Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-17
hsOm Tee ,A,tiioiu, JVul5.li.
EDON.ArlNN In AMERICA

from tee .I,,ioau, Jou,7tli.
EDUCATION IN AMERICA.
me spread o' institutions Tor education III our coun-
y 10 no more conspicuous than tie great improvement
VA thelr organization, and their of cOumuDica
,lng instruction. We forcibiy struck with the al
il'S endless details of College commandments aud
s-aoni examinations which every mail brings to US
hey are gratifying, not merely because they evidence
az multiplication of the mcaus of scholastic aitainmens,
'"' because they exhibit the strongest guarantea which
we can ioT the pcrpetuiy U political sy stem.
3ased as our institutions of government are, upon the
Intelligence of the People Indispensable TO their
reservation tina, the people sond continue be in
tsilgen,. lie generally knowledge is tilfuscd
e less danger will there be OF any dcgcneracy in the
system hcl ancestors have framed aud bcaueath
ii 10 us. Oai moral strength and intellectual grace
COMPOSE the CorinthaD columns which rests and
Z. ohJ by destroying the former, aud dcfacin the
i7cr, tiat we weaken its duration or destroy its
'H'IGAneSS. Snr,pubhc Seminaries the moulds in
'"ivh po9ery must be cast; they The mint in which
the rough metal must receive Tie impress which will
sanp ITS specific WORTH it is through their operation
tat orr Ncstcu forests become III effect the groves of
icaoc'nus, where The lessons of enlightened piiuso-
phy are dcoui sed 10 those who the anieyiei
thor age. The system of public examinations and eX-
lIbons oil composition and ora,oricai power, which has
been 50 generally adopted iii public schools, is
"'grcat and manifest utility. II gives rise To that noble
sr'r't Of emulation which calls forth the whole energies
o' t"e mind, and Places them in tie powerful array
6cjrc those who called witness the effort il piyes
activity 10 that Only Just and Iauiabic arn5on-the
desire 10 excel; il the dry study OF the school
roo'n INTO pleasure, and by the premise of its rich re-
wards nequcntly develops capacities which might 9th
erwsc have remained undiscovered
The great and increasing aggregate of talent which
Is to nc found in The rIsiug generation, is sufficient
testimony 10 the excellence this sy stem. The church
e bar and the hall of lesi.ation arc The theatres on
which this talent is tested aud tried: and if VIC
there we cannot but be gratified at the d.
lec, WHICH Is c%'::,oed: it n,s rs in eyery orartcr
- DC -.-,on; and iusies all the praise which
awarded TO those institutions, moral, intellec-
'na!, and POLITICAL under which has been uuscd into
such early maturity.
The advantages to which we have thus referred are
presented 90 US in more conspicuous light because
tey arc az nc9 as they important. In the earliest
settlement of cur country the difficulties and dangers
to ne cTcrcoie of sufficient activity and nagni-
tudc Ia occupy the almost exclusive of the pat
rlaFc''1 al the soil. The ceascies5 necessity which
existed for devisiug and executing preserve
LIE itself, prevented the pursuit OF any of The graces
which cmhplIisl il. When the imminent dangers OF
that period had passed away, aud the cultivation of the
mind OCCUPIED the thoughts Of ancestors, some pro-
Gress was indeed made III the establishment of nstu-
Of learning and science began 70 scatter IFS beau-
and It's perfume among The wild flowers of the wilder
ness. tJt the l.ost and the m,dew came again. War
became t'e business of life, AMI liberty its object. lie
who could INC spared from the plough, and the Hail. anC
the mill graspcd the swor! and The rifle, and dcsoalio;
hung like funeral pail the promise of the land
Oar fathers went into the i. in their youth, and
Ceived their education where the only science was war
Iii al! is practical horrors.
When the contest ed, AMI The lIi.h eXCi!euen
under Which orr glorious emancipation achieved
had settled down INTO cain aud current oil
ougii when it became evident that bad gained moi
only liberty but reputation tc necessity of preserving
and increasing at reputation led again 10 the en-
Courngenert OF institutions of learning and education
long aud almost uninterrupted Succession OF wears
peace has enabled to bring them state Of pc:.
feciinn 1efurc unknown i'll Country; an uow
ir the fist time enjoying the result of this elictou
state of lungs.
We have strong 10 congratulate curse Ives ur
having reached such interesting period ia Americ a?
history period in which the arts AMI sciences OF teac.
lave Superseded the tolls and dangcrs.!e drgencra
ft;IOrn and olfZtn~ r
has always been founded on the ignorance of It's vic
titns.-Ihe principles and policy of our goverumen
can on!y res securely on the intelligence Of those 70
wns': benefit was instituted 1t IS lit subject fD
through the clouds and darkness of The ancient tvrar
ni's; a;id dat, instead of experiment having aie,
t'ey are reluctantly indeed but ndisputabiy, ucmbn
aad falling under The successful Influence our rev,
luUoaafy principles which founded on the rights
society anI for their support look uuly its n.c
gcncc