Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-15
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

1OUSe
system OF GENERAL EDUCATION.
Mr. SPEAKER: Owing to my great want OF experience
in the important art Of legislation it cannot be expected
otherwise than that should labor under weighty EN-
barrassments upon the present occaslon-And SUCH Is
the bucn of that difficulty, with regard to myself that
nothing but what consider imperative duty my part,
and the loud crying interests Of constituents on the
other could prompt 10 appear speaker, before
this respectable and intelligent bndy.
Feeling, however, the great weight of those obligations
which have Just been named, feel inclined 10 risk a
few m7rks imperfect they may BE- regarded by my
SELF on what consider the alimportant subject Of the
necessity and the ability Of this Commonwealth 10 adopt
general system Of education, by which every free
white child in this Commonwealth may obtain liberal
education at the expense OF the Government.
And LIST: The necessity Of legislative interference upon
this subject appears to grow out of the fact that under
all the present literary provisions OF this Common wealth.
many very many Of the children within BORDERS ere
arising into life with little education al all. How
far these remarks may be true, and apply to Eastern Viz
gua, not however, prepared to say; but as II res
poets Western Virginia, know the remarks to be true
One very substantial why many of our children
are not educated is, that the parents after furnishing
large family with the real necessaries of life, which
Indispensable find themselves utterly unable to educate
their children BY their own resources; and the present
limited state Of the school funds SUCH that The
mssiones after sending set of children 10 school,
until they have learned 10 read and perhaps write their
names, compelled to drop those and subscribe for
Others who have yet received any education all:
and thus the children all deprived Of The opportunity
Of receiving any thing like liberal education And.
Mr. Speaker there is another class Of the p"nr children.
whose the present school system does not reach 1t
ALL witt those whose parents not able 10 cniht in
such way, TO justify their appearance in The scho
The law makes provision for clothing such;
and therefore, those two classes of children doomed
to grope their way through life amidst the hickenng
fogs of ignorance, superstition and error.
But, Sir, may be told that ii We are poor and "n,
able to educate children, it is because are lazy
and do not exercise proper economy To this, Sir,
beg leave reply, that how far this remark may APP
nj Eastern | %
as it respects Western Virginia. with very few
ceptions, know The charge is false The reason
why many Of in Western Virginia unable 10
educate children, is from the fact Ct the unsettled
s,a,e of our land titles; for, just Of have GIT
OUT cleared OUT and could brgiH 10 live aud
could have something to devote 10 The education of orr
children an older title in upon us. and at slage
blow strips of all possible hope Of even living
could otherwise have done, and places it entirely uu Of
our power to educate our chdren-Eut Sir If II was
admitted that poor because "f our Incidence aud
wan, of economy, (Which by.'hc'6y, we dn mt ad'il
generality does this prove that i, would he right Ia visit
the inques of the fathers upon the children, ami
fuse them liberal edueaon because Of the misconduct
of their parents, and deprive them forever of "ppnr
tunity Of arriving III the joys aad comforts OF chghen.
ed and civilized society:
But Mr. Speaker mother consideration which appears
to me call loudly or legislative interference upon this
subject u.s. that when children sent 10 school to be
taught By the Literary Fund they are styled the poor
scholars and often sneered and Kissed at by those
who happen 10 be more wealthy and nnre Fortunate ~
the great modification Of children and parcnS and from
this many Of such children are taken from school
and doomed 10 ignorance by mistaken notion of the
parent rs TO standing in society, and thus deprived
Of all possible hope Of obaining an education through
chain Of circumstances which the children them
selves have control
Indeed sir, honestly believe that we should strike at
once the vain distinction of wealth. and fortune that
is thus sprnsing up out of The present primary school
system, between the children OF wealthy and OF poor
parentaGc and place children equal grounds, as
rho lh.ir FeInr LAT
be taught that they 10 look to their progression in
science, in virtue and in their moral integrity for their
elevation in society, and not 10 the vain distinction of
birth fortune, which principle being highly cherish
ed by oil aTs,ocroc and monarccal forms Of govern
ment is evidence sufficient 10 authorize this Republic
meet il at The Threshold aud pu, down forever for
Sir cannot conceive how such distinction is
necessarily growing oct Of the primary school system
between the children OF wealthy and o! ponr pachiagr
can be made To agree with our Republican Institutions
But sgain Mr.. Speaker, another consideration why
the school system should be extended Isl that meny aud
perhaps most Of the important and profitable offices Of
this Commonwealth are held by wealthy men and their
sons And ask, Sir why is this so? Is il because all
the mental abilities natural to man to discharge the du
ties of Office found exclusively among the wealthy
No Sir This is not the But the plain reason is
that wealthy able to educate their sons, 80 that
by the time they arrive at suitable age to engage in
business, they are prepared Tor the duties OF oce and
of course 90 into them But, Sir, the poor dppriv
ed Of these advantages from the fact that they not
able, like the wealthy 10 obtain finished education,
either by their resources, by the present limited
primary school system; aud therefore, unless they pos
sess gigantic strength Of intellect and an unconqner
able spirit of perseverance, (Which proud To say,
some do and have been thus enabled u come out what
is called sefmade men, and do honor 10 themselves
and the country that gave them brh) but, Sir, un
less they do possess those very gifts, they
doomed 10 nger out anxious life bow their necks 10
the yoke and become heweys Of wood and drawers of
water ard all because they have not fair chance TO
obtain liberal education like the wealthy. And, Sir,
chain of influence whose links composed Of wealth
che influence of wealth, high and important Offices with
their influence great learned men, and their influence
say, Sir, that chain of influence, whose links
thus composed, WILL unless well watched, be at length
snade fast golden seeple; and then but esla
ted gentlemen will be allowed 10 hold any Office among
It is time, therefore, Sir that THIS evil should be
arrested by giving 10 all citizens equal chance
for education, and thus balance the undue power OF
wealth and high offices.
Mr. Speaker-Anolher view Of this subject is this
which beg leave to submit: Tha, this happy Democrat
&c Republican form of Government, under which am
proud to say live, for, Sir, believe 1t to OF without
a. parallel upon the face Of the Gobe depends for lis
strength well the virtues of the
people. Keep the people viruous, (Which you may do.
BY dhusng among them the genuine means OF becoming
enightened) and Democracy stands secure. But, Sir,
the other hand neglect this, and soon the firm pillars
Of happy Democracy may be shaken TO their CENTRE
by the efforts Of aspiring demugogues. Look Sir for in
stance the peasantry of Prussia whose education has
been so far neglected that they consent ~ be bought
aad sold by their landlords with the lands they live on
and I'LL and they appear 20 LOOK up 10 their LANDLORDS as
a superior race Of beings May God however, forbid
that this should be the in this blessed and hap
ov counry. If it should how easy nigh, the aspiring
demagosae oyerturn the best possible form Of Govern
ment That can be set up if you will furnish him with
anch materials as the aforesaid to work upon.
Then Sir does appear to me, that as we regard our
,re.ent lIustrIous form of Government end the perpe
iu.on Of the same shosld in the same proportion,
reoard The diffusion Of general education among CT
tizens-fo We are indebted for all we have and are at
present. above the Heshen Nations to Christian cdu'
eabop.