellow.
men ino .her portions Of the Globe, far reno
we'd fiom this asylum OF, our fathers; cur in
terests, netfiess than our gratitude, should
excite US to employ the means in cur power
to cherish among ourselves, and to perpetu-
ate to cur posterity the blessings NC have'in-
herited lin the mild and tolerant spirit of that
Holy Religion BY which we are taught
"Io,Jsdr God and iove0ir nezgh6o,,s :"
and in the principles of immutable justice
andequal right, which form, the basis of our
civil polity, and are sanctifed by the pre-
cept,
DO unto others as Hiou qyouldsf that others
shonld do unto thee"
The history of mankind sufficiently ev;n-
ces that ignorance has been a primary cause
of all their calamities. 1t is then by widely
diffusing the rays of intellectual light; by ri;
wing every facility to the culture of the mind
oy Carrying instruction into the cottages of
thepoor, thatswe are TO continue the most
fay9red people under Hearen-or preserve
the blessings we now enioy.-firmly persua
ded as VIZ are, of these truths, we most sim
csfely congf atolate you, sir, and our fellow
citlzcns Or on the
happy auspices which have recently appear
cd to animate our hopes, and to stimulate the
excrtions of every virtuou&and patriotic citi-
zento rise ups an enlightened posterity, the
surest bulwark Of our religion and our free
dom. These auspices viii be perceived in
three Acts of the Legislature of our State,
by the one Of which, passed the I'd of Febru-
airy, 1910, entitled, AN act. to appropriate
certain escheats, penalties, cenfiscations and
forfeiturcsto the encouragement of learning. .
all escheats and confiscatons whichhave hap
pened or may happen; all rights in personal
property accruing to the commonwealth. as
derelict, and having no rightful proprietor !;
and all Zines, penalties and forfeitures which
have been or may be imposed, or which may
accfue tothe Commonwealth, except militia
fiIes, were appropriated to constitute a lite
rafy fund, tobe divided and applied as to the
item AexeL ege lature should seem best adap-
I'D tQ(the projection of literature, in school
q scheols to " kept in each and every coun-
tyswithin the5C Commonwealth by the second,
passed, tbe 18th Of February, 1911, o explain
and amend the former, all arrears Of muster
fines are also appropriated to the same OBJ
lect; and by the third, passed on the 18th
FEB 1871, entitled, An act to provide fer
the education Of the poor" all sums of money
which have accrued, or may hereafter accrue
to the literary fund, are vested III the Cover
nor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Attor-
ney-General and President of the Court of
Appeals. for the time being; ard they and
their successors, are thereby constituted bo-
dy polite and corporate, under the denomi-
nation of the Presioetf and Ilfrecfors q 4 re