Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-11-22

make mp ii practical judgment on the following II
mong other great questions the prefecture policy
that Is, the legislation necessary In introdue,
md establish infant branch OF mauulactuies-s
question, however easily disposed OF by theorists
on both sides, OF infinite practical difficulty III,
Circulating medium, aud how it the currency, whlcl
IS the representative oivane, must have intrinsic va
lue ITSELF on the different Jdh}ies ofHe hamas rae,
existing III the county, aud the lights and dute,
which result from then relation each other the
relations oi tie country with foreign Powers, IN te-
terence To colonial trade, disputed boundaries aud
ndemnlhcation tor wrongs and spoallons on the
disposal Of the public DOMAIN aud It's bearings on
The progress OF population aud of republican govern
ment IN the mighty West on the nature OF our Pc.
lli1cal system As consisting iii the harmonious id
jastaeht OF tie Feae4ai aud SAFE Governments.
have named only pat oi the questions which, with
III the last twenty Years, have been, some Of them
constantly before the community, the turning points
al municipal, State, and national elections. The
good CITIZEN, who is not wiling 10 be the slave III
panty, because he Is Il member OF II, must make up
his mud Ion himself all those great qucsiions,
OF he cannot exercise the night oi suffrage with IN
trlllgrncc and Independence. As the majority Of The
People are we'll OF III informed these subjects,
tie public policy Of the county will be guided by
wisdom aud ruth, the reverse. | do not mean
that II is necessary that every citizen should receive
an education Which would enable Inn 10 mcnc all
these questions n enpth, in iehelatlve OF ropn-
laf assembly. But while II is ms righ, aud his
duty give effect his judgment lhe polls. aud
While the Constitution necessarily gives rs much
weight IN the vote ri the uniformed and ignorant rs
to thai II the well instructed and intelligent oitlzcn.
II Is plain that the avenues 10 Information should be
wide possible, and numerous possible, aud
that the utmost practicable extension should be c,,
en- 10 sNstem oil education which will eonrr on eve
~ citizen the capacity of deriving knowledge with
readiness aud accuracy nom books aud documents.
The whole energy OF the State should be directed
10 multpl, The uumbtis Of those capable oi forming
an hdercndrnl and rational judgment OF ihell onn
and To diminish as much as possible the numbers oil
lie opposite Glass; who, being bnled by ignorance,
are at the mercy Of any one who has an inleics, and
tie skill Ia delude them.
p But the exercise ol the elective franchise is but
the beginning OF the duties OF the ciii2en. The
Constitution makes II the ughr the laws make II the
duty ofall ozens, within certain ages, bear
1t may sound strangely 10 connect lhls duty with
the subject 81 education. | hope no pfaeueal de
monsiralIon oil the conneNion Of the topics will ever
arse among Bnt tins tlghl and tins duty light
" esteemed IN quiet llncs, may become OF icatnl
import. Arms placed IN the hands OF the Cit
zen lof the most important purposes NOT tot parade
AMI holiday display, but 10 defend his country u
ganst violence from abroad 10 MAINTAIN Tic supfe-
macy oi the laws 10 preserve The peace oi the
community. Heaven grani HAT the day may be Lar
distant when our o'zcl shall be oaedto weld hcm
tor either purpose. Bur il the experience OF the
past warrant anticipation of The future, the time
may come when tins duty also is 10 be performed.
II will no, then be matter Of indifference whether
the honor and peace oi the community commit.
ted ignorant aud brulghted multitude, like those
winch swell The ranks OF lhe mefccnaiy standing
mics of Europc on 10 an educated aud intelligent
population, whose powers oil reflection have been
by exercise, and who are able 10 dis
crlmnale between constitutional liberty and arbitrary
power on the one hand aud anarchy ON the other.
3. There other civil duties To be performed, 10
Which education furnishes stlll more direct aud ar
propliate preparation. The law ofthe land calls the
citizen Ia take pant IN tie administration OF JUS
tee. Tmehe men placed IN the jury box To
decide on the nnmbelless questions winch arse Ia
the community -questlons OF neutrality-suspicious.
OF lie. lie Iniy passes ON youi fortune your rep
utuiion pfouounces whether you shall live or die.
Go into the Courts; are they hight matters which
those twelve men to decide Look IN the anx
ions faces Of those whose estates. whose good
name, whose allls al stake, hanging the inle
ecnce OF those twelve men, OF any one OF them
w hal assurance is there but that which comes from
our schools lhat these men will understand and do
THEN duly Yes, these little boys, how sporting
in II streets, Of coming their TASKS III our town
schools, in lew short years will be summoned III
theIr Turns to discharge tins important lfust Can
we deem II matter Of indifference whether or not
their minds have been caly accustomed 10 follow a
train OF thoughts or statement Of lacts Did not
the Secretary give US tins morning nom his owneX-
pereEce the Instance of witness who. IN case oil
SANDER, where every hing turned ON his testimony
irs swore that what he saw he saw through one WIN
dow, aud then through another, and then Though
door ! Wo 10 the community where the degree OF
slolldy aud ignorance necessary 10 constitute such
witness abounds and where II must appear not on
ly the stand, butIn the )ury-box. Ii appears to
me a most imperative duly, on the rait OF State
which calls lis citizens TO discharge tbs mo henious
oIceto do all III ITS powcrio quality Them loi II ny
general system Of education. Is II SAID there II
learned counsel to argue and explain lie cause to
my, however ignorant ! But theic Is counsel on
both s1es-the Jury must decide after bearing them
both But the Counts will instruct the jury. No
doubt, as far as the law is concerned; but the
Courts instructions are addressed TO minds suppo-
scd to be capable ofiollowns out argument, estl-
mating evidence, aud making up an independent
opGlon. do not say that there are not some
minds, 10 whom tie best opportunities oi tduea-
ton would impar The requisite qualifications oil
an intelligent Juror Bul may appeal TO every pro
iessluna character aud magistrate III tins oohfen-
ton that, IN important case. II hr we've 10 be
called on to select Jury which he could place
lull reliance, he would select msn OF good com
mon snse, WHO had received good common edu-
cation.
A. Butt have not yet canned all the civil duties for
which education is nreded as the preparatory dsep-
line The various Official trusts IN society 10 be
filled from commission OF the peace to the chlei
lusiiceshp-llom d constable up Ia The President oi
the United States. The sphere Of duty OF some oil
hese iunconafles narrow, OF Others large and M
expires sbly respousible--uf none insignificant. Ia
Ken together, they make up tie administration OF
free governuen-lhe greaies, merely temporal IN
ttfesl OF civilized man. There tuee courses,
between winch must choose. We must have
officers unoiIah fed for their duies-or must ed
ucate privilege cldss to monopollze The honofs
and emouueuls OF place--or we must establish
such system OF general education as viii furnish a
-,,.,IK Il, Ia