Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-13
GOVERNOR cLINToN's MESSAGE.
4 eItV'V-C Hi-enS ol Hc 3tNGtc
ard If ne 3ssrY.tly.


The blessings OF Divine Providence still res; upon GU
country Peace, liberty and plenty S-rtnue 10 sheC
'hcif ausPcioGs influence the land and every
may sit aowG undc his own vine a3d under his Own fe
Irce, and there Is make him afraid! The exer
oIls ct agriculture have been rewarded with abundant
arvests: The skill and ingenuity Of our mechanics and
manufacturers have received liberal aud meriied en-
enlargement. Internal trade was never more flourish
hS anu every witnesses the crtcrprsiur spirit O
our commerce. We have been exempt from those
ighaa diseases wiCh ia various shapes frequently oc
cur IN neS settlements, and sometimes scuurcc our ma
ri'''2 cities, and good health with lis attendant bes
Sings has generally prevailed. The cause OF useful
N"oWledge is daily gaining ground, and The advanti-
gcS OF education duly appreciated. and generally
unused. Notwithstanding immense eul;gratons to the
crlie and wide spread regions of the west, our ropu
a'o IN state of rapid advancement. In every dl-
tC'ioh we perceive the prominent indications of bCnc.
cai Improvement and growing prosperity; the cree
oh oil houses OF academies of churches AID OF other
usc'ui cdihccs--te expansion Oi old and The creation
OF new towns and cities animated attention to ;hc
promotion OF agriculture, and increased disposition
TO cherish nscfui INVENTIONS and 10 patronsc the .acili-
'!es OF beneficial communication And also expe-
renee 'hc disappearance ia great degree of those
"-a'iois and convuls!ons which formerly dstlrbet.
our tranquility and we recognise UIagnanimous sr:-
rI ot concation aud harmony which appears 20 row
wan inc growth and strengthen yith tue strength Vi
beloved z dntry.
ne distresses which at present ai!l ct CONNER
cia Clues and whch arc extending into the interior
nave arisen from causes, that will sometimes occur in
Tue '!is prosperous communities, and which being tern
Poray III HER nature and transient in their carac cr
cannot exist for any considerable period OF time These
mercantile commissions, however affecting ndiv nI-
ais or alarming Ia the public, rarely make serious I'm.
PreSNons on Tie general prosperity. In every
nity blessed with freedom and intelligence, there
sustaining and Todecniiig power, wh'ch sooa- nvigo
rates iine OF public confidence, end remedies t:e
nlsclcis OF curidity the Observation-Disclosures of cnterprle
ana me eXcessc9 OF an advenlurng spirit.
hie ihs iionrlshing condition of tl:e state is cal
cniaed 10 elicit gratitude to the Almighty Dispen
ser OF all good 1t must ut the Same, admon!sh YOU oil
your high reSpOn Utilities. Bound, as YOU are, 10 the
community, By Tie double connexiua of citizens and
legislators YOUR dulles cannot be faithfully fulfilled in
eltheT Character, Without an entire devotion 10 those
interests that are identified with tie prosperity and the
glory OF our country.
he first duty of government, acI the surcst evil
GcnGt OF Sccd government, is the encoura cement OF
education a general diffusion Of tznOwlc;ge i, ti.e
precursor and protector of republican Institutions and
IN 1t we must conide Tie conservative po,rcr thai
lii Taich over our Liberties, and guard them agals
fani, intrigue corruption and viocace. In caiiy in
Iancy education may be rscfnIig administered. III
some paris oi Great Britain a;:; schools have been
successfully cstabshct comprising Children from yr
10 SIX years OF age, whose tcmpcrs, hcaiis and minds
are 'heoraed, and whose indigen! parents are cna-
pea by these means. to devote themselves to labor
"i'hCnt interruption uneas.nes3. Institutions OF his
hEd are only ADAPTED TO dense populion and must
be lett 10 The guardianship Of private benevocucc-
Oar common schools embrace children from FIVE 70 fl
tee" years cid and continue TO Increase and prosper
hc appropriations for last year from TIC sc.lOulh fund
amount to $40 10 and al eqya!en sum is also rails
ed by taxation in the several school districts and is
applied III the same wav. The ar;tai or fnnI i,
> l3IO,OG0, which will be in state of rapid auricn
tation from sa!cs of the public lands and other sources
And II is well asccraincd that more than 100 GOO chill
dTcn have been taught in common schools DURING
the ast year The distributed by the state is now
too small. and the general fund can well warrant ar
augmentation TO & 10000 annually.
An important change has taken place in t.e free
schools ct New York. BY an Arrangement between
the corporation of dat city and the trustees OF the free
school society. these establishments arc 10 be onycre,
into public schools, admit the children of the rich 81
well As Of tie poor, and by b annii,;laon OF factions
distinctions there will be strong incentive for the dis,
play OF talents, ana fticiiOis accommodation 10 tic
genus OF republican government In these semina-
res the monitoral system has been always used and
II has IN oihcr institutions been applied with complete
success 10 the high branches of education
Our system of instructions with all its numerous be
nchtS is sH howcvCrsuscert'b Of great Improvement
Zen years OF the life Of Child may be spent in a
common school In two years the elements OF insluc
lion moy be acquired. and the remaining eight wears
must either be spent in repetition IN idlcrcss un,
the teachers Of common schools are competent TO in
street in The higher branches Of knowledge. The out
l'n"5 Of geography ALGEBRA, un3raIogy agricultural
chemistry mechanical philosophy su;Y wing geometry
astronomy, political economy ana ethics might rs
communicated in q : period Of time ~ all able prcccp
tors without essential interference with tc calls of do
r,
HGonce upon tbe characters and dcstiuies of the rising
and all inure generation has either not been sufi-
ciently understood or duly estimated. Ii is or ough 10
be ranked among the learned professions With foil
admission Of the merits Of several who n,w ohicia;e in
That capacity; still il must be conceded that tie iafor-
nation ofnaCy cfhe instructors ofour common schools
does not extend beyond rudncuta education: That our
expanding population requires constant acccssiors 10
their numbers, and that to realize these views is nc
ces7ary that some plan for obtaining able teach
ers, should be devised: therefore recommend SO.
mnary for the education OF teachers ~ lie rroni.o-
rial system Of instruction, and in those useful branches
o knowiej5e which proper to cngrad on elementary
attainmenis. compliance with This recommendation
will have the most benign influence on individual hap
pincs5 and social prosperity 70 break down the bar
rers which poverty has erected against the acquisition
I'D dsPensation Of knowledge, is to restore the lust
equilibrium Of society aud 20 perform a duty of iudiJ
pensabe and paramount obligation: And under tris i'm
preston also recommend that gratuitous provision be
made Tor the education ~ our superior senI1ares Of in
"iGcnt. talented and meri;Urious youth.
consider the system of our common schools as The
palladium ef our iree6Om-for no reasonable appreben
sion can be entertained Of lis subverson as long as The
great body of the people enlightened By education
To increase the funds TO extend the benefits and TO
remedy the defects Of this excellent system is worthy