Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-16
views ON Education,


The great experiment Of self-government,
conceived and carried into execution by the A
merlcan peopic, OH the uivaa &vsts Ut nee IlI-
stitutions, has fully realized the most ardent
hopes of the friends Of rational liberty in every
section Of the globe.---Io perpetua,e those in
stitutions---to carry out in its most extended
details the grand scheme ofrepublican freedom
---and to disseminate throughout the vast bor-
ders Of our union, the full enjoyment Of those
blessings secured by our unequalled form Of
government not only constitutes the duty, but
should form the highest pleasure and ambition
Of every patriotic mind. That these desira-
BILE object may be fully attained, the more ge-
neral diffusion acknowledge throughon, every
avenue of society is indispensably requisite.
tits not enough that our citizens should pos
sess the rudiments Of learning, or that amount
ofinstruction and information, merely, which
will enable them TO transact the ordinary busi-
ness of life; for this would be TO make the
great cause OF mental and moral improvement
stationary. The requirements OF the age--thc
exalted position we occupy as nation---tho
hopes and anticipatons we have excited---and
the rich promise our past history has given---
alike forbid us TO repose upon the laurels we
have already acquired. or to rest contentcd
with the standard Of excellence to which we
have attained. We owe it 10 those who shall
succeedus in the enjoyment of the noble inhe-
ritance bequeathed to us by the men Of the re-
volution, that the rich soil of civil and ntellec-
tual freedom shall be cultivated 10 the extent
of the means in our power---that the capabili-
ties Of the unfs,tered mind shall not be rc.ard-
ed or obstructed in the pursuit OF it's high des-
TIMES, by the whitening influence ofignorance
or the poisonous exhalations OF vice. The
continued prosperity and onward career Of ma
tons, depend upon tie wise and proper use Of
the advantages they are enabled to command.
The seeds Of their dissolution are indeed with
! in themselves; but the fruits Of anarchy and
licentiousness, vice and luxury, confusion and
civil broil; spring not up and flourish, until
1.-THE soil is prepared by the voluntary or fatui-
4 tous excrtions Of those WHO are destined to
reap the harvest. The splendid superstruc.
ture our ancestors have Teared---the unparal.
leled prosperity which has hitherto attended
the operations Of our civil, religious and social
4 polity ,---the rapid improv ement which the pre-.
Y sent century has Witnessed in the arts and sci
] ences, -.-impose upon US responsibility which
can be adequately met only by the consecra
ton Of our highest faculties and best exer!ioni
to the happiness, improvement and knowledge
" VuA bVcCbc6s 1uO uCI0hOuVy NA0upA0r
which crowd the pages Of ancient and modern
4 history, convey TO us most impressive ant
solemn warning against the enervating indu
ences Of uninterrupted prosperiiy---nor neet
we be reminded that the dangers which sur
round us, are in exact proportion TO the con
tinded success Of the bold experiment upol
which we have ventured. Materially as ou
institutions differ in their essential feature
from those Of any preceding age, the consti
ton of human nature remains unchanged
Striking as may be the contrast between tn
present and the past, the admonitions Of wis
dom and experience combine with the read
suggestions Of our own minds, to teach u
that on the prevalence Of virtuous dispositions
and the spread Of an intelligent and cultivated
public sentiment, the great foundation Of Of.
liberties and privileges must forever rest.--
Were il even possible for the complicated ma
Ichinery Of government to continue its opera
ton, and the fabric Of our institutions to re
sist the attacks Of foreign or domestic enemies
without the progress Of knowledge, OF the pre-
i sence of an enlightened and uncorrupted stat
of morals and civilization, Of what avail woul
be the barren pride Irrational existence! VIII
would prize the beautiful and polished casket
in the absence of the rich treasure it was form
ed 10 enclosed @azt
Il In the progress Of our history as an indie
pendent people. we have arrived at poin
i where itbecomes our imperative duty to pause
if need be, in the career Of opulencc and wealth
i which is constantly opening itself US, and en-
& ter upon new and not less Interesting field
i of ambition and labor---to exchange the empire
of matter, at least 1.-The extent to which hal
/ heretofore prevailed. for the empire Of mind
BY the wise and enlightened policy Of q sue
ccssion Of patriots and statssmcn, the institu