Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-15
COMMUNICATIONS,
ALEXANDRIA FREE SCHOOL.

advantages from that training of the intellectual
faculties, or disciplining of the affections Oh
mankind, which disposes men to act win the
highest effect and with the purest intentions; or
to expatiate upon the disadvantages insepara-
BILE from ignorance. Any ono who Will cast Mo
eye over the community to which he belongs,
will see innumerable instances to illustrate the
truth OF both propositions. He will ind, by his
observations, that where reason directs the
mimi, rather than the variable whims, humors,
or conceits of ignorance, action has its highest
effect, and happiness and prosperity attend it.
On the other hand, he will find, that where the
actions of men are directed by the impulse OF
passion and prejudice, rather than the determi-
nations of the judgment, their end is abortve,
and poverty and misery ensue. II is the pecu-
liar characteristic Of education to bcget desire
that its influence should spread, and that all
should enjoy that high degree Of happiness and
liberty, which is 6ervabe from freedom of
intellectual operations, and goodness of heart
But it is possible this desire may be Of passive
nature, tending to no action by which the object
of desire can be produced; and this take to be
the general condition Of our citizens. We know
that the greatest degree Of happiness and pros
perity a community can attain, IS TO be de-
rived from a general diffusion OF education, by
which knowledge is extended, and the capaci-
ties of the people enlarged, and are DESTROYS
that the many youths CT our town who are be-
ing raised in ignorance, from the want Of the
means Of acquiring an education, should be IA
vored with the privilege Of school free of ex-
pense,-yet hesitate to exert ourselves in any
way by which such benevolent desire could
be made effective.
1t seems to be the laudable object Of your
correspondent, An Alexandria," to elicit the
action Of the community, and induce 1t to esta-
bsh school, That school is absolutely ne
cessary, and that the action of the community
is essential to its creation, there can be no doubt;
but to the nature of the school, and the means
by which il is to be supported, beg leave re-
spectfully to object. He proposes, for the sup
port of his Free School, the charities of the peo-
pie, or Of Congress-or, what is not a whit bet
ter, by "public expense" BY public expense,
understand him to mean, whatever our Common
Council may please to contribute from its alrea-
dy limited means. II is easily to be perceived,
dations would have but precarious existence,
and be not at all calculated to subserve the end
Of its creation, from this very fact
The proper foundation for common school
would be taxation; and an institution founded
upon universal taxation Of the citizens is de.
sideratum that would rebound to the honor of
our town. There are those who will startle at
the idea Of taxation, and suffer their parsimo-
niousness to lead them into sordid calculations
about matter that is Of vast and perpetual
consequence to the community. But when they
consider, that many bright and philanthrop:c
genius is lost to the world in oblivion, by peDu-
ry-and that many intelgences of excellent ma
tural qualities, and great capacities, are suffer-
ed to "blush unseen" that otherwise would
have contributed to enlighten mankind, and to
adorn and charm the stage Of civil life,-me-
thinks they would discard sel6shness from their
calculations, and consider il as conducting to
the common benefit of our republican commu.
nifty, and contributing to advance the cause Of
philanthropy, by placing within the reach of all
that invaluable treasure that has hitherto beens
accessible only by the favorites Of fortune. II
10 upOu tilC SntuC dhu iiitCiliSCuCC VI pcOpc
that the patriot erects his hopes for the solidity
and durability of the Republic: the sceptic fears
its destruction from the waywardness and in
consistency Of Ignorance. The laws have their
strongest support from the virtuous and the en-.
lightened. And the regulations and security
given by them to private property, are effective
only when reason and judgment guide the ac-
tons Of men. lfpassion and prejudice prevail,
where is the security to ones possessions or per-
son2 The perpetuity of our civil liberty is dear
to every man: and, seeing that it depends upon
the diffusion of knowledge, it is the interest," as
we'll as the duty, Of every man, the more espe-
ciay the property holder, to assist in its exten.
sion, until every individual shall have become
subject to its influence. The monopoly of the
means OF education by the inheritors Of this
worlds pelf leads men to think that the trea-
sures Of wisdom are accessible only by the
wealthy-that none can become acquainted with
the secrets Of the arts and sciences but the rich
and a consequence is that the less favored of