The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-06-02

q. I
their munifcence, was made the nursery of piety
and learning land temples, dedicated to religion,
were fe affairs which they reared to liberty of con-
science and pure worship The means by which
these privileges and blessings to be preserved
for posterity are now in our keeping We are
charged with their present use and bound by every
motive of interest and of duty, to their highest inn
proyement 1t will be but an imperfect perform
ance of obligation, that we shall merely preserve
what has been transmitted to us. The age in which
we live is distinguished for great advances. Broad
er scope has been given to intellectual power and
moral action. The civil rights of man are better
understood, and the just aims and true ends of gov
eminent will be more strenuously insisted upon.
The most comprehensive summary of the duties
of legislatures and magistrates and which can
not too frequently be referred to, is contained In
that nobest chapter of the constitution which en-
Joins upon them the obligation to cherish terature
and the sciences, to encourage private societies
and public institutions, for the promotion of the
great interests of the country, and to countenance
and inculcate moral virtues, social affections, and
generous sentiments, among the people In this
brief compendium enumerated all the wise pur-
poses of legislation, and, upon these objects, the
business of legislators is never to be exhausted.
While knowledge is progressive, and there is yet
any thing to learn, while the arts are imperfect and
there is uught to improve, while science dsclos
ing treasures of wisdom, and the human mind is
capable of enlargement by their acquisition, there
will remain to the representatives Of the people,
under this civil compact, the responsibility of fos
terng institutions of learning of offering incentives
to the free spirit of enterprize, and of encouraging
! by rewards and immunities, agriculture and the
arts, commerce, trades, and manufactWes-and
thus fulfilling the service for which representa-
tive government was, by the trainers oft express
ly declared to have been constituted. May not the
inquiry be now made, to what objects, and how far,
should the attention of the members of this egisla-
ture be thus directed? 1t is but narrow view of
the influence of authority which limits its exercise
within the scope of legal enactment. The senti-
ments which are expressed here, the debates and
the discussions which are had, the principles which
obtain sanction in the character of measures pro
| posed, may, and often do, transfuse through the
community moral power which the imperative
language of laws might in van be used to produce.
Is there then no favorable sentiment which may be
given to the improvement of the condition of soci-
ETY. ! Are there no schemes Of public enterprise,
nor objects of domestic industry to be promoted I?
No measures for the advancement of the general
interests of the State, to be pursuedlS Are the
means of education, common schools, the man
ner of their support and regulation by law and the
| course of instruction which is prescribed in them
susceptible of no improvement? May not encour.
! agement be afforded to other modes of teaching
and inducements offered to higher qualifications Of
\ teachers? There are unquestioned defects in ex.
listing arrangements, which public opinion may anC
doubtless will correct; but are no measures of ia
vor or of relief wanting which the nterposition Of
the Legislature alone can supply Lyceums, those
modern institutions for mutual instruction com.
mend themselves to your patronage. The oeca
sion for the establishment of semnares in the prac
tcal arts is yet unsatis6ed and without these the
system of education never be made complete
In one department at least, of professional sci
ence, AN earnest appeal is submitted to yourconsid
Grafton. The medical faculty have shewn the EN-
barrassments and difficulties of acquiring know
edge in branch of their profession and their franz
and manly representation deserves the most re
spectiul regard. 1t may be- that this latter subject
is of nature too delicate for direct legislation
But the public mind should be instructed in its in
teresting importance. Let it be explained, how
that the knowledge which is sought in the science
of anatomy concerns all the living and that withou
it, the accidents and ills of life, which art nigh
remedy, are beyond relief Let the reason of mel
be addressed, and prejudice be dispeled by infor
/, nation and the force of argument 1t may theI
come to be understood, that community, whicl
demands the exercise of skill and denies the mean
to acquire it, which Furnishes ignorance, and pre-
cludes the possibility of removing it. is scarcel
more compassionate than that Egyptian, harshnes
which imposed the impracticable task in cruel op
preston of the inability to performit it.
But by this reference, it is not my purpose to pro
pose any definite act for your adoption. l woult
commend the subject only to the discreetaess O
your counsels. Respect for the source whence tn
appeal originally proceeded, and deep conviction
OF the concern which all classes in society have i
its object, seemed to demand from me this notice
1t should be distinctly regarded that the faculty as
relief through no measure of violence to the sym
{ pathies of human nature. Upon the plan whicl
they suggest, the feelings and affections which clus
ter in the circles of kindred and of friendship vii
+ no longer be outraged. nor the anxieties and sor
rows of bereavment receive torturing aggravation
The sanctuary of the tomb will be rendered NOR
sacred and the sepulchres of the dead made NOR
secure, when the temptation to their violation witt
the plea of necessity for its excuse, shall be
ed together.
To the ordinary business of legislation TO whicl
your attention will be directed, the present year
there is superadded the occasion of considerini
proposed amendments to the fundamental law 0
the government. The last legislature deyoved thi
duty upon you by distinct reference of specif
propositions to your decision, under the amendato
ry provision contained in the existing constitution
The lnconveniences which are already experienc
ed from the numerous delegation to the popular
branch, with an apprehension of the extreme diff
Guilty. IT not utter impracticability, of aording tn
necessary accommodation for the despatch of pub
lie business should the present right Of representa-
ton be exercised to its full extent together with
regard to the onerous charge thus imposed upol
? the public treasury, have produced an expression
OF sentiment, almost universal throughout the com
, monwealth, that, by some arrangement, the mum
bers and the expenses ought to be diminished. TIL,
manner in which this is to be effected will doubt
less be the occasion of greater diversity of opinion
1t cannot be done, in any form, but by mutual con
) cession and compromise, surrender of much tina
is local, and all that is selfish, to the common good
1t is worthy fremark, that Massachusetts, is almos
singular among the States of the union for the mum
Der of her representatives, and in the frequency o
their sessions In respect to the former, she is al
) together without parallel and Rhode Island, un
der her old charter, Affords it believed the on
other example Of more frequent than annual CONVEX
tons Of legislative assemblies except upon extra
ordinary occasions. 1t is not improbable, that re
gard to the convenience of the delegates alone
originally suggested the practice of an adjourned
session, in our own commonwealth. The appoint
the busy season of husbandry, the winter that o
leisure and the peculiar interests of an agricultur
al community will always furnish sufficient reaso
for the postponemento Of measures requiring deliber
alton and time for their disposal, 10 the most ia
yorable opportunity. If the uniform observation 0
many years experie nee has now shown, that an an
nua session of the legislature, isas frequent as thu
public interest, under ordinary circumstances, will