Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-11-27
The people of this state are waking IN

Oh the SUBJECT OF common schools. COun-
ty conventions are being held in many OF
the southern counties; and the prospect
seems to be fair that the State Education
Convention will be numerously attended
by many Of the most prominent citizens OF
the state. The movement is-emphat,cally
one of the peope,-one in which every
good citizen must feel an absorbing inter
est
The county convention of Madison coun-
ty, was held on the 9th inst. George
Churchill and Jesse b. Thomas, Esqrs
were appointed delegates to the state con-
vehtion. The annexed report adopted by
the meeting, breathes the true spirit Of the
tlmes.--Sangdmon Journal
"The subject of education is, perhaps,
one OF the most important, that can be pre-.
sented for the consideration of a young
and rapidly advancing state.
independent of the consideration of pro.
fit, which The general diffusion of education
among all classes of our citizens may be
to the state, by the development of its re-
sources, and the increase of enterprise, the
simple fact that the perpetuation ofour lib
critics mainly depends upon the increased
intelligence ofthe people, should insure It's
universal favor. fe- r{iJe. ss- ST.
"The adage of Lord Bacon, that 'knowl-
edge is power has perhaps more force in
reference to republican government than
any other.
Where u power emanates from the peo-
pie, the people should be Intelligent where
the road to fame, to honor, and to glory
are free for all where there are no pripi-
ged orders-ao hereditary rulers, the a,,o-
ple-ail the people--shouid be intelligent
Ii the human mind is like laarble al d
quarry, and needs only the hand of the
sculptor, viz: the instruction of a teacher
to bring its hidden beauties to light and
action, then surely the Importance of edu-
cation to the community in general must
be acknowledged by all The history of
our country clearly teaches US the fact, that
from the poor and middIing classes of the
community the greatest and most useful
men, in the various deoa rtments of niera,
ture-sta sesmen, Law yers. ply sicians, min
listers warriors and me- iiaulcs, have ca,'o-
forth, and while nations have been ed fi3d
and instructed by their wisdom, the class
of society to which they have been attach
ed, has been exalted aud digaiied.
This fact convinces US, thar men of pie
hian origin may possess patrician minds.
and by their wisdom turn the thoughts Oh
men into other channels; and while such
men as Franklin, Ferguson, Drew, Web
ster, Writ. Pinckney, Clay, jackson, aud
many others, by their talents have been
exalted from the lowest to the highest
walks of life, how convincing a proof
does ii afford OF the ne essity ana Import
ance of early education.
Perhaps some poor industrious now un
known, whose time is employed IN driving
the plough, or cultivating a -sarairie, r,'ss
yer present to the world another Davy, Fai
ton, Locke, Newton, Boyle, or Irving-per,
haps taught at some common school, hay-
ing obtained the first rudime1ts, he will
pursue The pleasing theme, until he sha II
have climbed the hill of fame, and stand
at the head Of some profession. Blu. how
ls this blessing Of education to be dissem
mated among the people of this country {?
Taught iuc uOCtTluc, tHiL ''tu
children are the property of the state'''
We believe that the state should exercis
a paternal care over all it's iiizens, especi
ally the children, Its hopes for all filurity :;
and this paternal care should induce il to
use every means Tor increasing the facili
ties of common school education.
This state having by the liberality of The
general government been richly provided
with means for aiding the citizens thereof,
on this important subject, i, IS but justice o
the present children ofthe state to use these
funds for their benefit.
Experience teaching by facts brought to
ligh: in other states, shows US most clearly :,
that funds to be lavishingly distributed
among the people, does not produce thu
happy result which might be expected
this probably because the money comes
without their care, and, so 1t is to be ex-
pended among them they are perfectly sat
isfed, and do not use that diligence in the
selection of suitable teachers, which per-
haps they otherwise would do. Hence we
approve of a plan which will make the poe
pie co-workers with the state, in the grand
plan Of general education. Entertaining
these Vows and wishing to carry them gu,
as fully as possible, we recommend the
adoption of the following resolutions"
The schooner Phiiadelpha, which sailed
from Arkansas, Texas, on the 9th inst. arm,
III.