Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-11-16

,and limited means ofparents. Many pa
epts are themselves too ignorant to be
aware Of its benefits, many are too penu
ious and others tso poor. to spare the
| necessary expense. In the Grecian re-
yublics, the great object OF Legislator
Twas rather to educate the young, than Il
leovern The old. The laws OF Lysurgu
relate principally to the education Q
youth.
In the system Of education, contem
lp!ated by the constitution, township
chools are by far the most importantiea
lture. They make but little figure. attfac
hut little notice, but tho humble in aP
lpearance, their effects are wide. deep {
permanent. There is de-. rec ofsplen
dor attached to University, but town
ship schools are incomparably more use
Iful-their effects incomparaey greater
Their influence reaches fu the very basi
of society, and extends to every ind'vIdu
! al WHO helps to compose the aggregate
mass. 10 this source and TO religious
instruction must we look fora pernanen
reformation of manners, and ior tina
mpn1aI discipline which is necessary T.
form republican citizens men, who an
governed not by appetite and passion bu
by reason, and by laws the drctate o
reason.
Henry the " of France. has been ap
plauded for having w,shel. that be u,igh
live 10 see the day when every one 0
his subjects should be able to have low
in his pot. IT 1 were tefform wish
gentlemen, to suit your feelings and mia'
IL would sa,-may we live to see the da.'
when there shall be school ia ever,
township in Indiana wherein tuitiol
shall be gratis and equally open to all. ;
4 1t is not the greatest excellence OF tll'
general diffusion of knowledge, that j
, enables the citizens at large. to transac
their ordinary business. to guard theil
property and prevent 'impositioRs. The
stores of history, philosophy and reason
! all chat man has been or has learntin for
mer ages. is unlocked to the inquisitvt
eve. The intellectual part of man re,
tceives the stimulus Necessary for it,
growth a i'd expansion. and the appetites
(which govern men as we'll az brutes, in a
state of nature, lose taeir power in pro
portion, as thirst is acquired tor intel.
iectual enjoyments
Tho the sphere of instruction RI .
township school is limited, it is yet suf-
Gcient to inspire passion 4or knowledge
and while books are 80 plenty as at the
present day, the passion may be easily
and cheaply gratifed. The instance has
frequently occurred in the q. States
where youth, who has acquired the ru.
dments of education at common school
has pressed forward unaided, except by
his own prolific genius, till he has OBJ.
tanned the highest rank in the department
of letters, or the first Offices in state-&
become the ornament and boast of his
lc0untry. Need Ilnention the name Ui
Benjamin franklin, or add other names,
scarcely less distinguished.
We are republic of Farmers. Farm
lers have leisure-their occupation dispo
ses the mind to contemplation and philos-
Iophy. Would not that leisure be more
|profitably employed in reading than at
the horse race, the card and billiard table,
the dam shop or tie boxing match :
ReceIlect, that township schaol on the
nlan proposed, would place the Bible in
the hands of every youth-suppose that
evary mind imbibes the pure and sublime
morality of that book With the ingredients
| o. its growth. and conceives the effect or
! the morals and manners of a rising com
munity! How important is this consider
alton when urged with the most limited
views, without any regard to the happi.
ness OF a future existence. or even to that
consoIatory influence, (Which the Christian
religion sheds, like broad beam of light
| on the gloomy hosr of bidding THIS world
ladieu.
Happy should be, gentlemen, to I'M
lpress on your minds and to engage you
| to excite the yigilant attention OF your
fellow citizens, to this greatest object in
a Young republic. The means. tho NOT
lample are vet great, and individual zeal
must supTly the deficiency. deub, rot
yeu have observed with pleasure, thai
vice is made to pay tax to virtue.
by the appropriation of fines, assessed for
the breach Of penal laws to the support
of schools, and that a foundation is laid
for the establishment of public libraries,
on scale honourable to young state.
| by the reservation of ten per cent. in the
sales Of town lots, in count les hereafter
| to be formed.
Inmy charge to you. gentlemen, do
mot aserely call your attention to the bu-
lx....a.a IF Al, $1,000 n:44s,a l,Lat H..