Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-02-16
FOR TIE rNrELL1GENcER.

l | dcmies are for he rich 0niy.
 1 A doctrine more absurd and ridiculous than this never was invented by the mind ofman; or of more pernicous tendency to the improvement and tic best interests of society. We acknowledge that it is but the cant of those who would ingratiate then- selves with the greatest number and it made use of a catchword to forward their personal purpo- ses and although so shallow as scarcely to deserve notice yet has taken deep root in Tennessee, and has had the most injurious effects upon the cause of education in that state. Orators there have, year after year, inculcated into the public mind that Col
 leges and Academies are for exclusive and favor ed body only until these liberal institutions have been brought absolutely into odium. Although whis pers of the same deleterous tendency have been oc casionally uttered in Alabama, yet we know, that so far they have made no impression, but we cannot tell how soon the infection may spread and for our part if we had the power, we would have Sanitary Gordon instituted along our northern lines, to keep out this Egyptian Plague, this true doctrine of the Holy Alliance. We say that the assertion (for an assertion only it s,) has made such wide progress elsewhere that we will offer few remarks, which hope will in part at least, shew the true opera tion of fColleges and Academies and their importance to the whole of a community Where they are esta- bshed, and liberally paronised, they elevate those countries and states above those where they are ne- glected They the nurseries of liberty and pro- mote liberal opinions on every subject either perso- naly connected with the state That they arc the nurseries oflibery, proofs may be found in the dltion of France at the present moment. It was the spread of intelligence that caused that nation to rise lately against her rulers and the youth of the military and other schools were the leaders of the patriot bands of Paris in July last It is also an improved system of education among the people that has put down the Wellington ministry in Great Bri- tain, and elevated Lord Gray and the whigs into power who have ever adyocated through the Eden burg Review parliamentary relorm and the aboli- tion of sinecures, and other abuses of goyernment
 In fact, the people of both France and England have through the means of education, become too en- llghtened to submit to the rule of exclusive par ty, and they justly desirous of obtaining full share Tn the government ofther respective countries Thus, these two kingdoms on the eastern continent are the most powerful and free because their citizens as body, are the most literally instructed If, therefore, the defuson of intelligence is bursting the bonds of old and despotc institutions and na- tions, it well becomes us who are certainly the freest people in the world to cherish national learning, the plant whose growth to maturity will be the only firm support of our political system.
 l Butwe still hear some say, Academies and Col leges are above the poor mans means, and why should they interest hn2 All this is very true, no tLo bh;, oI, oc.l,, present year afford to give his son a collegiate education; but this truth will not apply to the future. Such is the equal division of property in the United States, that there never can be great preponde rance ofwealth in any given number of families, as that any part of the body polite should deserve or aspire to the designation of exclusives in short, where there is no law ofental, no system ofprimo- geniture, it is impossible for property be perpetu- ated in any family excepting through industry and talent. Mir Bell, in his address before the Alumni Society ofthe University of Tennessee, says,
 z Nothing is more certain than that the working classes of the present generation will furnish the idle, luxurious and rich of the next and that the children of the present rich constitute part of the work
 ing classes of the succeeding age. In all this wide and smiling land, how few are the fortunes which have not been built up by the industry of their pre- sent possessors and who are the most honored and Erespected, whether in ont of oce for their virtue and abilities as scholars, artists patriots statesmen in every part of the Union2 Generally the obscure, who are the sons of the poor, of those who have risen, by their daily to to the enjoyment of ho- nest, though moderate independence"
 l It is melancholy to know the way in which the people of Tennessee have been deIuded in this mat ter. In that state many, nay we sorry to say a great number, are either illeerate, or cannot even read at all, and few designing men, desrous of be-
 ing elevatedto place, have taken advantage to atter the prejudces of the greatest number to the almost general ruin of education. The Orators must surely have very humble opinion of the judgment and foresight of their hearers, and compliment them but very poorly. As we take it, its as much as to say, :" you, and your present families not only not to be benefited by Colleges and Academies, but your de scendents down to the thousandth generation as they shall always remain as humble and as poor as you at present, shall not be benefited by them either" They actually stamp their hearers and all their descendants for ever with neriority of talent and want of ambition and theyare desrous of extm- gushing hope This is called pleasing the people This is tcliag them their fortunes with vengeance Now, every one knows that man however poor he may be himself and however dark his own pros poets in life, still generally entertains the pleasing thought that wealth may be tn portion of at least some part of his offspring; and with all due defer ence to the rather ortuncteers, the hope is natural and just; for ofthose who at present rich, how many of them were youths poor and hum be only ten years ago, and unquestionably, manytha are at present. will, during the of the ten years become wealthy.