Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-15
RICHMOND, JANUARY Is.
FOR TIE ENQUIRE Err.
No. 4.


Doubts concerning the merits Of tie proposed
system Of public education, most respect
t'fty addressed to tie General assembly of
V're7ma-BY A CONSTITUENT.
But will, this, (the Virginan government
" though mam might be happy, he will not al
ways, nor indeed long be satisfied.-He will
" reach at perfection absolute and unqualified
" fie forgets that theoretical perfection in gov
" eminent, and practical oppression, are closely
" allied. lie will bsmore than man, and he be-.
" comes less. Pursuits " Literature.
In endeayoring TO estimate some of the
most obviousand important consequences
OF the proposed SYSTEM Of public educa-
ton, it viii be taken for granted, that the
whole system is capable of being placed
in a course of practical operation altho'
II is not believed to be practicable-Ist,
because II IS bottomed upon voluntary
| contribution for three lourths OF lis pc
cunlary means, which cannot nationally
be counted upon even 10 put il into mo-
ton; sill less To keep it III perpetual mo-
ton: IDLY, because lis various arrange
menfs are too complicated for duration
aud 3d!v, because of its discretionary and
uadeiined powers, and tire extremely de
licatc and lnyidious character of most OF
| those powers.
/ In country where individual rights are
well understood, and highly valued, sub.
| mission tn so arbitrary a system would
| Dotb be of long duration. Iucase the whole
| system could be put into practical and
| harmonious operation, il is believed thai
| It's consequences would be seriously and
fatally felt, both by the government ans
the people. The first enquiry therefore
| will be into It's probable effects upon the
! government.
| 1t viii not be attempted 10 ascertain tn,
! precise portion of rights, which are taker
from the government, nor the precise por
ton taken from the people, t0 constItut,
| the aggregate OF rights which are trans.
| ferred 10 the corporations invented 10
carrying into effect the proposed system
of public education because II has beef
| shown already, that they cannot be done
| from the terms used in the bill but i
| must be conceded, That great portion o
| rights will necessarily be taken from both
| and placed IN the hands of these corpora
tons, as the foundation o. their extensiy,
and underlined powers. In fact, all corpo
TatIons are formed IN derOgation OF com
| mon rights and for that reason are gene
| rally limited both ~ the extent of ihei
| powers, and in the extent Of their iurls
dictiOBs but whilst these corporation
| are invested with underlined powers, thcI
jurisdiction is made cO-eXiensI, g withtha
Of the government II Is here respectful
~ asked, whether This distinction Deiweel
tie different kinds OF corporations liza
occurred 10 the General Assembly Cor
porations limiiedIu the extent Ofterrituri
al jurisdiction, aud definite in powers, az
not altogether manageable by govern
mcnt; bui corporations with nndeiinei
powers, and of unlimited jurisdictions
form a case Of ImptriGm ~ Imperio, y hicl
often battles tie whole powers cf govern
mcni; when The corporations become ye
Nv numerous, and include great number
81 individuals, acting under the stron
impulse OF Tie esprit de corps, and b0i
toned upon The principle OF srb0rdiua
ton, they olien become too powerful q
be controlled by Tie strongest govefa
nenis ; and would certainty become iais