Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-20


perceive their ten denotes and 10 penetrate
the designs OF those who were cxerting
them-and how, if the tocsin was not
sounded at the onset, ii might be super
fluous and vain 10 sound il afterwards
The legislature itself, il is evident, would
SION be infested with the opinions and
principles, whether political, moral or
religious, which these ten directors might
prescribe, because the Legislature would
De composed of men taken from those
primary schools, academies, colleges aud
universities, where these opinions and
principles were taught.
ask, III thenext place, whether, admit
ting the principles ofthe bill S most Of its
details To be correct, IL Is necessary for the
Legislature TO delegate the powers enume-
rated in its third section. May not a joint
committee of their Houses, ora commit
tee OF the House of Delegates, do al each
session what these ten directors are au-
ihorised 10 do, subject TO the immediate
controul and sanction of the Legislature!
Fit can, much as object To an union of
any branch of the government with the
education OF the State, could inhnl,e-
ly prefer to see that union exist between
the popular branch, who must answer to
the People for their conduct, and the
schools, academies, colleges and univer-
sities, than between tn EN- and any ten
men i'll the world.
This brings me to consider this subject
in another point olview. have thought
in rejecting upon it, what were the
wants of this Srate i'll regard TO Educa-
tion-im what are we inferior 10 our sister
States
It's readily conceded that we required
some system, which would ditiuse more
equally, the benefits of Education-we
wanted some plan devised and patronized
by the Legislature, for instructing in the
elements of literature those, who we're
unable to pay for their own instruction;
and perhaps too, II was necessary and
proper that we should have, III some cen
tral, healthy part of the State, a College
OF University, where our young men who
could support the expense, might receive
the last finish 10 an education, which
they had advantageously received at pri-
vate Schools without beingfobliged to
spend their money abroad, and run the
risk of being alienated from their native
State This, do believe, was the extent
ofo our wants. This was all the public re-
CURED at the hands of the Legislature.
This was every thing which had been at
any time suggested by our wisest states
men. mother States thepoOy were better
educated and Knowledge more equally
diflused. But is it pretended that the
children of those who were abie to pay
the expenee, were worse educated than
i'll other States OF the Union? Where is
the evidence oft; are our Legislators less
enlightened | imagine the patrons of
this bill would notmakc HiS acknowledge-
ment. Is our Judiciary less learned
Let the ability and dignity with which
they preside in cur courts, answer. Is
our bar composed of as ingenious and
eloquent men as are found in the nell
instructed States-New-Jersey and Con
necticut, for example? | believe no one
will deny but that it is. Try the ques-
ton as you please, and it will be found
that Virginia God bless her,) has produ-
ced and is now possessed of as many
distinguished men, i'll all useful and ne
ceSsary sciences or arts, as any other
State In tie Union, not excepting New
Jersey itself, where | believe there are
more public institutions for the education
OF youth than III any other equal territory
! OF our country
All our wants then were confined TO
| the two, which, have mentioned. And
how are they supplied bv this bill By
"a most imprac ticabie illusory scheme,
| which in the pursuit of some grand unat-
! ldludDie OBJECT, roses SlpHt Oh Wldt WAS
within our reach. If the Literary Fund
had been confined to the establishment
| and endowment of primary schools, and
| perhaps a single University or College, I'M
| der proper regulations and restraints, (of
| which one would have been iii the language
of the gentleman from Cumberland, }
! It might have carried public sympathes
| and support along with it. But they will
| ponder long and proceed cautiously. be-
| fore they patronize this any-headed
monster of modern production, whose
/ fearful size and poTtentous energies they
are yet entirely unacqualnled with. In
| grasplng an illusory shadow, gentlemen
| lose the substance, and in seeking ideal,
| they sacrifice practical good.
When wereflect Oh the fact | have just
| alluded TO, that Virginians, without the
| benefits of these great public establish
mcnts, have kept abreaStwlth their breth-
rem in the race OF literary distinction
when we reflect further, that in Greece
| aud Rome, where education answered
| more completely than IN any other coun-
tries III the world the purposes for which
| it was Intended, it was left altogether TO
| the care OF the parents aud guardians of
! each individual, and thatthe State never
| had any inspection or direction of them
we shali,in searching into tie reasons of
! this apparent lncongrmty, very probably
| light upon the conclusion, that the less
| government has to do with education, tie
| betier-and that, in such enquiries our
J object ought not TO be 10 ascertain how