Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-03-07

ll5erate organization of Infatuated MODS NJ
the sligrost grounds. AMI for The most in
adequate causes. are full OF meaning, nm,
cannot be misundsrstooi.s phesc symp
IONS Of Reorganization and defiance Of law
have been manifested in every part of III,
country, and they demonstrate, with appal
ling certainty, that popular ignorance an
vice do gain ground upon all the means @
pOpular education now in action. How
ong the institutions Of The country. based
upon The intelligence of the people, and in.
tended Cor fhe enjoyment Of intelligent free
men can withstand and survive the under.
INNINGS of ignorance and corruption, and
The shocks Of reckless vice and crime, Il
problem which it viii not not take many
generations 10 solve" You my dig ca
nails, construct railroads and ,turnpikes,estab
ish manufactures. cultivate fields. erect YOU,
splendid mansions. accumulate wealth until
you become the pride of the earth, if you
do not keep good moral education Of the
whole population in advance Of all your 9th.
er Improvements, you are but making n
richer ize for some bold, crafty and sue
AN7Siui WIZ iouSt
ID as welcome delvercr from anarchy
md confusion. Whatever was written a.
orcime was written for our Instruction. :
Let me refer you TO the history Of other ma
lions and o'hc: times.
Did no. France desire 10 be free? Did
she no. deserve 10 be free. if sacrifice o"
blood and treasure coild merit freedom.-
Sne was not without learned men.
But the great mass Of the community were
not learned. Hence they were imposed
upon by the few, and and the people, afic'
enacting all that patriotism, bravery, wealth
and numbers could do, and breasting the
opposition of combined Europe, ultimately
threw themselves into the arms of Cor.
,ican soldier Ito save themselves from
the ravages of an outraged and ignorant
mob. And it is only through fear Of re.en.
acting the same scenes, that France has re.
Gently submitted to n tyranny as much
worse than TINT Of the drthroned monarch
~ we can well conceive."f
II is drvontly 10 be hoped that the Mich.
igan school system NAV be found fully adj.
cqaate, in the means it is providing and ac-
rumula'ng 10 qualify each and every indi-
vidual for the duties and res responsibilities Of
u freeman and citizen.
Charters for Private Colleges.
The question of chartering private asso
Citations with university powers. giving them
the right of comforting degrees. is one Of
the first magnitude as it regards the highcr
branches of classical education. Il is ii qucs.
ton, NOT Of feeling not of liberality, but a
great question Of state policy. 1t is qucs-
lion involving the higest considerations, the
determination and settlement, Of which will
affect the character of the state in all time
10 come. It's future reputation in Inc higl.
or departments OF literature aud science,
depends chiefly on the decision of this ques.
tion. When this decision is finally made.
il will not require the inspiration OF a pro.
phet to determine whether The state shall
eventually assume the first rank in the re.
public of letters, by founding and rearing
up an institution of noble sa'ure and JUS
proportions, worthy alike Of the STATE and o.
learning, and equally worthy the name O.
a university, OF whether the state shall ul
iimatcly sink TO low level in the world Of
of knowledge, having institutions under tn
imposing name of olleges, scattered thro'
The length and breadth of the land, without
funds. without cabinets. without apparatus
without libraries, without tall nts. without
chlractcr. aud without the ability of eve,
attaining hem. If one is granted. other,
must be, and there is no limit. If persons
under any one name procure grant, tho e
associated under all other NAMES must have
he same privilege extended 10 them. II
one village 'ob.ains charter for college,
nll other villages mast have the same favor.
But ins, in proportion MS they increase in
number. Just in proportion will be their de-
creasc of power TO be useful. The his
tory of collegiate institutions in the Unrcc
States will demonstrate the truth OF this po
sition. Ii is n rule which investigation viii
provc to hold good throughout the Union
The military academy at West Point is the
only institution of the kind in the U. States
it stands without rival, and is affected b,
O competition. Now look at the result
! Every Young gentleman who becomes
member Of the institution, is obliged not on
w to understand every branch of stu; g,
which he passes, blu, he able to make other,
sec clearly that he does understand it, or b,
dismissed from the institution. The disci
| pline Of the academy admits Of no mer,
floats upon the surface Of literature and sci.
ence, no cyphers arc to swell It's list, ant
Increase the number OF its graduates. Ac
cordingly, there is scarcely any o.her IN
stitution in the country where thorough
education is 10 be obtained, and whose d,
poma is prima facie evidence Of soun'
learning and high ai:ainments. Ii is u,
place for ignoble ease and money spending
but such SCAT Of science as calls into &C
tive and vigorous exertion oil the energie
of the human mind. The stated public OK
aminntions OF the students arc found TO b
no Joke; while the examinations in man
Of the universities and colleges of the cour
try are generally admitted TO be burlcsqu
upon the name. They have been multipl
ed to such an extent, as to be incapable
most Of them, Of ever attaining that elt
walton which these names formerly impor
I'd. In Maine, New.Hampshrc and We
mont there arc six IN Massachusetts, Rhoc
Island and Connecticut, there are sever
in New York and New Jersey there al
( eight. But even in these states they are
/. numerous that, with all their populatio
wealth and power, it is found 10 b. excec
ingly difficult 10 sustain aud support Their
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