The herald., 1837-05-02
THE
NEW YORK HERALD.
Letteas from young scOtchman.
LETTER II.

LETTER
Education in this country though general Is not
so liberal as might be supposed Taere are not many
OF them who intend TO pursue any OF the learned pro-
tesslons that are educated in slanner to TT Them
Tor high excellence In those professions. An mper-
fect acquaintance with classical literature ltue
Latin and less Greek are considered by most parents
as all that may be necessary 10 prepare youth ior he
study and qualify him for the practice OF law dlvln-
ity ormedlcne Ii is true that this deficiency IS not
always barrier to the attainment OF distinction anu
fame in these professions because genius Will over
come every lmpednent, and surmouut every dlilcui-
~ but when such slender attalnments are consul
cred as sufficient il wfoow that thousands WIN en-
deayor 70 reach the rank they confer who mghl ho'
otherwise have dreamt of pursuing them, ana who'
had they received more finished and liberal educa'
ton, would probably have become eminent ana use
ful. | must not be understood, hswever as intending
70 write any censure on the propensity prevalent
among the people in this country 10 extend he bless
Ings OF education to their offspring. NO amDoa can
be more lauda5e or vrtuous 1t IS perhaps the best
legacy parent bequeath TO his chlld In the
language Of one of no little celebrity /" II IS COM
panisn which no misfortune can depress, no crime
destroy, enemy can aenate no despotlsm enslave;
at home friend, abroad an introduction IN solitude
solace and IN society an ornament 1t chastens
wee II guides virtue, II gives at once grace ana 60
Vernment 10 genus. Without 1t what IS man I! A
splendid slave, reasoning savage" An education,
however, calculated TO confer, those advantages and
blessings cannot be enjoyed by those whose cream
stances are not easy or afiluent, little learning,
devoted 10 the attainment of general knowlede would
be much distracted from and therefore prevent the
acquisition of trade Of skill in any Of the ordinary
occupations of life, and all cannot be scholars or at
ford TO lead life of leisure. 1t is particularly under
republic that no man can anticipate the future dest-
ny of his child ans therefore, il may be Incumbent
upon him to exert every effort to give HIM liberal
education bgt If all thus educated, the useful
arts would be neglected or if resorted TO, woad be
pursued with reluctance and modification. Not one
in hundred ofthose whs have been literally instruct
ed at great expense perhaps, and with many prva-
lions on the part Of their parents, will be able 10 sue
ceed in the profession which he has chosen. He
knows nothing else, is too proud to work, and either
seeks for Office or becomes dronc ia society. This
IS perhaps, more observable in the middle ana south
ern states where the degraded condition of slaves
renders labor dscredltabe and where II seems to be
thought ungentccl if not dishonorable to work. Hav
ing nothing TO do, and still depending on their pa
gents if they living, when they should be striving
TO maintain themselves by their own industry they
acquire habits of dleness and dissipation, and become
burden to society In the northern and eastern
States however, they are brought up differently and
capable, as they more willing to ressr 10
any honest vocation by which they can maintain
themselves and their families whose labor they make
useful to them. You must not infer from what have
written that am enemy to instruction or that
believe that ignorance is beneficial 10 any communl-
ty. On the contrary, am decidedly of opinion that
10 free government can long exist, where the people
are not enlightened.
.-' Ignorance is the eurse Of Ced
II ledge The wing wh, rewith we fly 10 heaven"
I The American Republic is experiment IN the
science of government. No system precisely anala-
gous TO il LAS existed and its effect spon soci
ETY. is therefore worthy of Investigation. One of its
most obvious consequences Is ambition in the pa
rent eith2r to elevate himself cause some part Of
his family be elevated TO stations political emf
nence. This of course leads TO the evil OF which
have spoken, in educating too many for the learned
professions, and others disqualifylng them produ-
eng dislike for the mechanical or useful arts When
unsucces sf in their professions they either apply for
public empls syment or, If they have talent and capa-
city become the conductors Of political or literary
livelihood. Those journals and schools have become
il may appear paradoxcal there is a great want of
correct information among the people of this country
especially on political subjects in which they take
very deep interest This il appears TO me may be ac
coun ed for from the existence of that violent party
feeliag which fails 10 take deep among the
citizens Of r c country, and which here tends
conine new spaper readers 10 the support and excu
veperusa oil the journals devoted 10 their party
Such is often the intensity and operation Of this feel
ing that scarcely any thing except what's absolutely
official in it, character viii be credited and but few
are 50 unprelldiced IA TO take even read paper
which supports the uen and measures of different
party. The periodical press has therefore, become
rather an injury than benefit by exciting feeling
OF anlmosity and hatred among brethren Of the
family and citizen OF the same country. have been
asonlshed in my intercourse with the people of the
IT, s. To discover the rancour and hostility which
innate those who belong TO the different political par
TICS that exist in this country, and which fear
will finally lead a state OF things deeply 10 be la
mentcd and deprecated.