Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-04-06

Hs nj, ~. stnaied re history q che pat. most
A. I.,l fasr.assel s.ith the direct tendency which
~. .niIvs,i5a Of literature, scieuce and The arts,
- ~ q every age Il The wofli 70 elevate che
character aad exieHd the power aud ntuenee %
gAIse nslBns, u which they were encouraged. bat
ts proportion as they eelivsied or neglected. them,
Il sla iheY rise or ia 70 the estimation Of suTroun-
ding uaii6as. and were happy o. distracted within
ihrHiscives These iscts must weigh heavily
"a thc minds Of phianthFvpislS and paiFIotl 81
al cduniFies, but particularly on those Of our own
fran the conviction that The permaBency q our
65gernmcni must ever depend On the amount Of
Intelligence WHICH IS difinsed smongsl he tnsss VI
The people ssi strange as i may appear, u = hev.
erthcless true thai that attention winch oaf hfm Oh
vavernmeat-whch the Intelligence d The age de-
sasRd, Is DOT pad 10 ihe proper edueahuh d on
soath, although our Legislators have, N must sian
ces provided ample means for carrying - desirable
an obl-ci into eject. From long observation leel
justified in haxsrlmg The assertion that the system
Of education Bow adopted throughout our country
with some rare EXCEPTIONS = radically wrong--ii =
supericia--it Is visionary.
To those wh1 have enIlyed ihs blessings Of
cool elrrations IL imero1s advantages need not
b. pp,urd outs 0uviciioa aud consciousness ,slab-
lssi the fact beyond lie possibility Of dIspuaiion.
Il tends 10 aispel the darkness. uncertainty, and
gloom 10 which ignorance has fixed lie dreQfy en-
pirrs aud as al men are naturally hnd Of liberty
ana lie he strong mln exats IN conscious pow
ofs--and as The eye b Tssishee With the cheering
light Of the morning, alter the sun has dIspeHcd
Nocturnal darkness; 10 Ike manner Tie mind, org
iuaily intended iF contemplation AMI expansion, e1'
pcrieuces en- iDexprasibc laTiy IN The acquisition
Of new IDEAS and conceptions, about which IFS intel
leetual powers may be ationally engaged and ever
ciscd. What an extension dominion 81 mind then
do they acquire, WHO merely learn 10 read and exer
else thal power What change dothey perceive
ia cmerriug from tic preceding darkness, which
brooded over the tniad
by education We gain access 10 all those hisiof-
cal facis dscoyeries. arts, Inventions, improvements
and instructions which have been kept IN record,
and transmitted 10 rs from the earliest state Of ha
man society. In The antideuyian ages, the longevity
Of men enabled them 10 acquire considerable know-
cage BY observation and expefience. OF conrse
they would have the less need lf books and chrono
logical registers Te pastoral mode Of Ifc, too, 10
which they were generally engaged, would render
what ii now called edarattCH, ~ grcat measure an
necessary. Our condition, however, Is materially
diilercnl The period OF our lives is comparatively
short --our cnpIDymcn,s are diversified, and our
wants multiplied Hence the necessity of having
recourse 70 books, and all other means in Our power
inF Instruction In whatever art, trade, pFurssen, or
business wc intend 70 pa@ our Tine. Whatever
rudfness VIC discover among The aneiens, which arts
uffu kCttUEtb nfKuH u Ut tnHNdNfud NtluHH listHt
ms their means luT information was comparatively
limited their diligence and application would be pro-
porliunaiey intense and vigorous. As experience
therefore isbrllcf ihh theory hnir Investigations are
well entitled to DUR difference They as Il were,
supply The raw materials and Il i our business 10
choose, select, work up and apply II for our own
advantage, Is circumslanrcs may require.
Education Is likewise mos. valuable, as an Inlet to-
the mind, since Il affords s possessor enlightened,
rutnhll and liberal views on every subject with
which il Ii necessary be should be Acquainted. II
iaduces him TO cultivate social nefcanrse with bis
supefiars in knowledge affords hni amusement ~
soIlule--aleyiates lis Inseries in adsersiiy--and
furnishes him with innnmerable resources, in Incl
dental difficulties which oncn produce dependency
and desperation in The ignorant aud unearned.
0bscryet the contras, between the unIearned per-
son and thesnan who has ohtaincd liberal educa-
ton. The rmer is doomed 10 overwhelming dark
ness ofmnd;hss noiias relish Tor cnpyments beyond
those that are gross and common 10 him with tho
inferior anlmas--and can procure The measures Of
lie, only by extreme toll and corporeal cxcrtIons.
The latter, on The other hand has an extensive do
minion d his own which can never be successfully
invaded o. greatly disturbed.
In all my remarks, however, must be understood
as speaking Of genuine AMI correct education, for
when The fountain is impure, the streams must be 80
likewise. There is no greater curse % which the
human family are exposed, than halflcaraed, up.
START bangliag teacher, and there Is none orequaI
magnitude more common 10 be mrt with. That
mankind should have been gued and ca oled in the
dark ages, when education wnS the attainment Of
few, Is not wonderful but that the tuition Of youth,
10 republican Government, aud in the nineteenth
century, soo--ihis era of boascd civilization AMI re-
fnefnenl, should be entrusted 10 an unemployed
clerk of inlulcnt habits. who can perhaps read aud
write little better Than the lower orders Of society
or 10 sill idle Or lazy mechanic or IN unsuccessful
lawyer whb had abandoned bis profession because
he had neither capacity nor common seilsc enough
10 induce men of the most ordinary intecets 10 en-
trust their business in his hands; or 10 would-t,
preaeher who could find no flick SO ignorant as Il
caracs his services nthe advancement 81 their spr
iual affairs ;--al oi whom, as dcraifr resort Il
avoid starvation turn teachers The idea that be
ings WIN cannot command the respect OF esteem Q
their fellow men IN the ordinary walks Of life Cal
tmnart knowledge or win the esteem Of respect q
ypuih whuse perccpuvc faculties Il is generally con
ccled are as active as Those bl more mature age,
monsra,ssly absurd. Were psfenN and guardian
totoupllg sensible the incaruiabe adyaniagr
&c sound education, and The pernic0ps effects Z
the contrary, itw dollars inihe session would be
matter III very tilc account, II preparing the youi
Of the nresen, generation, for filing up their res
pcciiye situations in HE, with satisfaction and cred
ii themselves and advantage 10 soca'iy. The COT
sderalnn Of q AiigA saving here, IL Sretched ecoT
omy indeed. While The worthless uunck endeavnI
10 acquire popularity BY the amazing rapid,y wit
which his pupils advance, and The immensely are
tasks they caa perform, il siHe otjrct of The gent
inc instructor 81 youth, 20 asccran as correctly
possible the natural talents and capacities of his II
pis--.a lay tie foundation deep, and 70 rear the s.
pprylrucTe slowly III iis first stages 10 class DO,
lvdirioasly, according TO their ages and abilities
prescribe their tasks in due proportion 10 their met
tal endowments-to enidrce their attention TO u
gwen task, by strc, and wcl-tmed discplinear
never 10 take lesson nif their hand III prepared
they Be- capable oi getting Il hotter, BY revisal AZ
increased application. II schoolIrainng 90 on
this manner, ite progress Of tie pupil, howev'
SOW, will be natural, regular and such as might