Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-26

exist tndt tue DoaTu was GSStgnkJg enough
TO wish 10 impress its peculiar opi1ious, ia
these respects, by the means of education, On
the rising generation. Let us suppose, however
violent the superstition, that, it should appoist
no trustees or teachers but such as were favor.
able to its objects that it should prescribe a.
an indispensable course OF study, IN all the
SCHOOLS, the liturgy, the 80 articles and the mo-
miles of the Church OF England aud that the
orthodox Clifford himself should lend his Iowa
pen 10 aid in tue enforcement si these reguia-
lions. ..Is il possible that the legislature of
Virginia, which appoists this board annually,
should look on these attempts witiontnterpo.-
ingS Aud even ii the legislature should CONT
nue. these men in office a second year, would
the people allow the legislature 10 continue in
ONCE Or rather, would the people ever send
their children 10 schools conducted such
plan, without compassion And is there, or can
there be any compulsion Can we in TACT, with
ont doir, the greatest violence to probability,
Suppose that the board of public INSTRUCTION
can be corrupt, until the legislature and the
people both become so! Ii is impossible /; the
board must always take its character FROM the
legislature, and the Legislature from the people;
and the only effect which il could possibly
nave, even indirectly, over the legislature,
would be to increase the correspondence of
sentiment between the representative aud the
constituent. by enlishtehins tiem both, and
making them better acquainted with each 9TH
ers qualifications aud wishes. II is the proper
~ Ia system Ofpnbic education, TO perpetU-
ale the government which controls il not To
snovert the government and If il be that ter
rifle engine in the hands of a despotism for the
obstruction OF national rights which ii has al
ways been considered, in the hands OF repu3.
icin, Legislature il must be the meaus OF their
preservation. 1t is remarkable that Doctor
PHesty, ia endeavorins to prove that ednca-
ton is subject with which the civil magistrate
ought not 10 interfere, and that 10 attempt
iicsNStslu ui England would be 10 oycrti,rOw
thSlr constitution, composed DIS il IL OF three
inherent orders, gives, IN 4 reason t,iat 10 ht.
efficient, ii must he placed under the control of
one OF the other OF those orders and, IN thai
case, that il placed under the cuntrU! of the
crown, Il would renter the goyernmsn t despo-
tc ~ OF the lords, aristocraiic; aud il OF the
commons, IL would becon.- democratic thus
abandoning the general grouul ne had taken
against the right of the magistrate by admit
TING the capacity Ola system OF education 10
Perpetuate the species Of government which
urectS 1t. IN the case OF the proposed system
OF eon;auon, the most complete control is ey.
ercEeu over ~, ny the Sovereignty on which II
can oniy react, according 10 the impulses
communicated by itself.
Our Constituent condemns generally the
rye ioT corporations, aud on two occasions,
uIec's ms artillery against that species called
Ddnks the evils OF which. although he seems
10 neileVe, consist III monopoly, he is willing 10
preserve, by diseouraSing the Only measure
when can destroy the mOnOpoly-:le extension
OF the benefits 10 all. Considering his enn,ily
10 inns Kind of corporations, lie touches very
ightiy on them indeed his stock of ideas
ceases to How, and bis wrath no longer kin,iIes
Wheh these corporations are his theme his nm
~ apprehension, although they are mon op,l;es
O Jor me yeT, Is that they should be made com.
mon to all. Perhaps the strongest argument
witch conid he adduced in favor of system of
pnhic education, might he drawn from these
banking monopoiies which, by cOnccntratin.
propS' ~ Ia the hands ola few individuals are
sIaunaliy transferring to these individuals, the
u?!noroIy o. talents and paving the way for an
a,l>tO'facy both OF knowledge aud wealth
tne Two create elements of power, the symptoms
OF winch are already apparent in our increas-
tns os,entalIon and luxury, and in oar extra.
nsIr -
nunifcence aad splend0r of poyelnmcnt II
Inp"r'ousiy the duty of the legislature 10
dire't thus course Of things bv preventing the
LNohopo'y OF kuowledge, which II has already
Lahc'ioueu OF wealth and devising speeiii,
some practical mode of di.gusipp lis biessiuys
throughout the community
but II now appears, what was before sus-
Pncteu, tat The Constituent is an enemy TO
All systems OF pubic education because lie
IS an enemy To the creation OF the literary fund
by winch alone system can be supported
re emphattcay asks might il not be cues
Toned, " ether the legislature has a rnRt to
ta"e Tue private property of one,individuai, \
siFelt 10 another, tor the purpose OF education
upon any principle, which wou,d not anthor:se
IHe takiag II from one and giving il to another
Tor any other purpose" thus denying the right
OF the Legislature 10 Law Il tax for the ssDnort
OF education, and placing il on level with
s'eIs otner purpose, tor III presumed that
ne "onid not deny the right oflhe legislature
10 lay tax tor war, or other objects that
might be necessary la the society Of course
ne must think education totally unnecessary
aud animportant tor il is the importance
VI an opJect 10 the nation, which can alone ius-
my legislature III taxing the people for lis
promotion. With these Impressions of The
constituents we cannot but anticipate his coun
Iei' project, with sensation. of lively curiosity.
bnt the argument with which the Constitu-
ent closes tins essay is the sweeping argument
or authority, tue convenient resort of that
class OF writers, who have an invincible aver
f'nn to certain operation cal ed thinking
" "a therefore generally perform the IA in
EHe way ia which certain great Dersanaees
sometimes get married-by proxy IL uufor.
tnnaiely happens however that. these INDECENT
personages sometimes neglect to examine
heir authorities and when they are called in
TO give evidence against their antagonists We
ny unccremODiOusiy turn al bout and accuse the
prosecutor himself Such is actually the in
gratitude of the witnesses that our author has
summoned OH the present occasion in his be-
balt.--Ihey are all, without solitary exceD-
ton against linn. To shew the sentiments of
the committee OF reVisOrS, composed of Mr.
Jefferson, MIR. Wythe and MIR. PendIeton, the
ilr"t called witnesses, beg leave to make d
single eNtract from TIE bill, 80 for the more ge-
neral diffusion OF knowledge" reported bv
thcei to tie Legislature in I776.-"1hey(the
vISiors) shall also visit the school twice in e.
very year at the least, either together or Sepa-
Tately, at their discretion /; examine tile scho.
lars, and see that any general plan Of instruction
recommended By The riSitOrs Of EViEiaiD and iId.
~ CoLsge shdHbe obserretl." Now here is the
whole principle of the bill Of the last session
the principle OF ensuriBg the perfection of the
system of instruction by giving the supeIin-
tendance OF II to a body of enlightened
men,. The course of instruction. by this bill
Is to be prescribed by the corporation, callcd
the visitors OF William and Mary college as il
IS in the other bill by the buard of public in.
strnctOn. a little further coincidence is per-
ceiyed, between the committee OF revisOrs
and the authors of the proposed system" in
relation TO this subject, By recurring to a bill
Them T. ipap for