Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-19
.iNHMOND. tEBhIIAEV Ig.
ZOE TIC ilNQCINEff.

But with this, (the Nirgnian go,ernmenO
though man might hc happy, lie viii not al
" ways. nor indeed long be satisiied.-He will
" reach al perfection absolute and unqualified.
" He iorgets. that theortiieai perfection in gov
eminent, aud practical oppression are closely
allied He will b. more than man. and he be-
comes less IPMrsf'iS Of Literature.
In considering The improved system of pub
lie education reported To the present Ge,ierai
assembly, auder tile little Of BILL" providing
for the endowment ofpFiuiary schools, acade-
mics. colleges, aud AN university :" the mind is
First tpICihiN struck, with HE iupvrtant differ
ence between the systems OF the last. and ire
present SESSIONS %, the General Assembly. in
cense dnence, it'll presumed, ofthe reflections
afforded by one recess and is then nccessaii.
ly led TO conjecture hat tuttcr impro yeueuts
the further reflections ofanother recess might
yet bring forth? II Is therefore proposed
inst to take a compendi0us view of the diff
teIences; and then merely TO suggest some
hints as to further Improvements.
The following viii br tcund TO be the most
material differences between the Two systems
l. II he board ofpubhc Instruction is altogether
eNpioded. z. Many of tile underlined pow
er>, which might have boon Included within
the term " Instruction. aic excluded! g. The
principle OF subor,iina,on in the former an
senbla2e ofcorporat items is aba ndoned A. \
provision Is made against the proipsSorshp of
theology and TO coniine the Jurisdiction of
the institutions forinstruc,ion. TO teaching The
sciences Only. Thus il Is found necessary to
ihtiouuce express legal provisions this session
aga'nS, principle, which was probably a.
'hoiig>t the darling principles OF the last D.
An attempt is made by IA provisioe to prevent
the influence OF religious impulses in choosing
the officers fur these respective institutions
q. great reduction is proposed 10 be made
IN the Number OF colleges, acdde mics and pri-
mary schools. In the academies. the redue-
ton proposed, is more than folir Giths. Ii is
perhaps, as great in the primary schools but
the calcu!alion cannot be, a. easil, nor as ac-
cnrately made ia relation 10 them. z. The
principle a! voluntary contributions is not
wholly abandoned bmt essentially changed
IN ITS mode OF execution The principle of
ihehdlc'ty IS entneiy abandoned and the vo-
iHntary contributions left to individual i'm
pulses. s. y material reduction is proposed.
asihe number ofpoor chldrcn 10 be advanced
from the primary schools 10 the university. q.
ihe powers OF Tie corporations are more lia,-
TED IN point of jurisdiction. as will appear from
the respective proyiSOs tor limiting their gene
ralpoweiS, one OF which is ia The following
words.
" Prorided horerer, such rules, regulations or
bylaws shall not be inconsistent with the
laws nor constitution of This commonwealth
nor OF the United States Ind grocided also.
no protcsSorShiD OF theology shaii be establish.
ed nj the said university, nor in either of the
academies, nor any preference in the selec-
ton Of professors be shewn TO any religious
sect = AitOSetler imperative.
10. They are also further restricted in the a.
mount OF i''e sums of monies, they may hold ia
their corporate characters Ii. There is an
express reservatIOnt to the General Assembly
TO correct and conirol by law, the by laws.
rules, aud regulations of the res ,ectiye corpo-
ratloES. IL. The duration of the Offices of
trustees is limited TO three years There are
other subordinate Improvements proposed
butt is thought, these axe sufficient to induce
the General Assembly TO pause before il gives
The sanction OF law, TO many of the provisions
still retained.
If the reflections of one recess, have discoy-
cred errors in twelve of the most important
provisions in the hill ofthe last session perhaps
IN D.trll .,ttt
Iectors OF The system, may it not he Teasoua.
f'ly concluded. that further improve meDts by
further rejection, VIII he found necessary ~
those which remain! ThcrnOre especially, if
the General Assembly would reeo!Iect how
prolific and abOrtive, have been the visionary
theories aDundantly aaoai in Virginia within
The last ten years Would il not have been a
subject ofrogIet iftle bill, with all It's acknow-
lodged inprifecti0ns on It's head had receiv-
ed the solemn sanctions ct law durin. The last
session Does not us fortunate escape now
afford pleasure 10 every rejecting patriot!
the more 50. when it is recsiectch that il pas.
sed through the house OF d. Iegatrs bV a niaio.
rity OF perhaps three to one, as il by acclaina-
ton! and was barely neutralixvd by an .uual
vote OF the Senate1 Whilst upon these rctIec.
lions, let us indulge The mindin a lille further
retrospect. Let us rrirace the annual abor-
tons Oithe yariGus delusiye theories. which
have takem place within few Neais past, some
before, and some after, receiving the sanctions
OF law. The fate of the dactrinc of instructi-
will be particularly drawn TO the proposition
for calling convention 10 amend the constltu-
ton; the parade of the Stanton convention.
The destruction of the freehold right of SUI
frage. The topography Ofthe countless The
altitude OF the mountains. Compelling the
banks 10 pay specie, wben they had il not
merely by Legislative fiat. The monument for
washington. And finally the board OF public
instruction, and in part the central College,
This catalogue OF explosions within a ye-
ny few years, mnst show the ACTIVITY of the
Oretic spiiit, and the necessity ofkeeping con-
SiahtN on the alert, TO guard against its seduc-
tive and destructive suggestions Resides
these, many others might be added to the list
but they are omitted, because the public
mind isnot yet satisfied Us to their destructive
tendencies.
In these conttmpiations too, the attention
might very rrO!iiably be turned TO the general
government fOr similar Influences aud results
but aggression so far, would probably be
called personal. sarcastic, or episodical. For
however true the facts, however instructive
the lessons they afford. or however oijvious
the bearing upon the subject under considera.
ton, examples must not be drawn from the
unwisc measures of the popular idols OF the
day even for the sake of greater caution i'm
future because so far from producing the
corrections they demonstrate, they shut IKE
ears, and harden the hearts, OF their vofaries
and ave hurled back by them in tie form Of
personal insults upon the daring adyentirer
who would turn the attention TO them thus
exhibiting, according to their presumed, i'm.
FASHIONED calculations upon tie subject. al ths
same time, great services 10 the people great
philosophical calmness ami DISTINGUISHED en-
9nirles after truth, great powers Of reasoning,
aud great demonstrations .f individual pafTis
otsni for which no doubt, due rewards and
due hOnors will in due season. be expected and
received. Let II then be seriously put 10 every
Impartial rejecting man to determine for hifn-
self whether this brief retrospect ought not
10 teach caution, and circanl. pectiou. before
untried theories are further hazdTdad and
whether principles are not yet relained IT, the
improved sNsttm OF that Questionable cha1ac.