American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1822, 1822-01-18

The people OF pennsylvania are represemeu :"
this august assembly, and their rights and interests
constitute the true subject OF Legislative deioera-
ton Woe to the day when there shall issue
from these wa U.s. not the voice of public veal but
the voice OF mere party when the real and known
good Of the community shall be merged in party
ascendancy; when public righteousness, declared
in the laws, shall he humbed 10 the purposes oil
private advancement Far from us be such evil bo'
dngs. Let US rather look up 10 our political supe'
riors as TO our nursing Fathers" from whom eve
ry thing that is great, magnanimsus and oil unVer-
sal interest, may Justly be expected
Here, on what topic shall dwell How improve
in the best manner, the opportunity which owe to
your indulgence? Shall press upon your notice
the importance OF Agriculture as if every thing
which belongs 10 the plough the dairy to the hive,
to the breed Of cattle, of horses of sheep, had not
long since occupied the public mind & called forth,
in your agricultural soclsties, the fullest expression
OF the public sense and the public zeal. Shall So
liclt your attention 10 domestic manufactures as
iii this matter were not familiar to every family in
the state Shall poiht out the importance OF roads
and bridges as if your statute books were not full
LOT sautary provisions on these important subjects
10 what then shall turn Let me throw myself
upon your indulgence while | represent that in
Pennsylvania, in common with all the other states
in the Union, the Public Mind, by which mean
VIZ ihihd VI yOuI yUulHb has uOl iCNCNCu us PbU-
portion of public regard. l say the mind Of your
foufh for in short time they must furnish your
statesmen; your Judges; your generals. Pardon me
my respected Auditors, if the convictions Of my
Judgment, the habits of my life, the functions with
winch have recently been honored, the very flat
erlng attention by which you yourselves have been
pleased to distinguish me this day, convert my in.
cllnaton into imperative duty Lend me then your
attention, accompanied with your wonted candor,I
while expatiate Tor minute or two on the educa-
lion oil your youth, as subject Of Legislative pat
ronage.
Methinks, on this general point, there can be but
one opinion. The use of reason is that which EN-.
phatically puts an immeasurabe distance between
man and the beasts. And the difference between in.
sructed and uninstruced reason is almost as great
as that between man and his horse. Who can
stand under reproach OF ignorance in those things
which he is expected to know What Farmer, what
Mechanic could endure the opprobium Of being un
acquainted with the process fpoughng, or the use
OF his tools? Of all men living, ! will be bold toI
say, that Farmers ought to be the most friendly tol
a thorough Education. Their whole business rests
upon this basis. Do they not train their horses |
their oxen, their trees, their very SOIL to the pur
poses which they are respective: to answer?
And shall their youth, who come into the world
more helpless, bot yet have powers infinitely great
er than any oil them not have these powers evolved
and be qualified for usefulness, according 10 the
pre- eminence which Cod hath given them Shall
they conduct the legislative the Judicial the mill
tary business OF the country, without previousI
training! Will you commit your rights and pros
perity, your limbs and life your religious and i'm.
mortal Interests into the hands Of men who are ut
terly unacquanted with law, with medicine, or with
scriptural theology This cannot be. We will not
near OF so gross libel upon the enlightened LIE.
gisature OF Pennsylvania.
Now to what pu pose can the bounty Of this great
and powerful state be so we'll applied, as to the in. /
structon of her youth From what will il yield 10
her SO large g revenue of profit and fame! Nhate-
yer she does udiciously in this matter is sure not
10 be lost; and let her keep in mind, that the con.
centratlon OF her means is the best way to ensure
happy results, Scattering the bounty OF the state
IS like scattering over the fields; your stock
IS wasted and no good effects follow. hail the pc.
Rod when, under the fostering hand OF the lepisla
ture, the pre- eminence of her citizens shall be so
conspicuous, that it will be in other states and in
other countries sufficient passport to notice and
honor, TO say OF young man, lie is a Pcnasyioa-
man
Yet to whom shall the community look for so
suspicious a result il not to those who occupy
this splendid ediice? They are the guardians oil
the public purse, and the public have right to ex
pect from them liberal expenditure when their
most precious interests are in question. Let me
says without righteousness, that the people of Penn
sylvanla have erected this noble structure That
the peoples money has thus magniHceny accomo /
dated their Representatives. laud the bounty &
its application. Among all the sources of publicI
expenditure, what could have been more proper
what more digufed, than that the people assembled
here in the persons of their Representatives, should
SO largely participate in their own muniGcence?-
And hope do not misnterpret the general feel
ing when express my persuasion, that these Re-
representatives. feel 1t their incumbent duty, to render
back to the people a suitable proportion Of their t
own liberality' in making abundant provision for
the well being of their youth.
Friends and fathers, allow me to close this short