The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-06
From lhs 0swsgo IN. ~ Paiadi.sn
Ought, an ordinary cases, the same amount 10
Be expended in the education u FEMALES as
IN TINT of MAIES M4

W. Wut " WAbEo
This has been question Of controversy,
not only among the illiterate, but the man Of
letters and the decisions made, whether in
the affirmative or negative, have had con-
trolling influence, not exclusively over the
happiness of the female, but the prosperity OF
both sexes, and the destiny Of nations.
Those who have taken the ground of tho
negative, have generally endeavored TO main
tain that the woman was naturally inferior In
intellect TO the man that the responsibilities
resting upon her were not rs great that she
was not required to occupy as important sta
tons in life and that consequently the same
education, absolutely indispensable for HIM,
would be unnecessary for HER. Before |
proceed to argue this question, wish TO have
it perfectly understood that DO not contend,
Internationally, that the same amount, in all
cases, should be expended to educate the fe-
male, as should be to educate the male. We
find exceptions to many general principles;
and he who positively contends for the cor
RICHNESS Of any question like the one proposed
above, il we leave the word ordinary" and
substitute in its place (" ALL" will find himself
burthened with task which he will be una
bic, most assuredly, TO perform. As it fire.
quently happens in a controversy about senti-
ment and duty, that much evil originates from
a want Of right understanding of terms, |
now state, should be misunderstood during
the present discussion, hold myself obligat-
ed to correct the error. / do not wish to dis
pute about words, but the object at which
would aim is truth If fail in supporting
the principles which here lay down, will
then become convert to the opposite.
1t is Of little consequence in reference to
the decision of the question, whether we are
able or not TO prove that the female is en-
bowed with the same natural talent of the
male The question does not turn on this
point, unless it can be demonstrated that the
most talented require the most cultivation. II
this is to be taken as a criterion by which we
are to Judge of the amount to be expended in
education, the argument will stand thus wo-
men are naturally inferior in intellect to men,
therefore they do not require the same amount
to be expended in their cultivation that others
do. If any other argument can be drawn from
the inferior intellect of woman, it would APP
pear more rational, and stand thus: women
are naturally inferior in intellect to men, there
fore they require u greater amount to be ex-
pended in their education.
We are willing, for the sake Of argument,
and indeed, (if we believe at all in the science
of phrenology,) we cannot but acknowledge
that the mental faculties of women are natu-
rally unlike those of men. But it does not
follow that there is any inieriority; for while
their affective faculties, from which spring
compassion, tenderness and benevolence, pre-
dominates, their intellectual faculties are no
less developed. Hence we discover that wo-
man is a more perfect being than man--one
grade nearer in resemblance to that Divine
Original, in whose image" we are created.
The responsibilities devolving on man being
greater than those which devolve on woman,
cannot be successfully urged as an argument
against this question Both men and women
are responsible only for their own conduct,
and the influence which they exert over others.
Women to be sure, in ordinary cases, do not
act in as wide sphere as men but is their
influence in consequence any less extended
The narrowness of the circle in which we
move does not limit our usefulness. Some
persons, confined to their own habitations,
exert much more extensive influence than
others do who traverse sea and land. The
SUN, for aught we know, Except that it turns
on its own axis in an immoveable body, and
yet he spreads his radiant beams
!" From world to world, as planets proudly turn
from one end of the solar system to the other
is the centre of the most magnificent scheme
in the universe, and keeps alive the circuitous
journeys of the planets, as they are hurried on
by an Omnipotence through the trackless
ether. Analogous to this, is the situation and
influence of woman. Wherever social inter-
course dwells in its perfection, she is the
immoveable object inthe centre-the minister
ing angel of man--the tie which binds socie-
ty together. Destroy her, and you blot out
every thing which cheers and animates the
abodes of men.
That women are not required to occupy as
important stations in life, is no argument
against this question. 1t is to the rising gene
ration that we are to look for the hope Of the
future prosperity Of the church and the nation.
For if our children are correctly educated, we
have the surest confidence that both our civil
and religious liberty will be maintained; if
they are not correctly educated as a nation
we must expect to totter and fall. By edu-
cation, we are apt to understand simply the
knowledge gained in the various branches
usually taught in schools; but the "whole
plan of bringing up Children the formation
of their manners-their cultivation, both mon
tai and moral. This is u task which more
particularly belongs to woman. 1t may be
laid down as general rule, until they arrive
10 the age Of seven years They shape their
morals, their taste and their manners Ma
ture has so ordered it that it is to mothers that
the child must look for the greater share of
elementary instruction in the most important
branches Of education. The relation which a
mother sustains to her children, unavoidably
gives her pre-eminence over the father, by
enabling her most efficiently to plant in their
minds the seeds of knowledge, virtue, and all
the graces which should characterize them in