Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-04-20

, tiayed in the last legislature Sir, in fepnb
iican governments, knowledge is intrinsicaIi,
| of more valne, than in other governments
/ This knowledge is only TO h. obi aimed d,
I educating the people; the great body OF the
ycomEnryo Ut the state. An acquaintance witt
their rights, secures the people from intrac-
tons OF them, by those iutrusted with puwer
When the people know, and feei that the,
have rights, they will protect them. Know
ledge in republics TO be useful, must be een-
eral educate the few. and a iiteraty v, a. well
as wealthy aristscracN, Is reared among NV
Ignorance is the baue OF liberty /; its only
aniidot~, lis science consult the faithful pa
yes OF history examine the annals Of all re
pnblics, and you will tiud their decline to
nave been preceded by a Jealousy, (arisiug
from iguorauce) and contempt. OF those eli I.
ztns v ho were deemed most virtuous aud en-
iightened. The fame OF Greece rs devoted to
eternal rcproach, by the ostfacism of an A ris-
tides and the fountains of her glory emhit-
tered, aud polluted, by the hemlock OF Socra-
ySome gentlemen, Sir, appear alarmed at
educating the poor, and despair OF the success
OF The primary schools. The experiment it
IL true,is IA novel one with MS but to those
who thus secl, would say mil desperaudum.' %
Some OF our sister states which have tri. d the
experiment are in the ful tide of success
ana saall virginia cease her exertioDs TO adj
vance with the progressive iuteliis ence VI the
age Sif, The foundations OF peoples pros
peiiiy, must be laid, in The peoples in,riii
geucr. Upon the intelligence OF the people.
rest the eNistemce oi our happy poliiicaiIustiu.
oohS. Eniiehten the people 80 thai they can
appreciate their value, anu their perunanencX
Is ehSured-liberiy has noihing to tear where
me people are informed. Tyrants have ever
irowued on literature, and the first step to
power, whicb All ambitious demagorue takes
IN Tree state IL, TO destroy The influence OF
learning with the peaHle. Aud can kuowIedye
only flourish in "a palace are the hardy sons
OF Tue veOmaury OF the state. unworthy of
your care WHO support. and bear The bur
theas OF government! the itch only s-Np.
W ho fight the battles of your country The rich !,
On no.-who in times OF alarm and dasger, are
the defenders, and arms OF the nation, ihe
rich No oh no-FiOm whom are drawn the
source. aud supplies, OF this literary fund
the rich oui, mo one will be hardy enough
TO affirm il YET that fund which is drawn
from society generally, is denied tothose who
most contribute 10 IL, aud most want it, aud
l. TO be ldvished on those who are already
wealthy Sir, am not an enemy TO the
higher literary institutions. I am coniendiny
Tor The genera! diffusion, aud extension Of
knowledge; would ale the Hterme diate sem
inaries, where the children of the yeomanry
OF The state, may be educated, nearer TO their
Dones, aud al less txpence TO such the UNI.
VeIsiiy is useless. Tue expenses Attending
an education there is beyond their reach
MOI Que tfteth part OF tse youth of The stale
can meet The expenses incident Ia education
Ia University. of the magnitude of the one
no" IN PROCESS in Virginia. Let il NOT be
believed that those gentlemen with whom
aci aud think upon this subject, are averse
TO Tie extension of science 10 The wealthy !;
but we do feel u paramount duty TO spread
the treasures of knowle dye. within the each of
all at Our citizens. Not rdncate the poor Sir :
10 behold fellow creatHre sprugiug IL ON OBJ
scu''iy, bursting the clords of adversity
which had enVeloped linn and ascending to
tame and honour, H. spectacle, which the
- lover of human nature and her INTELLECT
VA faculties delights 10 contemplated We.
Sir, cook forward, Ia that period when genius
shall no ionser wither, oppressed by Indulgence ::
but aided by the munlficence OF the state >haI
spread its vivifsins rays, throughout the land
The liberties OF Rome, were preserved by a
dictator forced from the tail OF plough.
what NEGATIVES 10 mental exsrtiOn do The
happy political establishments under which
We live, apply 10 tue yonib of our country ::
where every door, 10 wealth, 10 fame, to ho-
nor, Is open. equally 10 Tie tenant of a cot
tage as the tnmate Ota paIacP-'The WORTH
AUD intelligent gen ;leman IL ON Albemdre (Mr
Gotdon) was pleased on yesterday to cali I'M
on the admirers of Washington, 10 aid HIM in
support OF the bill | TOO call npon them TO
assist us, III arreStiug its progress He whom
wa all loved, aud still venerat was the friend
OF poor, OF indigeni merit. IL was the friend
OF general literature; The patron OF general
sciense, evinced by the disposition lie made
OF those donations, which the gratitude of
his native state, had presented TO him as
the NEED OF virtne, valour aud of patriotism
Yes. Sir In the name of literature, | wonld
ihF0kr the names OF that great man, TO assist
~, TO impede the further progress of that un-
haliowed bill.-ScIence 10 be useful must he
Undivided, says the gentleman from Aibemarie
Ii Is 10 preserve this Indvisibility that we
ale cOntendiDg to preserve the come Xiou of
the elementary wi; the Intermediate schools {;
on this point, the friends OF the bill and The
friends of general knowledge, divide They
demand supplies for the university alone we
contend. that il is trne polic, TO extend this
aid from this fund, TO other institutions 10
secure the primary schools, aud TO assist The
Academies and Colleges thus preserving the
chain OF literature entire aud unbroken At
present. we have the extremities ouly re
wish TO unite them 10 one sound aud ener.
gctic body.
Again, gentlemen tell us, that so much mo.
ney has been expended already upon the
University, we ought TO continue the loans
10 ~, III order " 10 preserve what has been
expt nded. do not understand this logic : in
ethics ~ certainly Cannot obtain. Shall we
contnur IN error, because we have commen-
ced IN errOri shall we plunge OIL in vice be.
cause we NAV have oHce abeTrAied from the
paths OF moral reciiinde Neither i'm econo.
mIcks, viii this reasoning hold good, Ii is not
pOiicy,t TO continue eXpeHces, because we have
been expensive. 1t is not policy, to foster
and protect, one branch of industry at the ex .
pense, aud ruin of all others-reasnn ouposes
aud experience f0rbids il and the ,rne iu-
terests of the state, demand equal and inloar-
tial justice TO all
(De6ate concluded in our neat
SOUTH AMERICA