Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-11

ertlonS IN the same generous CAUSE VI uterdtuIc
and science. las Immediate benefits must how
ever, be confined 10 a few; and turn, therefore,
with anxious solicit1de tosthe examination OF
that system whose efforts are directed 10 the
diffusion of Information among the great body
of the people. On this subject, and all others
to which in the exercise Of my duty under the
Constitution l may advert, | shall speak open
Iy and without reserve. We are fellow-labor-
ers in the sam common cause.-The cause OF
our country, and | should Justly be esteemed as
unworthy the station which | hold, did | cloak
or dissemble my opinion on any question con-
nected with the public good.
The Literary Fund, devoted TO the diffusion
of urinary instruction, has had its origin IN the
unrest patriolism, and is founded in the wisest
nolicy: but I venture to suggest the enquiry,
whether it does not require a new orgahlza:lon,
in order to fulfil the just expectations OF the
state. Under its present arrangements, 1t tails
TO produce any Of those great results which
OUGHT to flow from it. /. is devoted exclusive
", TO mere elemosinary purposes, & the reports
of the trustees throughout the state, present US
the result of it's charitable operation, the eGuca-
ton Of o.77e children. LII exclusively direct
ed TO the instruction Of the children OF penury
and want. and looks no further. In this light,
il undeniably possesses much beauty, and is
productive Of some benefit. But should not the
condition of all the youths of the country excite
the efforts Of a parental government? Does not
that condition call for the establishment OF a
system Of instruction embracing all, and alike
available 10 all? If it be said, that the rich
require no legislative interposition to enable
them to educate their children, yet there still re-
mains a numerous portion OF our population,
who, while they are far from being mendicants,
would, nevertheless, be greatly benefited by
such interference. This portion TOO, is every
day augmeuting, and must, necessarily, aug
ment, so long as the act re regulating d%ecents, &
which deserves Justly TO be regarded as one OF
the main props to our political institutions,
shall remain unchanged. But, in addition to
the circumstance, that the Fund is thus confn-
ed in its operation, being a little more than a
mere fund of charity. it may we'll be objected,
that il fails 10 bestow any great good even on
the few on whom ii is expended. There is
nothing permanent or fixed in its character, &
its application is altogether fortuitous and &C
ci6ental For a few months, sometimes Tor a
whole year, a school is opened, and an oppor-
tunity is afforded 10 the School Commissioner
TO search out such INDECENT children as reside
in lis neighbourhood, and 10 send them TO ii;
but how often does it happen, that before the
child Of Legislative bounty, has been advanced
through the elements Of instruction, the school
ceases TO exist, and he is restored 10 his parents
with the certainty that he will forget the llule
which he may have learned? Here, then, ex-
lists an abortiye effort, the sole effect of which
is. to consume the resources Of the fund with
out impar,ing benefit If any thing more were
wanting 10 satisfy US ofthe defe cts Of the pres
ent system, we might contrast our situation
with that of some OF our sister slates.-Iake
for example, the State of New-York. Here we
annually expend $4,000 for the purposes Of
primary instruction, and we nominally, q say
nominally, Tor, in the great majority OF lnstan-
ces, it amounts to little more,) instruct 9,779
children: whilst there, by the expenditures of
somewhat less than $4,000, the benefits Of ed
u~ca,ion, through the fundamentally of about
5000 permanent schools, are impaired TO 1885,
$50 Of its youth. 1t is true, that that sum is
assisted by contributions made by the people TO
an equal amount; but deducting the one halt Of
The above number for those contributions, and
there still remains the large number OF 2l2,675
children, who derive their education by virtue
of that benefcent expenditure.
Governments manifest their wisdom by de-
irving instruction from the examples Of others.
And In this instance fortunately, the example is
us, not by an enemy or a foreign state
alien in sentiments from Virginia, but by a Sis
ter republic, being a member of the same con-
federacy with herself, and ardenily devoted to
the same great principles which are to her so
deeply interesling.-Such a change should be
made, as by reducing the fees of instruction,
would place it in the power of all, whatsoever
their condition in life, 10 educate their children.
This might be accomplished by d~evoting the
of the fund after it shall have sufficient
ly accumulated TO the employment of tutors by
the year, upon such conditions as the Legisla-
ture in its wisdom might think proper to i'm
pose. Thus the fees of tuition might be great
ly reduced, if not totally abolished, and the sys-
of free schools be happily introduced. This
necessarily looks to changes of an important
character-The expenditure of the interests of
the Fund should forthwith be suspended, until,
by the accumulation of principal, and interest
should be yielded commensurate with the OBJ
augmentation would be rapid beyond
our first conceptions. When to the sum Of
$4,000 which may now be considered the an
addition made from its parent source, is
added the sum Of $4,000 now expended, and
which would in this event be converted into
bearing a quarter-yearly or seml-an-
nual interest, how soon would it be sufficient to
sl