Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-17
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Richmond. january II. 1876.

On Friday 18th inst. the following report was
handed infrom The Committee on the Literary
Funds, by MIR. Scott of York
Report of the Committee on the Literaryl
Fund, submitted to the House OF iDele-
gates on the l2th instant.
The committee to whom was referred
the Report of the President and Directors
of the Literary Fund, have had that sub
Ject under consideration, and submit the
following report:
Among the various objects presented
foriegislariye interference and aid, there
can certainly be none of more general and
vital Importance to the State. than that
of education. To diffuse information a
mong our citizens, and afford to the hum
blest individual an opportunity of acquir-
ing an education sufficient for the ordinary
transactions of life, is work worthy the
labors of the most enlightened Statement.
In government like ours, where its ex-
listence is dependent on and derivable
from, the purity, virtue and intelligence
OF its citizens, where any member of our
society may aspire at and be called on to
discharge the duties of the highest and
most responsible Offices how necessary is
| it to place the means of instruction within
the reach of all-if we profit by example
and experience, if the good effects of what
some of our sister States have done on this
subject are to have any weight with us,
we should act with liberalitY and prompt
ness, IN adding to fund already created
by the wisdom of our predecessors. The
numerous and incalculable benefits deriva-
BILE from free schools established throughout
community. are to be found in practical
operation in the states Of New-York, Mas
sachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut and
New-Hampshire. In almost every town
ship. village, or hamlet in these states, YOU
will find school free of access to the poor
children of its neighborhood large sums
of money are annually raised for their sup
port. It's peculiar subject of attention
anu legislation and its effects nave been
the most happy the poorest man is ena-
bled to educate his son for the sphere in
which he is to act. 1t is rare occurrence
that you meet man who does not Under
stand the art ofwriting colleges aid AGA
denies flourish every where, supplied as
they are with students from these subordi-
nate schools, a taste for science is diffused,
and these states become the resort of the
youth of the South, who either receive
| their preliminary EQUATION there, or attend
some oftheir colleges TO give it a finish
New-Jersey, too, nurtures and supports
her Princeton and boasts of educating one
fourth of the youth of Virginia. Our sister
states the Caroliilas and Georgia, have
each their university supported by state
endowment, and one of the former has
done much towards establishing free
schools throughout her districts on the
plan of tie states of the East. in a word,
there is no state in the Union who has not
made more progress on this subject than
/ Virginia. This declaration, however hui
initiating, is not the less true and ope-
rates as an additional incentive for us to
arouse from our lethargy and act with e.
nergy. Shall we remain tributary to other
states, for the education of our youth is a
question which presents itself with great
force to the minds of all rejecting men,
The committee are aware, that many OBJ
iections exist as to almost any practicable
scheme which can be offered, but they be
lieve they are mostly visionary.
1t is urged by some, that all the leeisla-
ture can do will not accelerate the march
of science, or the diffusion Of knowledge
that like every thirg else, so soon as there
is demand for il, we shall see its rapid
strides without Legislative interposition.
This cannot be true, for the very fact al
ready stated of the great number of our
youth sent abroad for their education,
proves our schools at present established
Insufficient accommodate them but, ore
great desideratum and the most important
one is, the proper education of the poor.
who CannOtgO abroad.l
But state winch, vixen less pcpulous, has pro.
duced our Washngtons, Jeifersons, Aiadsons and
MumOes, has surely some demand ard taste for
science and only requires the means Of exhibit
ng it, We shall have a striking example in Will
am and Mary College, the AlmamateT Of some
Of our best and greatest men rising as a PhGnix
from her ashes, unasslsted. unsupported by legis
lfative counteiance, and dependent only on the
superior talents, zeal and deyotedness Of her pre-
sident and professors, she promises TO rival ans
similar institution in our country ;and with plea
sure The committee state they arc informed Thu.
school las already in its recent prosperity suFpas
sed the most saDgnine expectation Of is friends
rhere is but one other school which grants d,plo
mas and cOoieFs degrees in the State: there ar,
several respectable academies, but few Of them o
a permanent rgture--thosc who conduct item ar
: generally engaged for year and Change there re
a ,dehce az tie expiration Of that period Thi
brngs ae| teacher and with it a new systen
J Iproddcing 20 the pupils much delay III prosecu
ing their studies, AID Z es1ission in the subject
taught