Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-14
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

II
II is highly interesting to our country and il is the
duty OF Its nnconsies TO provide, that every citizen
shea'o receive an caneaon pr"poToned TO the con
dillon and puI SUITS Of lis liie.''
lLeiier .isVm IHos. Jefferson 10 p. carr.
From the preceding absei val ious, il appears,
that the writer IN the Eu9uiler had limited
himself to a;i enquirN into the object of the
General Assembly in the proposed change IN
the principle OF educaton'- change which it
ht~ bSen Shewn is phantom OF bis own crea-
tlon, nasniuch as the voluntary contributions
witch ne has quoted the law tn prove were so.
Gcited, consulate no essential part OF the s,s-
TEN and were only regarded as possible but
not Indispensable AUXILIARY. The voluntary
contributions aliuird 90 by the writer, whici
commissioners were TO Deappointed ID receive,
were 10 go INTO the general fluid aud 20 aug
ment II, perhaps not always Tor the equal nciiv-
nj of the contributors; bar the contributions
required as the conditions oi'ltS approximation,
were 10 take from this general iund for the
special and exclusive benefit OF the conlrihli-
tors; so that there was the strongest possible
motive 10 induce individuals TO con- rli,,,te ;
precisely the same motive which induces q
man 10 prefer hall loaf 10 Ho bread. And il
needs but little reflection to perceive that this
was one OF the most admirable parts OF the
whole system
The limited amount Of the literary iund aud
regard TO the sources from whence IL was
drawn, required that il should be distributed
with economy, with equity, aud witt iuds-
ment. The state OF Virginia contains abeUt
10000 square miles, which, If divided into town
SHIPS OF 10 square miles, each, Il division that
would have rendered them abundau.iv large
whether regard be had to population or TO con-
venience u would give 900, aud should pij.
mary school have been established in each
township without any enquiry 10 Us condi-
lion or desires, upon the supposition that each
school would cost 200-a very meagr1 allow
aice Tor the building OF a house aud the salary
OF teacher, the entire expenditure would
nave been equal to ! 100000, a sum greatly
beyond The existing amount OF the literary
fund and equal 10 It's anticipated augnemta-
ton. Thus IN single year we should nave
seen the whoie principal OF the literary fund
eNtihsuIshed, and the succeeding year our
schools abandoned for the want of teachers
whom we should no longer have the means 10
pay. Under these circumstances IL was deem.
Ell proper TO prescribe condition, which
shonid not be too cheap one. upon which its
appropriations should be made. This condi-
ton was, that before ANY appropriation should
DE made out OF the literary tiI.d for the estab-
is'rnent OF any primary school, academy, COL
IcSe or university, certain sum, or property
OF certa'n value, pioportioned to the caiac-
tsf OF the intended seminary, should he sab
sctibed by the Individuals of the ward town
snip, acadeDical or collegiate district which
were To derive the benefit of the appropria
tiGn; nor could there have been mere ;,dmi-
Iable cOntrydnce adopted. Whilst il presery-
ed the literary fund from unnecessary waste
BY aEiordiIlg security that il would only he
applied where it was wanted, and of course
v1aid be valued, aud furnished criterion of
tie fitness or ripeDeSS of a ueiglibourhood for
every degree OF education, winch ensured an
active and beneficial employ nIent OF the ad.
vantage conferred, ii stimulated private libe.
yHsity by powerful appeal TO interest, and
secuted 10 postertg all the invaluable bless
Ilss, which the perpetuation and increase of
fhHd conseciated 10 their Improvement could
otomise. II WIS also tlie most equitable mode
~ distribution that could be carried into effect
Rad tie legislature proceeded by the aloha.
nft III,
%hole principal of The literary fund would have
been discussed before we got TO the letter T.
Oh initial which With the addition OF three
ulnei letters little below IL and am adjective
termination would furnish an appropriate
Fpithet for any legislature that cOuld be guilty
o. an act OF such cOnSuInGiate folly. Besides
ihs, schools being established in ncighbor-
hoods wbsch had given no evidence OF their
preparation FOR them and perhaps might not
want thou, you'd be less Waived than where
meg we're pnTcllased at some expense, and
would "ot even secure during their ephe,neral
ts'Stence OF year, single beueiit TOT which
tEey !. ere ilteudeG.
Tue eaaagc then III the principle Of education
q there be ANY, consists, not as stated by The
Wrlter "a resting lis success Oh voluntary con.
tF.b"tons, which only the foolish aud vain"
viii pay, because OF the Inequality aud the
cmptIneSs OF the reward, but ia the ado pliou
OF pisa by which .ie literary fund is preSe y
I'd, INCREASED aad rendered useful and Il this
be " change in the principle Of education" il
20 Tue OF tHOse fortunate CHdbgcS which an
Wrongly mcllned TO believe 40 one but the
Constituent himself will depioTe.
ltfrequently happens that, tor the want OF
argument, meE resort to mysterious phrase
ot0gy which is connected iH common minds
with only obscure and indefinite ideas, and
VIXEN they cannot cOuV.nce By reasoning, 20 at.
tempt to Overwheim aud cOntOund by parade
OF unmeaniDg words. IL is upon this principle
that the writer in the Enquirer makes such Ii
beFa use Of those terrific words theOTst aud
philosopher, and that lie attempts to Brighten
tie political gObeS D,DHcheS, who will swallow
what he says with the pOinpDus phrase, a
change ~ IKE principle of educatiOH." Is il not
incumbent Oh ii,m II tell US what is the prince.
PIE OF education, TO establish its unilarnity
htiedsi 10 this country, before he talks about a
" Change :" As far As eau ascertain, from tie
Fe4pieAed dsquisiuQns OF this mouse ~ q tar
barrel, / sllOuid conjecture, that his idea is
tlat ;iie principle Oi education is cOgtyaf1Oa
,hat tic Orange consists in substituting the
soiH gttac peegts5' which he attempts to show
by kind OF technical dissertation Of Tie
word law eau constitute 30 part of law al aii.;
because law Is laie pfesCTiBed by supe
riOr 10 au inferior commanding what isrigN
aud Pr hibitng chtt is wrong Now sgppOs.
sue It's definition 10 be perfect, which deny
That a. a., should % he aniditer OfTegrcf. dat
legislature should eticct desirable CHd Will
cut tldi cOlnpg.si0n Which ie thinks iuheTcnt
"a and ESSENTIAL 20 all iaH ShOuiJ JOrcg ever
DeJ6sOfted toua free eOvcTmnoHtOr ~ any o.
tigT gOyvrDneAi Whefe interest inIpcis;
hid IL moi be Is suPeriiuoUs itth "heel--an
Unnecessary multiplication OF means, equally
ffco1sistent witii philosophy and icgisi5uon
70 Is eWient tudt .is WItlel has two pats OF
ile system 80 question 20 mixed o. 20 1a
Jfs-a t.4at ic CHsuC. separate their from each
oiH1t; tie pagi piOsIduig for Tie collection Ut
'q'3. -.ts coaI.ynton, - g5tD;o ths l.'-raiy