Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-04-07

made. the greatest Of blessings. There
IS a work to be done before we give the
Bible. upon which much Of the legitimate
influence Of this sacred hook is depend
ent; and this work must be performed in
The common schools. Whet her the Bible
Society shall be blessing to the destitute,
the ignorant and the outcast, or not, de-
ponds, in great degree, upon the num-
Der and character ofthe common schools
for, be it remembered. they give to nine
teen ont of twenty all their ability to read
and reflect.
The temperance effort is likewise de-
pendent on common schools Man will
seek happiness. Ifhe has it not mentally
or morally, he will seek It physically
Gratifying his animal nature for while
in the tippling-shop, may give him mo-
mentary pleasure; but this does not salts
fy him, and he resortsto an excessive graf
i6cation, which soon diseases his physical
nature. And here is the chief cause of
human vice and misery; diseased phys
ical nature, having the predominence over
the mental and moral capacities. Reason
and conscience, which had been given t.
him by his Creator to govern his apretites
and passions, have never been unfo!ded or
educated; they never received strength
enough to overcome the lower natures, and
the day Of education is past The unfor-
tunate being has no other capacity for
happiness, than in the indulgence Of his
grosser appetItes. If he signs the tenn
perance pledge, the present allurelrents Of
life are such, that his appetite 10 indulge
is stronger than his resolution to abstain,
and he too often adds the sin of broken
vows to the sin Of suicide Our common
schools should have such an elevated
| character, that they would give, 10 all, the
sources of mental and moral happiness
Then there would not be such strong in
ducenents to CRAFTY the senses then
there would be mental and moral stand
ing in society a Persevering pride,
conscious shame, and strength of reso-
luton that would keep the person from the
drunkard's fate. Should net the friends
oftempCrance feel that they have a high
duty to perform in the common school.
7 The good order and happiness fsocie-
ty are secured or lost, according to the
character Of the common schools. Cos
siping, seeking pleasure BY gratifying the
bodily desires, arise from the want Of in
telieclual entertainment. Ifall received
good elementary education, land this in
cludes thorough instruction in the rrinci-
pies of christianity they would find hap
piness within themselves, in reading and
study, and in the cultivation and improve
ment ofthe heart and head But society,
without these higher and independent
sources ofhappiness, is left 10 the destruc-
tive influence Of tea-table tattle, drinking
, horse-racing and the gambling table
But the educated have other bjects than
/ their nei9 hbors for conversation,-other
J, sources than vicious places Of resort, and
e neighborhood scandal, for amusement -
=, and other associates than the stupid and
r ignorant, or the vile and worthless. In
good common schools, society may OBJ
! tain that which will secure morality, in.
dustry and enterprise; but if the schools
! are worthless, society will lose uhat Il
!, can obtain from no other source, and the
! want of which will make the inhabitan'.
h weak, degraded and despis>d. Knowl
q edge is power as we'll as happiness, ano
Y the intelligent community will always
= have the advantage Of Ignorance, and the
e respect Of their fellow men. Let the dis
l. trlcts and towns, then, improve THEN
e schools.
0 The common school should give the
e farmer higher education; it should make
n him better acquainted with nature; more
observing, more reflective. The Fl uitfuI.
e ness oftha soil does not derend so much
}. upon its richness, as it does upon the in.
|, teligence Of those who cultivate IT. i
J. farmers wish 10 benefit their lands, 10 in
crease their happiness or wealth, or eIe.
j. vate their standing in society, the frs
u thing for them to do is, to improve then
- schools; TO raise the character Of tha
), place where all their education is obtain
= ed ; where the mind is developed, and the
e intellectual character of the nejghborhood
e formed. A good school will make the
Il rich soil blessing and the barren Spcr
l. productive.
It The mechanic should cultivate lis
mind, that his head may hell his hands
l. Science will lessen and tighten his daily
: task. It will give him the power of max.
o ing better article and better instrument
e AMI it will make him greater and better
h man.
$ The merchant should have more en-.
r larged views-more intellect His en-
:. ployment, then, would never descend TO a
e system of higgIing, and the profession
r would be made as noble and commanding
n in its practice, as it is in its nature. Our
D schools are so poor, that they have not
: given to the majority Of merchants that
!, mental capital, that intellectual stock,
which would be far more productive than
= crowded shelves with empty heads. And