Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-03


iesonIcSs thAu New York, had established
system oil public education, for which She
might with as much propiiety ask of this house
a similar location OF public lad. MIR, b. said
he ieit, as man, for the unhappy class OF lie.
ings who were the objects of the bill; lac would
drop tears for their affection but he coaid
not give his support TO this hill il would be
inconsistent with his ideas OF public duty-he
could notgive TO one what he could not TO alt
IL would not be right TO do 50.
Mr.. MEIGS again rose. He had fat
tered himself, he said, il would be utterly un-
necessary for him to trouble the committee
again upon tnis occasion: But, when he found
that This bill had had the misfortune to call
forth the hostility of such able aud eloquent
gentlemen as the Speaker of this house aud the
gentlemen from Virginia, il became his DUTY,
ieeole as he was, to speak for those whose
mouths God had smut. Would to Heaven, said
MIR. NJ ibat tins necessity did not exist
would 10 Heaven, that each of the silent in
! hocehts whose case am thus called OH 10 ad-
socaie, was able to speak in the fine aud COM
manolng tones ut The hon Speaker Sir, said
Nir. vi. have no Intention To appeal tn the
| humanity OF this committee: mean to move
| nem. II can. by far different considerations
knowledge is power; and 1 call upon this
government TO afford, for purposes OF iustruc.
| uon ia all that constitutes knowledge, to a
| most interesting portion of the community
some small pittaDce of those vast resources
/ Witch heretofore have been nsecrated (it
| may so express MYSELF 10 Ike naval military,
and domestic expence; to the destroying arts
OF war, and the maintenance of civil splendor.
And TOW hope that the Speaker. whose tai
| ems nave zone ms country much service in
one war. IN It's conduct, and still more eminent.
| ~ IN the happy peace, in concluding which he
hau tue Tar greater glory 10 he Instrumental :;
and ihat the hon. gentleman from Virginia
ont barbour? who, with the Speaker, may
have recorded an hundred votes for warlikc
purposes, VIII now, for once at least, record
! thelr votes tor an appropriation in aid of tue
propagation OF knowledge. Mr.. NJ. said. that,
wneh ne cast ms eyes upon the architectural
| spIehuor ny Which he was surrounded: when
lie saw that even thug to hold candle s had
cost TINS nation treasure enough 10 give per-
| maps, one Whole years ,uitou to the unforiu-
nate persons who were the objects of this hill !;
when lie remarked the beautiful, but expeu-
| sise marble inquire OF History, just erected i'm
rms hall, he could not re train from hoping ,bai
sue would not, among her first acts. have to
| record that this nation rejected the sileui
| prayer OF the deaf aud dumb for few acres of
our bouh'iless territories, to enable them to
know; while she votes the lavShment of mil
lions TOR devastating wal and domestic ,omp
| Let II be now determined said nir NJ thai n
Is the opinion Of this hon body that knowledge
is power aud that for such AN end as lis nni-
| sersai diffusion, there is no expence which
could Re deemed protasioh. L wish, with pro-
| FOUND sincerity, that, Instead of one or two
statesmen, eloquent and able, like the Speaker
| ana the hon gentleman from Virginia (Mr
| Randolph there were one hundred thousand
ana, instead OF handful of philosophers. hold
4 rim IN
| bound an hundred thousand of these. too in
| our free land - "
MIR. NJ. said lie had declared that he would
not make any appeal toihe humane feelings o f
'ne committee; Dnt lie had right to say
that, although France had reaped MANY
| triumph by battle upon the land, and England
many upon the sea, yet il might he possible
| theIr benevolent institutions would eutlast IN
| 'he memory ana affection of mankind, every
| military or naval glory which they had gained:
| tor who was ignoraat of, who was there that
dId not admire, the mild benevolence OF the
Paris institution for the teaching and pratect-
lns me deaf and dniHb! Society every where
| adopted them as its children they were eye
| ry where pitied, aud ought, if they did not TO
| hnd every power, their friend aud guardian.
SIR, said Mr.. Nj. if wished TO make all at
tempt upon The feelings of this house instead
OF iittins my voice, | would bring here IN
trout OF the Speakers seat the siXty children
and should be then sure that, without voic.
| rs, their Intelligent features, their sparkling
| eyes ana their amiable demeanor, woni com
mand, irresistibly, The hardest heart in This
honse 10 lean to their cause
But. SAID Mr. NJ. the honorable member
| from Virginia Mr. Randoipb) has discovered
I ln"t, IN ruin, We nave no power, under the
! constitution of these United States, to make a
/ grant Tor The purpose contained in this bill 1
: regret, said MIR NJ that, nDder that clause of
the constitution upon which lie has lust COM
msnted-" iiat Congress have power TO make
all laws necessary fer the purpose OF Carving
INTO execution, &c. we really have 10 anihs-
Tlty to establish and maintain system. of in
slrnctIOn. have seen that the learned Judges
OF me supreme Cont OF this land have main-
taiiieu Tie constitutional existence of a bank
AUD that HorienSius by most able and con-
ciaSi'e reasoning, although in d different line
OF direction. has arrived at the same bappy
conclusion and | must express my regret
ana astonIshmeEt together, that this lannon's
clause OF the constitution has the magical
strength 10 bear so vast Il bank and is VET too
Feeble TO raise common school
nave wished that II might be considered
necessary and proper to spread instruction.
and ditfuse far and wide knowledge without
winch our constitution itself aud stillless our
statutes, could not long be maintained. | feel.
SAID Mr. VI. that, nader the powerful oppos-
ton OF snch gentlemen as the Speaker Of this
House, whose talents alone are sufficient. If
eXerted, 10 destroy mightieT objects than this
poor little bill of the gentleman from Vir-
gInia, (Mr. Randolph, whose genius aud ex-
perence are always ready TO be psured ont Inv
his eloquence 4; aud of The other eentlemai :,
from Virginia, (MT. Barbour) whose abilities
also are competent TO greater !hings-this bill
VIII fa OF its passage. 1t this must be its fate,
1 at least shall have the satisfaction to REGARD
my vote, among the first which give IN this
house, for grant of d few acres of our i'm
Inense public estate for the noble urpose of
instruction Aud shall at least not be alarm
ed al the idea of xhausting our resources nm
OH the deaf aud dumb for. thank God the
number is small, perhaps, not exceeuln. one
thousand III the whole United States | was
pleaSed to hear the gentleman from Virginia
last up, (Mr. BarbOur) declare the wise mum.
iicence OF bis native state in eDhowme nts Tor
literary purposes for he has enabled me TO
ENJOY the pToud satisfaction of stating to this
committee the fact, that the stale of New
YORK has likewise been nobly mumticont 10
learning; that she has appropriated to that
end more than two millions Of dolisrs; hat
eleven hundred thousand dollars uftniq supy
constitute the fund for the support of amman
schools; aud that last year. more ilan f,ro
hundred thousand children received the benefit
OF this admirable fund Glorious rivalry, said
Mr. NJ. III which even those VINO are last aud
least iBuSt rejoice in the success of the other