Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-05-13

e nehe'e III" 'ne Legislative body of OLD VTRGI
"' 10 '"' uesehefaed has SO FAR dc parted iror
IS tue republican principles OF our Government H.,
l. nevertheless II is an undeniabe fact thar from, so,
y c'use or o'nef they have treated tins subject uit
. me most culpabable negligence and indifference
Ihe question sill arises, why has 1t been thus n.a,
Gu as II because their time WAS entnely enntos
sea by he consideration Of greater and more mno,
iant subjects and which consequently had !, mr.,
clam to Their attention They certainly did noi dp
y appreciate the importance of education If th,x
ueemed II OF less magnitude OF less interest 10 The
STATE Than the Sub Treasury, L. 5. Senator Rail
Roads &c. Re. so much harped upon at the pfesant
uay Bht even admitting there might have been NJ
tihes subjects tprior claim winch demanded ,hei,
I attention. How shall we be able 10 account for
thtnloug continued NJ elect, since first recommend,
ed 10 their attention by Gov. Campbell fifteen
months ago Had they been disposed 10 motto. il n
all, they certainly during this time, could have I'M,
otaced some opportunity, as twas subject thar re
CURED Immediate atcution 10 have brought It be fore
/ Tue muse "hefe, rs your correspondent humby
/ conceses 1t could have met no reasonable OPPOSE
'on' ana must have been despatched IN aycty sbo,,
'lmc. Couli our Legisla t ma zine for 4 nlomen,
' ' WAS no nee'ss!,, any action on the sub.
Jecl ! lis ce.d not have been If lbcy hal ,Inl,
eo"slueted that pant OF the Governors message,
winch goes So directly To prove the contrary. Were
'hey fearful OF offending the people by the small atl-
u'ti"nai tax that would necessarily be imposed upon
them by the adoption of such an economical and re-
publican system of education as that proposed by
nov. Campbell, under which the advantages of a
eood and liberal education would be secured 10
their children. AT about hall The expense IT now costs
TO OBTAIN II 50, must confess IN this particular
Instance at least, they have been more tender and
scrnpulcus touching the urse strings Of the dear
people,, than they wont 10 be. | have conversed
with number otin eligent q respectable gentlemen,
upon tins subject and lar as have been able l.,
Judge think II would be the most popular measure
81 the day and the representative cauddales are al
At lf,SSI lar, ,.hI,
would respectfully recommend this, the most
popular they could adopt. The great and increas.
ing disadvantages under which the people have al
ready been too long ldbouring IN educating lhcir
children under the present derauged and imperfect
system, have been more than sufficient TO prepare
them 10 acgnesce with eagefness IN any measure oil
reform whatever. The inat}tniion of our IeoisI,-
ture therefore, TO this subject far as have been
able to discover any thing the contrary seems TO
have proceeded alone from the most inexcus BILE
negligence, or d total Indifference the nperlous
CLAIMS OF educatioa on their attention. And is il
not new lime for the people 10 rise masse in the
majesty of their sireng h, and instruct aud urge
their miSrepreSenfdttreS the paramount importance
Ct an early attention this subject. Let ihe chi
zens throughout tie State (fuIs not now too late)
make ii test question wIlh their representative
candidates, whether they will or will not at least
their influence have brought before the House
add passed INTO law, some bill having for It's ub-
Jet the correction and reurmauou of the present
defective system of education. Aud here beg leave
TO remark, that the system suggested by Gov. Camp
bell, which. in It's prum!nent features al least, las
been pursued with much success in other States,
Ito wit. New York and Pennsy lsauia) ~ probably
IN my humble opinion, the best lhh could be devised.
The plan is something like this that additional
be levied upon the inhabitants Of Zach district or
neighhourhood throughout the SAFE which, with
the usual appropriation of the literary fund, should
constitute sufficient for the erection Of good
school house aud the employment of a good and
competent teacher that there oud he app nted
something like a county committee To examine aud
license teachers. 50 that SHOULD he Admitted to
this Important office no were not duly qualified f.
it, and HAT ST !loul should thus he permanently
tablished in every neighbourhood, which should he
equay free and open TO all within lis reach. Under
such wise regulations rs these. the doors Of know
led e would be thrown vide open to every class OF
our community. The people, who already be-
ginning discover the error Of that pefnclonS, bur
too prevalent opinion under which they seem to
have acted hitherto, that any bsdy will do Tor
schoolnasier, beng better provided FOR in this re-
speci, will 40 longer be compelled 10 receive
lers Of grammar schools, persons who never speak
their native tongue erdmm ,ticaly, nor any longer
would the moral and lute lectuai development OF
youthful minds he cutrns ed 10 persons of inferior,
moral aud intellectual character Bu the office OF
instructor would be thoroughly cleaused from thai
ndolen and Incompetent herd with which it is
crowded, to The eX, fusion OF such as aie properly
qualified for il. And We shuul see education as it
should be in fee and republican government like
ours, placed upon sure and permanent basis,
recriicd in its regulaions purified IN lis principles.
and corrected of ITS errors, dfusing its unSpeakabe
benefits through all ranks of society. We should
see the commonaty OF Virginia wonderfully inn
proved in knowledge and Information many IN the
humble walks of life, whom nature has endowed
perhaps with the first order OF intellect. but which.
for want at proper culture, has never yet been dis
inferred and brought 10 lht, under lis genial and
Benigu influence. emerging from The deep shades OF
ignorance in which they have long been shrUuded
+ auI rising TO become the ornaments of society aud
I the beneactors of their race. We should see com-
/ ing forth, from amongst the neglected poor. dis
nguished Patriots, able Statesmen, wise Politicians
and prudent lie aislaors and we shall discover AT
last that our inatteniontn education has been The
grand cause of the ba, wardness Of our State IN
/ Internal improvements, and many other things in
winch the other States are outstrIpplng her.
4 Messrs Editors, did no. intend to have tres
passed thus far on your pauencei nut my feelings
so deeply interested Tins subject, would not allow
me 10 saw less. / hope what | have SAID may be
sufficient, TO awaken HE public at least 10 some de-
gree Of interest on this important subject But be-
fore close finally, permit me TO PROFOUND ques-
ton or two TO the candidates for the next Virginia
Legislatures particularly TO those OF Bedford
Isl. Are you you not IN iayof OF the system
of education recommended by Gov. Carpbel 10
his last ANNUAL message.
Cd VIII YOU or will YOU not. if elected, bring
forward a bill To establish by law such sys'e"
tbrong bout the State, and use your utmost endea
vors to have it passed.
A candid response to each of these questions Is
earnestly end respectfully solicited by friend "ed
uca,i,,n. and a VOTER OF BEDFORD.