Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-09
RICHMOND, JANUARY 8.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
also mil sho,c mine opinion"

tOCNIlCSS dtI Oi)lUlOH OH D'lD-
lie measures, guaranteed toeveiy man in
citizen fairly and fully Ia discuss propo-
siions involving the best interests of the
community. II is no, for me To say that
any essays ofnine will enligh'en the pub
lie mind But who, when his heart burns
within him, can keep sileAce? The plans
now before the representatives Of the peo-
pie, for establishing a permanent system
OF public Instruction, are Of such trans
cenlant Importance, that no one who
feels al all Tor the lionor or interest of
Virginia, can regard them with indiffe-
renee. II tie following remarks have no
other merit, they are dictated by honest
and ierycni zeal; they are disintrres,ed.
The ~riicr has no expectation Of profit,
either directly or indirectly, for himself
or lls friends, from the university, the
primary schools, or any part oftbe propOs-
Ell system OF public instruction. This is
the land OF his birth, and of his educa
tiou. lie loves il as he loves life AMI is
assured bat all who have Virginia. hearts,
will appreciate his motives.
Tie opinion viii h one first encoun-
tiers, when entering on this subject, is,
tiiai the business of education NAV be We
ry safely, and indeed ought to be, left TO
regulate andsupport Itself. san intell-
gent merchant said once TO a French mi
mister, WHO proposed regulations in favor
oi commerce, so say these qaictiSty res
peciihg education, sc Lett alone i" But
that whiciiisa maxim ofwisdom in relation
to one subject. may be the iankesi loliy
when applied 10 another. Ii is even so in
this case. All enlightened experience
says, let commerce alone. This same en-
peficnce says, foster and support ednca
ion. appeal 10 the history of learning.
ihere is not now, and there never has
been, Il literary institution Of high char
acier, erected, endowed and permanent
iy supported by voluntary contribution
and private enterprise. And certainly
no man OF practical wisdom will Law his
plans, and rest his hopes OH the presump-
ton that will be done, which, in a course
OF ages, never has been done. Tue ex-
ample OF foreign countries NAV teach us
much. But we need not go abroad for
lessons OH this subject. Education has
been leii 10 regulate and support Itself for
forty years. And what is iheresui oithe
experiment Our literary institutions are
lie epproblun, of The state, the asiomisl,-
ne OF our "A User ncIgiIbors, and the scoru
OF Foreigners and our literary character
has been going down, from the time of
Tie revolution TO this day. The bitter
ness Of my modification. when scanning
Tie looks and hearing the remarks Of
nQriIiern men and Europeans OH ibis sub
leci, can only be conceived by those who
nave ie!t tie same pungenf feelings Of
shame Which have been doomed 10 EN-
dnre. Tie credit OF Virginia is CONCERN
Ell ihis iling-The honor and influence
OF ~ drcieM DomiHion are at stake. In
our confederation, character as moral poU-
er. Formerly We possessed this power,
aRd Ills as The true secret Of Virginia in
pHeDec But II Is on tie wdne. The de-
rec OF the United States is, detir dignis.
Snao and reason ratties IT,. Once we
could look round Oh host of worthless.
who, by Tie greatness Of their imtelleciu-
al ulgnt, and HE purity ofiheirpatriotism,
raised The name and sustained The glory
Of Virginia. But Tic last Of this ancient
race is almost extinct-and on rIOnl las
thcir mantle rested! Once, as bright "a
constellation rs ever threw IFS genial light
on nation, sliedsits " seIectcst mfu-
ence" OH tins land. Now, only here and
there, star Wrinkles through the dark
ness HAT is gathering around ns..Lei
education alone We have lei il alone.
mini learning and science are almost
unknown among us. We have let il alone,
until our good name is about 10 Ieayeus;
and Virginia is fast becoming a land Of
spectators.
This remark Suggests tie idea of the
pccunory losses wiiclIwe have sustained
by Illis most culpable negligence. This
Is no light matter. Ten years ago, I
made extensive enquiries on tie subject,
asd ascerialned, 10 my conviction, that
: he amount of money annually carried
from Virginia, for purposes of educaiiOo
alone, exceeded s25O.Ouo. Since that
period, It las been greater. Take a
quarter OF a nllill1n rs The average Tor Tie
last eight ana twenty years, and Tie :.
mount VIII be he encrmous sim OF seven
lnhlions ii dollars. But had our schools
been such as Tie resogrScs - NGg;nla