Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-10-26
From the Illinois Intelligence.

From the Illinois Intelligence.
Letter from an old Statesman 10 young
RehresenfaiiDe in iliin0is.
My DEAR G-You havebeen elevated
by ycur constitu snts, 10 = station which |
IS at all times important, but which is
rendered peculiarly so, BY the circum-
stances Of the present period. Tbs pc.
'i,ical storm which lately blacksnsi our
horizon, brouSht into action every latent
spark eft malice, envy, petulence, and
revenge, and every other malignant pas
| sion which existed among our citizens
These angry feelings being quelled, i,
now becones the duty Of every cities,
and more particularly of every legisIs-
tor, to make the best Of our constitution,
| and, as lar as p.o..ible under il, to pro-
mote the credit, the wealth, the popula-
ton, and the Internal Improvements Of
the state. The attention o. the people IS
becoming more aud mere tlsec,ed 10
these OBJECTS. So far as respects the
legislature, thers is one cirtumstahce
which Is very fortunate. b 5,h Of our
political parties found it nee ssary, in
selecting sheir candidates.. 10 select mo-
desale and intelligent men, beesuse they
wou.! be most likely to he elected. 1t
IS probable then, that more taients viii
be embodied in our next legislature,
ihan has ever before been Ca;lected in
our state. Such legis,aturo we need,
Tor we have MUCK important work Tor
| ,hen TO 10.
Under tscse circumstances, you will
execute we, if / offer you my sentiments
On sens points, which | deem to be i'm
oogtant. And in the first place, permit
me 10 recommend TO you, TO use your
influence in bringing hbou, the establish.
'neni OF u system Of commcn schools.
Funds should be raised for tho suppor,
OF schools, and applied to the object, uu-
| Ter the direction OF ons or more supern-
onden's. We have at present, no sther
method ofraising funds than taxation. 1t
IS objected to this, that the people are not
yell enough informed Oh the subject, 10
give their consent to this plan. Bot
surely II requires bit small degree of
information, for every citizen 10 see, that
MS method OF supporting schpsls,
would ease re burden upoA the Shout
1ers % every one, who is now obliged 10
EDUCATE family. Every person .whs
Towns property in the state. would be
obliged to assist in educating he youth
ot the state. Much money would then
De Obtained from non-resdents, tor the
support o. the object. Let the funds
thus rsIsrd, be distributed according to a
! juat apportionmen', among tho schools,
which shall be established under the di.
rection of the legislature. Although
thesmount thus distributed was small,
II would aid and encourage our onizens,
as 10 doubt to increase, in a very erea,
degree, the number and quall,y of our
schools.
! II will be said tina. no man should be
obliged to pay for the education of ano.
Their mans children. Butt is an axiom,
as old as Lycurgus, that the children
are The property Of the state. Tbs stale
then should defray the expense of lheir
education. Individuals ought NOT 10 be
obliged to bear tho Whole expense OIL
rearing cI,izens and soldiers, for he SUP.
port and defence Of the public. That
education which is necessary to con.,i-
ute them good citizens or soldiers, 10
enable them TO understand and defend
| the rights and liberties of their country,
and TO quality them for discharging pro-
perly th1 duties of Inc offices which
they may be called to fill, should in part
be given a, ,hs public expense.
We fatter ourselves, ,hat we are the
pride of the world. But we fail far be,
hind even the newly established 60.
vernmen,s of South America and
Greece, in the support Of education.
While they are establishing schools, in |
some places even in sight Of tho bate.
ries OF their enemies, the government, Of
eur state has never establishes a SOLITARY
school, nor given dollar for the sun
pofvor encouragement Of educ alton. in.
any manner. By establishing the pro.
oossd system, you will increase the %.
pu'it'on OF the state. For many Sfani.
lies would emigrate hi,her, If there was
prospect oftheir being able to educate
'heir children, whs would net otherwise
cems; In establishing general system |
81 education, the Legislature. would. |
without doubt, b supported BY maio.
ri'y OF the people Of the state, wso are
TOO much enlightened not IL see the i'm. |