Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-31
RICHMOND. JANUARY 81.
FOR 1HE ENQUIRER.


"But with this" (the Vrginian government)
though man might nc happy, he will not al
"waysflior indeed long be satisiied.-de will
reach at perfection absolute and unqualified
He forgets, that theoretical perfection III gov
eminent, and practical oppression, are closely
called. He sill be- more Tran man, antttfe'be
"cOmes less" Pursuits Of Literature.
Before entering upon the examination
of the consequences, which would proba-
/ bly, be produced upon individuals, by the
proposed system of public education, il
may not he improper To premise, that in
recoui,ting its imputed effects upon the
government, u few prominent points only
were selected, and rapidly sketched
. whilst many others of material importance
y remain unpot.ced that the points exam
ined embraced only very few of the carl
Gus objects committed to tie care Of the board
Of public Instruction /; and that each of the
others would add It's momentum, TO the
underlined powers of that board whilst
the combined influence OF the whole would
be irresistible. A celebrated English po-
litician has observed, that if the govern
ment would give him the exclusive priyi-
lege of debating all the songs, which
should be sung Ill any nation, he could
Overturn its government. II such should
be The moral and political effect of sing
ing ballads, what would be The moral and
political effects OF the exclusive powers OF
setting tunes, not only for mAsic, but for
singing religion, politics, philosophy, mo-
rails, and all the military, agricultural and
mechanical arts q And if all these pow
ers were. placed exclusively in the hands
of corporations, what subjects UF gen
eral nature would remain 10 the discre-
ton and direction Of the legislature But
1t is believed, that its effects would not
be less injurious to individuals, than 10 the
ont al nd m flnt "A
scription ofindividuals, which would seem
TO be the tayorite.
1t has been before observed, that the
precise portion ofrishts, proposed 10 be
transferred, from Individuals to the cor
pora,lCns, is left underlined, and unascer-
tained by the bill and OF course, no ac-
curale estimate Can he formed of The pre-
else changes which will he wrought IN the
existing legal rights oteiher; but in case
any change should be made, il must be
attended with d correspondent Change of
legal consequences. According 10 the
present principles of the government, and
the law, the parent and guardian have
right 10 the services fthe child, or the
ward, until he arrives to the age of ~
years; and the master, TO those of his APP
prentice, according TO his contract, which
IS regulated by law. 1.-THE board of pub
lie instruction should have control over
thu education Of the infant for any term
o! three whole years during that period,
II ought TO have a right TO the services of
tie infant for the same period and in
case OF any interruption 10 his schooling
by others, ii should be entitled 10 an ac-
ton per quod SerpicitD, dmiSit, d the more
SO, as the whole expense of the schooling
is to be betrayed by the public in certain
cases.
II is presumed, that the principles upon
which the right of the parent TO the SER
vices fine child are founded, are. list,
The cares and expenses of the parent for
the child, before he can become service
able 10 the parent and his services af-
forwards are deemed only Just remune-
ration and I'd, The child is not presum-
ed TO have arrived 10 full discretion, until
81 years of age; and in the mean time, the
parent ls responsible for all his illegal in
discretions. These constitute some of
the dependant relations between parent
and child, which tend so much to interest
them III the conduct of each other, and
10 confirm the reciprocal affections origl-
naily Indicated by the strong impulses of
nature. Similar dissertations NAV be
applied to guardian and ward, and mas
Ter aud apprentice, so far as the re-
latlOns between them respectively, are
asslmIated by legal provisions. If then
the education of the child is taken from
the parent, or III any way qualified by
mixture OF the rights of education with
the government, so far ought the respon-
slbilliy OF the parent for The acts of the
child 10 be released and so far would
these dependant relations he weakened
and consequently, new code of flaws up
on this difficult and interesting point
would become necessary. Still greater
difficulties would arise from the hvpothe-
Sis, that the genius of the poor mans
child should be made national property.
that IT may become national benefit :
for, II the poor man is TO be divested of
his right to the genius of his child, retain
Ing only his right over his body, and the
government should become invested with
the right 10 his genius then the legal
consequences resulting from both these
rights belonging exclusively 10 the poor
man heretofore, must also be divided with
the government ; and OF course, any ac-
lion tor an injury done TO such child,
ought 10 be divided between the parent
aud the government-and consequently,
all actions hereafter brought, for the loss
OF service, should be in The nature of gui
TIM actions, as well on behalf Of the pa
rent as OF the government, or the board
OF public instruction. When any ianOva-
ton Is made III any original principle,
which has been for long time in exist
cnce, and the practice under il well set
tied, il is impossible to foresee aud esti-
mate all its legal consequences. Your
Constituent was forcibly struck with an
example, in notification of this remark,
which occurred in your honorable body,
IN the discussion Of the celebrated ques-
Ton Tor calling a convention TO amend
ihe constitution. The great advocate for
that measure, amongst other arguments