Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-02-09

people and we would remark that to live under the government of ignorant people is as bad, or per haps worse than to be ruled by the greatest despot upon earth, Ignorant preudieed electors will send venal members to the Legislature, and from these what liberality pr intelligence can be expected
 The objects ofthe Alumni Society of the Univer- slty Tennessee s to awaken their fellow citizens from that apathy to education into which their orators have plunged them, and to raise funds sufficient to carry on the University, and to institute Common Schools. Mir Bell appointed by the above So- cety the 5th October last, to deliver an address before ifs body, from which we shall make few ex- tracts The people of Alabama will here behold the effects of popular oratory against classical educa ton and its darlsenng influence. Having this picture before them, it is confidently expected that cit zens, both rich and poor will cherish and look with an eye of strong solicude towards own richly endowed and splendid institution, the University of Alabama, as their greatest advantage and blessing, and listen only with dstrust to the laterers who would advocate the curailment or the dividing of its funds for to do so after the of Tennessee known, would not only be unnatural crime against future generations, but would be insanity itself
 Air Bell says,
 "A societyis is instituted for the purpose of pro- noting general education. ill Tennessee, but more especially to sustain the University against the as- saats of pn udice, and the chilling and no less fatal influence ofnegect. l shall be excused ifinstead of holding to view gilded and imaginary drawing of excelonces attained, present the rude and fear ul spectacle of arts unduly prized learning general | y unappreciated, md every effort to excite thirst | for science, and Il taste for general improvement. 1 h,,t ;,,t or formed, and by popular jealousy and susI,cion.- | Content with physical eminence and coarse enjoy ments, fit only to be the mere guards for more refined and civilized neighbors, with strength enough to conquer in fight, but possessing too little know ledge and cultivation to aspire to an equal particpa- ton in the weghty affairs of national policy and con tol, is the character neighbors entertain of us and that such opinions prevail abroad, every traveller beyond our own confines knows to be true. Our best farmers sila to be destitute of the elements of science, living in plenty, but without any wish for he comforts and advantages of civilized socicty that our merchants mero cent per cent scholars know l ng no for money but to make more out of it. or | to egpend it in costly ornaments without taste that l our physicians quacks in medicine our lawyers | peltiloggers, and our clergymen mere enthusiasts. Il would seem to be no very uncommon sentiment in other States that our countrymen, generally are sol Il much in ignorance, incompetent to decide for| themselves upon the ordinary questions ofpay poll
 cs is be the read tools of the little 1aent among us, willing to follow or be transferred by our political | leaders like so many slaves'
 l NIr Bell then goes to give detail of the grants ofland by Congress- for the purposo offounding and endowing a University, and insttuting Common Schools. The grants, had they been managed well, would have been amply sufficient for both the great purposes, butthe Legislature year after year, award ed relief to the debors until at last the funds of the University were quite dissipated and vanished into empty air
 l The address thus continues:
 "Whoever has had any experience in legislation knows the extent of the resources of minority in el. fectng any single measure, to which they are ready and willing to sacrifice all others. Every election | from a clerk to a senator in Congress; and every other qu Stion of local interest policy, of whoh'we have always had number, laid hold of with un- erring tact, until majority of the whole body find | themselves seduced, by some motive other into tle support of measures which if Jeff to be decided upon il ir individual merlts could never have recev- ed their concurrence. Without as well as within the legislative hall, there have been standing and zeaons declaimers against colleges aud academies | All such institutions have been denounced as un- worthy ofpublic patronage; belonging to the rich the arisocracy of the land, and in which the people l have no other interest than to pull them down. The public sentiment of the whole State has become tant- ed. and in many counties the high seminarics of learning has become to be regarded not only with dsfagor, but with positive odium."
 Such is the public feeling towards education in Tennessee.
 The author then goes on to say liat
 t" It is incumbent upon the people of this country to sustain themselves in two great positions they Ut present occupy, of political -,aare; to continue 1 competent to self government n the extent of the powers reserved to them, as separate sovere gnty, and to exercise, in unbroken harmony, their rights and duties as party to the federal Union."
 But without education he continues
 "Whic the people may fattcr themselves with the idea that they are, of right the sole deposos of political power they become in fact, the mere tools of popular leaders. Factions, in turn must hold the reins of sovereignty, whenever the people shall be prepared to clamor in the train of personal avores, without due regard to the principles of their public conduct Such IS the low destiny which awaits us, with all our imposing forms of freedom, when igno- rance and sefishness shall become the predominant features of our society. Knowledge then is the great corrector of abuses. five would reform the abuses of our government, effectively, we must begin at home, by enlightening, purifying and elevatng the standard of public feeling and judgement. Such a course would be worth more than all the other l schemes for the regeneration and improvement of the country, of which the times are so prolific. If 1 you would have good roads and canals, enghten the people; if you would cherish domestic industry, | enlighten the people; if you would preserve the Union, enghten the people. To those whose lot it may be to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brow, would say, give your mite to the great cause that your children may have step to rise upon and the inheritance offreedom, is wealth to every citizen To the rich would say, give tithe ofyour annual gains of all you have if it be necessary as the best security for the enjoyment of the remainder, and the safest means of transmitting it to posterty. Who can be ignorant at this day that the power and spectabty ofa people depend more upon their intel igance and moral energy. than upon mere numerical