Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-11

should be opened with prayer, and the Reverend 49,
tlemen members of the Convention, were eones,as -
make selections from among their number for ,his =
pose.
On motion of Mr.. A. w. yenable, the Copvcr,;..
adjourned till this morning, 10 o'clock. '"
Friday, Dec. 10.
AT 10 o'clock the President again took the Ch,:-
and the several Committees, appointed on the prcy,a,,,
day, made their reports-au abstract of WHICH,, a,l,
are enabled to give to day, reserving the reports =, ,, "
for the future:
The Committee on .4cademies regard the snbi.o,
Intimately connected with that of primary schools :"
Notwithstanding many Academies have hitherto exi,
ed founded chiefly by private donations and sobsc,s
tons, little benefit has resulted from their oper,,,on
The Committee, in the second place, Consular IL,
much of the ineficiency Of the present system re.'I''
from the boards of Executive Officers having cbor,a y" -
the subject being too numerous and the responsibility, !"
much divided between them. The Committee furb,s
regard that good teachers are Indispensable 10 any w.il
organized system of primary schools and academies
They consider that provision should be made for H..
education Of suitable teachers. The Committee, in con.
clusion, recommend that the Academies now es,,h
llshed, and others TO he established, should be M, on ),
equal footing by means oftaxation, (iflhe people shon,J
so %say)-that the tuition fees be made as low as possible
and that a certain number Of youDp gentlemen H.
educated free of cost, aud bound by obligation 10 d..
vote themselves TO teaching in the Primary Schools
Tor Il number Of years.
The Committee on the University made a report d..
claring that, in the present state of our finances, they
utGHeQ ~ e pCGlcHl W HilI u measures lar
the benefit Of the University at this time. The iepor,
was brief, and, at the suggestion of many members.
was ~re-committed, in order that some testimonial Of the
benefits of the institution, and the good will Of ,h-
State towards it might be declared.
The Committee OH Colleges made ! report recon.
mending that Legislative aid be granted TO the dlfer,n,
institutions in the State. They contend, in their r,por,.
that such aid from the Literary Fund, was conlcnlpla.
ted in the act establishing that fund, and that in appro.
priatng $4,000 per annum 10 the University ana a
still larger sum TO common schools, they but carried
out 1 part Of 4 general system of Education
The Committee, disavowing any hostility 10 the Uni.
versity, also consider il unjust that so large u sum shou!d
be annually appropriated to that Institution, whilst
other Colleges do not receive Z cent. They, therefor.
strenuously recommend that aid be afforded to The seye'
raj Colleges in the State.
The Committee on Military Schools made i repor,
commencing TO public favor the Military Institute 4,
Lexington. They further recommend, that the Public
Guard in the city of Richmond be abolished, and a Nj.
litary Institute created in its stead. They presented 4
number of statistics showing the expediency Of Their
scheme, on the ground fits usefulness 10 the young men
who would be educated, its economy, and lis efficiency
Tor guarding the Public Works. The report was ab!y
defended and explained by the Rev. MIR. Plumer, Mi.
yenaLle of hecklenburg, and Mr.. Hicks Of Brunswick.
II. L. Taylor, Esq, Of Norfolk, and DR.. Chamberlayne,
Of this city, expressed their doubts VI It's prac,icabiliiy.
On putting the question, the report was adopted By
nearly an unanimous vote.
The Committee On Primary Schools made an elaLo.
rate report, urging the importance Of the subject IN
any system that may be adopted. They recommend
l.. That primary schools, accessible without lee 10
every white child Of proper age, should be maintained
at the public charge.
,. That il is indispensable TO procure the best teach.
ers, If not TO provide tor their preparation Tor their
3. That vigilan. and continual supervision is ALSO.
lutely necessary to maintain the vigor OF any system.
In order 10 carry out these provisions, they propose
each county be divided into districts ono trustee
TO be elected in each district. The board Of trustees
are 10 ascertain annually what sum IS required IN order
10 allow each teacher a salary Of not less than $3.50 per
annum.
This report was under discussion until a late hour
last evening. Messrs. Plumer and Smith Of Augusta
the Convention al lengtll-the former in OF.
position 10, and the latter in support oitlIe propositions,
in the report.
The Convention adjourned about half past 6 O'Clock,
for the purpose Of attending the Lecture Of James II.
Garnett, Esq, at the Daptis, Church.
Among the many topics presented 10 the %consldera-
Of the Convention, none seems to awaken more
profound attention than that Of PRIMARY Schools, and
they seem determined not TO adjourn until something
shall have been effected on tn at subject.
The Convention Will re-assemble this morning al Ia
o o'clock, in the Lecture Room OF the lst Baptist Church
~ We arc unable 10 write 4 line for The paper. As
The "Godlike Daniel" said in the Portico of our Capt
tol, we shave other fish TO fry" The Education Con.
vention, which is expected to close its labors today, 70
engrosses our time, that we are unable to
dedicate mere than a moment TO this days paper.
A letter in the Alexandra Gazette from Washington
processes 10 give a coup d'Gi Of the state Of parties
there, which il closes with the follow ing remark; "
uhe Federal Wings shall do, in Congress, as far as
our party is concerned, what is right. There IS no DIS
position 10 be Incorporate or rash, but there viii be
iirmness and determination. MIR. Rives viii head the
Wings CALAMITY in the Senate, with other able men
there alongside Of him.
The Baltimore Republican presents a rapid sketc'os
the Acting. Governors (Col. Rutherfoord's) Message
to the General Assembly, and says, "The message IS 1
very able one: and is, as Il matter Of course, violently
attacked by the Richmond Whig-this Of itself is AZ
evidence of the writer being devoted 10 the true and
permanent interests Of his State and country
L. L=nn. ndnalL