Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-03
RIcHMoNp, JANuARY 8.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
NO. >

Doubts concerning the DterttS Of the proposed
system " pnJhe education, most respect
fi,tiy addressed TO tie General assembly of
Yiigi,la-By a CONSTITUENTS.
But Will, this, 1.-THE virginian governmenD
4 though man might he happy, he will not al
~ ways, nor indeed long be SatIsfied.-ie will
reach II perfection absolute and unqualified
He forgets, that ftsoretiea. perfection i'm gov
''ernn,ent, and prtriieas oppression, are closely
allisu. lie Will DG more than man, and he be-
comes less. Pursuits Of Literature.
The promised enquiry, with due de
gree OF precision into the object of The
General Assembly III the proposed change
OF the principles of education, is moi ex-
empt from difficulties. Ii is clearly per-
ceived, that some of tie pirate rigI.5 of
education are 10 be converted into pubic
Ti2dts, and the management! ofiliein COM
mitted to public, instead oiprivate agents
but the nature and extent of such rights,
are far from being rendered definite nor
is the precise boundary line between the
rights hereafter - be exercised by the
parent, guardian, or master, and those,
by the government, plainly nor satsiac-
torily deiineated. Some great change in
these respects must, however, be intend
ed, or the system will be stripped Of all
its energies and of course, of its sup
posed capacities to regenerate mankind.
IL Is all important, too, that this point
should be critically settled, and perfectly
understood because the relations be-
tween parent and child, guardian and
ward, master and apprentice, constitute
some OF The strongest liganeuts, which
bind human society together; particu-
Jarly, those between parent and child.
Here, nature asserts her rights, and with
admirable skill, cntwines around their
hearts The strongest and most delicate al
fectlons within the whole range of human
sensibihtIes; and as security for these
affections, places the actions of their pos
SCISSORS IN various reciprocal dependen-
cies upon each other. These affections
tend more 10 unite, 10 harmonic, and To
strengthen society, than all the artificial
eNpedieniS that human sagacity can de-
WISE ineSe affections too, belong only
TO natural persons artificial persons
governments corporatioHs,- liave no
hearts and OF course, none of these af-
fections. Ought not then great caution.
aud perfect definition TO be employed.
before these affections are disturbed be-
fore perfect nature shall be rejected for
imperfect art before the works of God
shall be made TO yield to the works of
man i IS perhaps subject of no small
regrei and Inconvenience, in the affairs
OF man, that some signs of ideas more
words now in use, should not have been
invented, and employed, for communicate
Ing sach Ideastro one man 10 another
aud silii more 50, that more care is moi
taken III choosing lie best words which
nave been invented, to communicate ideas
Win certainty and precision. 1t is thought
III tie present case, that this complaint
will be found not altogether napplicable
TO the General Assembly, in The choice of
words to convey ideas, where from the
peculiar character of the contemplated
object, certainty and definition were i'm
periously demanded. The. papers sub
m'ited 10 theconsideration OF the citizens,
profess 10 contain system of public
education ; the bill for executing that
OBJECT, enacts, g for the purpose of di-
costing and carrying into effect the sys-
TEN OF public education provided for by The
last General Assembly, and recommends
cd by tie president and directors of the
literary fund, there shall be elected by
JOINT ballot ct The senate and house or
delegates, ten directors, who shall he
styled The Goam Of public Instruction. in
which name they shall have a common
seal, and perpetual succession; shall be
capable OF suing and being sued, pleading
and being impleaded, and shall have and
ENJOY all the nights and privileges of a cor
poraiIon." In thus enacting clause. the
words public education are dropped,
ana the words public instruction substi-
tuted. II would naturally occur 10 a cri
tical enquirer to ask the question. Whv
this change of pbraseology? 1t is thought
that it cannot belor the sake of mere me-
iody OF language. A board of public
education, tits thought, would sound as
well as board of public instruction :
1t IS therefore inferred, The preference
must be on account OF some material and
substantial difference in the meaning of
the different terms. Hence the defini-
ton ofthe operative term public instrlc-
lion, becomes Indispensable necessary
and al important, whilst il is found 10 he
amongst the most comprehensive and in
definite of any afforded by the English
language. As this seems 10 be the favor
iie term chosen for the expression of the
object, as we'll as for the definition ofthe
powers, proposed TO he transferred. If
perhaps would not be inappropriate to
premise something in relation Ia the na-
ture and tendency of power generally,
when committed to hGman agency. Of
all the passions which inhabit tile heart
OF man, the love Of power is found to be
the most universal, the most insnuaiing,
the most uncomfortable, and tie most
.InisChIevons. No age nor sex, nor con-
dition, seems TO be exempt from its fas-
cinaiing influence. Neither the supposed
magic Of tic sacerdotal gown, nor Of the
judicial robe, has been found potent
enough, TO subject tie wearcr TO any neu-
tralizlHg spell The history Of our holy
religion affords perhaps the most lnstruc-
tive lesson upon this point Amongst
other human means, which according TO
tie divine Will, aud BY the divine permis-
sion, we're employed in extending The
Christian religion, il ilds been seen, that
from few humble fishermen i'm GaliIee