Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-01-26


'hose rrecerts can be truly understood Justly ap
preciated. WEALTH, and splcpdor NAV for a momeu
'hFcr The morbid appetite Of vain ignorance; but tn
beauties OF literature the charms of science the trea
Ps'es Oh knowledge, yield 20 their posscssors drrab,
pleasures OF which the frowns os fortune cannot de-
PRIV 'iein anu furnish permanent of delight
'"oeF the most inanspicious events of existence
Sevcrai e'i"rts hare been made this state TO cs
iiois,i system of public instruction. whose basis
should be the education Of the poor free from expense
J speculative politicians have objected this part
Scheine that ii weaid operate .sas premium 10 idle
ness. II This be true the objection would apply equal
ly to all public assistance TO the POOR and thus thai
.'T, o. o-iU.S sl.- NJ Left 10 buffet it'll the bill
loss at atier@ Ind iCt ace, svitt,our ray Of hope
10 support them under the unequal struggle And "
are Graveiy retired 20 the effects produced in Ena
ny such syscm where il is commended paupeiisn is
ilcreasingi when no, single parallel feature to be
FOUND III the condition of the poor Of the two coun
ir'es Pine viii not permit full examination of this
question; neither is il necessary the present view
The first project of public education now recoect-
ed was adopted by this State in the year 1897 This
tailed because the system was not sufficiently cons
pehensve TO enlist al! the friends of literature in lis
support, and the funds not Immediately aitanablc.
fh"eeh little OF the old ieayen drawn from the pau
peTisn' o! Europe, was then working within us.
nc system now IN experiment In Virginia, though not
as yet snccesgf, promises fewer obstructions than
nave been offered by its predecessors. 1t is evidently
borrowed from foreign country, where the spirit
te government was more favorable IFS success tina
~ ',s country There the mandate of the monar CHI
ii'cd tie m iiary scCol This is the part The s,s
item wi'c hare found the most difficult TO he carried
ih'o ,A"ciiHH. Tins results from the of our
gov! ninHnt t}@Fe. every man is at liberty to send
or Withhold lbs Guild from school, as his fancy into, cs
! - feeling may dictate. We cannot corrcI him /,
IS not an argument though, against the system AZ
HAT tic Legislature do IS 10 furnish orno-
''y AMI facilities 10 the acquisition OF know e,cc
>HT onh II to be objected the primar, schools thai
I 'ncy are i'o' IL general operation. They fugm
ons 70 oF'n an important component par; feature m
s or any SJsc'n which may be devised Know led c
must hove commencement We must commence in
the elementary schools, VIC can approach those
wherein The higher branches OF literature are taught
The difficulty which has been experienced in some
parts of ia. the State in organizing the primary schools
has arisen chiefly from the iHcicncy of the dyi
dcs afpo!i'oned to them; but is believed that hen
'e dividends allotted 10 them shall for the space OF
some few years be accumulated and united that then
tins Part OF cur system will become generally rrosuer.
Gus Our sister State New York has far outrun Us in
tie career OF public utility and scholastic advance
ment. G;i.cr States are in the full tide of snccesF
experiment. And shall Virginia cease her exe-,iens
advance WITH the progressive intelligence OF ts.c are
knowledge and her attendant wealth. are essential in
gre !ans of power If educatnn, instead ef advalc
ing farther, shnnld decline from its present state
tue advance OF civilization and liberal political princi
Pies will cease with ii, and their Influence gradually
disappear from regions they NOW enIighten.
1t may be asked it has been, il! we sscxpcct
race Of statesmen from the ranks q! pnnrei,:nn The
response is immediate
"fis eduraiion form, the cn.n.ln.. rn.,,;;
Jus The t,vig is bent tic trre's iuciinci'
Some of tive brightest ornaments "a lie .cpuf,c 6;
letters have in their youth felt the Chilling blight Of
penny shall not step to argue the pru!ern Of tic
aptitude ct the human mind in al men 10 ";gain equal
e'hinrncc IN am. ~ every science This leave Ia
'iie subtle researches Of tic nctaIhvsica! Ills !,
nty cf ega'oisyci Twill say, ia. ii is believed
the organization The human mind is similar in ali men
The mind ot i2 ynniEi!n peasant is IL, nature ccna;
capable Of receiving and retaining the impression. and
truths Of literature with that of tyn:-o hy
'or'une. I:o POOR youths of our a;c =, e,s
cept;bIe of the genial war,nti ohc ,ays Of science a.
tiI.~l i-,r., nj and
Rome were preserved by dictator forced from the tail
Of fonga--phi'osophy yelicd !;cr treasures TO a
printers boz
FScc FRANKLIN rrasq the ii.!,;r,rg's icf,, vim"
dot! ihe uo-cuty which eviruntd his cradle take
aught from rim who first in war first III rcacc
and iI'st In III" hearts of his conntryIrcD.n
10 bcii!d fellow creature srringing from obscu
riv, bursting Tic ciu'ids of adversely which lad cove
lnped his Youth and ascending fame ana honour
spectacle which! the uver Of human nature ard he
intellectual! capacities delights 10 contemplate. Cur.
the ohaste model of forensic oraforv drew his
earliest inspirations within the walls Of q cottage
The infancy o! Henry did not present to the c,e q
anticipation that splendid hsio of glory that enc;rcIc
his manhood, ana still exacts from grateful poseriI
their haowe love and " bat incentives f.
mental cxcrt;on, do the happy political institutions
under which '7c live apply 10 The youth OF our country
where every door TO wealth, to fame, to honour opeI
equally TO the tenant Of cottage, the inmate OF
palace. Smooth then the ascent, throw wide the por
ta!5 TO the temple of sCcDce-nyite the youth of yGu
country. pooy. ell rich, to worship ak her shrine
give To The poor t'at knowledge they cannot purchase
furnish them the opportunities of scientific
Then lei each follow the advice Of the oracle of Delpho
10 Cicer0-"FoIlua Nature" Millions vet unbor
ray heap bcnedctious memories and our re
waiis will be foun! III the preservation oi car unpar
aiIeIed political establishments, and ie splcndour
our ccunlry's name.
ReSoirF, That this Committee n Schools and College
be requested 10 enquire into the cXTren" Of ssHcn
the present apprupria ton of the annual OF TN
Literary Fund, and that they report hill otherwise.
Eesorcd, That the Committee Of Schools and Colleges
he requested to enquire into the expectancy of changn
the present plan df public instruction, sys
ten Of permanent grauiiou5 ejuca ton IF the youths
the State in MI situations of life, recommended iG 81
Message Of the Governor the present General Asscm
= and that they report by bill or otherwise.
Rcsoivd, That the COMMITTEES of Schools and CoIeo
DC requested to enquire into the expedicnCy cf ahorz,
tho Treasurer to withhold the payments of any dviJcn
which remain undrawn by Treusurcrs of School Commi
sicncTs and placing the 10 the credit or those ro
tics whose dividends thus remain ndrawnand fr,ilic
lno ihe expectancy of directing the Treasures If Coun
Commissioners in whose hands auy monies remain una