Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-01
The Spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION.

| "'e TIC iohoWihg pregnant ex-
tractfrom recent address by DR.. BEECH
Err, entitled ia plan for colleges" /,
will be read with interest aud profit:
"Ihis tendency of personal liberty 10
the subv.rsion Of laws is with us the d.
idemic of the day. The genius Of our
government has breathed spirit of re-.
taxation through all our systems of edu-
cation from the cradle upward. Instead
of increasing the efficiency of early dis.
ciPline anu liability of subordination
thro' every form of social preparatory
government, we have thrown the reins
presunrtuously upon the neck Of child
hood and youth, trusting to the efficien.
cy OF law to meet and curb and tame he
fiery spirit of insubordination.
In our contempt of the arbitrary ia
equaiities OF monarchial governments,
our Zeal has overacted to the overthrow
OF those constitutional distinctions of
Intelligence, and virtue, and authority,
ins,parable from the existence of well
regulated society.
Instead of environing the rising gene
ration with parental vigilance and a
mild efficient government. to qualify
them by habit to coming responsible
ties, we have blamed the severity of our
fathers, and ridiculed their particularly
and in the supremacy of our wisdom send
our children, ungoverned at home, to
meet the responsibilities Of the school, of
the college, and of public life. And
they, rocked to sleep in the nursery, by
the songs and eulogies of liberty. deem
it unseemly indignity to their native
independence, to be compelled to obey,
aud their republican blood makes insur-
rect!on, and the wise, weakheaited pa
rent submits, hoping they will be asham.
ed Of their conduct when they come to
years OF discretion-an era which few
ungoverned children ever reach.-The
same unsubdued spirit of republican in
dependence goes murmuring through the
common school with oft repeated break
ings.out Of rebellious will. The acad-
envy sometimes conquers and sometimes
Is onquered-sometimes compromises,
or concludes truce while in the col
lege, with increasing frequency, it at
tempts subjugation of the powers that be
to the popular will.
In the mean time, our patriotic poIiti-
clans, (and never was there nation bles.
sed with such multitude ofthem, have
so long aud so constantly assured the SOW
ereign people of their power, and their
own implicit subsection to them, that
they have taken it into their heads to be
above not only their servants, but above
themselves, as acting by their own Off
GERS and their own laws SO that, by the
deceitful influence Of our institutions.
that efficiency of government, and those
habits OF subordination, 80 indispensable
to qualify us for spontaneous obedi.
ence TO law, are fast failing and the law
is called to disclose its impotency to con-
troll population, from abroad and at
home, furious in passion, hanghty in
pride, and indomitable in will. The
result is, that in the absence Of power,
and in contempt of the dignity of law,
brawls and batteries, in high places and
low. and duels and assassinations and
robberies, and confagrations, and MUIR
ders. and MODS, and treasons, and all the
symptoms Of a fast approaching dissoIu-
ton, begin TO appear.
| The truth is, we are fast going down
stream with all the aceelerating power of
passion, wind and tide; AND UNLESS
THE NATION CAN BE AWAK-
ENED, WE SHALL GO DOWN.
/