Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-01-16

To nc Honorable. ne General Assembly Of me Com
mcssoaifA " Irgtrta.
Toe IN moral of tho undorsisned. eirixcns o
Wheeling and Ohio county. respectfully represents
hat thsrc Is. IA this commonwealth. no permaneu,
and efhctenf system Of comnun schools, whNh hau
been iound 10y he experience OF MANY Of our sister
sSier. NJ afro by that OF some OF the most eulighien.
eel countries OF Europe. to be the Gully successful
mode OF Securing primary Instruction to the general
mas OF NE young aud rising generation. Thai ihou.
-afd. in 'nis "sneient cuuinon wealth are yearly en-.
ioring upon all the duiics and RESPONSIBILITIES Of life
To whom the avenues 10 even the rudinenis Of On
edueation. intellectual or mo al. have been closed.
nnd Tint thus number. IL is believed. is increasing yer.
ny with our population. and that il will continue To
increase until some plan s.,all have been adooted bv
your honorable body, which shnil con,emula,e' IN !
operation. the more ~etfeciual union Of the mean, now
aho'ded 10y the Literary fund and that derived from
u"e eitIzens by the present system, the large and
valuable fund now at the disposal Of tn. Legislature
""sid seen TO be directed To the ad OF the TWO ex.
netnes oil our populaiion-ihe teaihy and the indi.
gent-t. the wealthy. in establishing and supporting
universities and colleges. the advantages of which
are almost exclusively enjoyed by their sons-to tho
indigeni. IN distributing n part OF the fund to the sew.
raj counties tn be applied alone TO the aid OF The or.
phan and the destitute; while the int rmeiiatc and
oy lar the larger portion Of our community derive no
dIreet beneh, from this fund. in which every princi.
pie OF justice would give them an equal partieipa.
lion.
-FOUR memoTialists are aware ofthe existence of a
law permitting the several counties To form school
uisiritu' and to distribute to them their respective
quotas Of the Literary fund to ard in the education Of
all the po"r children. but the great desideratum ia the
law IL wanting-ihs responsible agent to carry into
operation Ills provisions. and il is, therefore a dead
letter. ON your statute box. The people of this
Commonwealth are not wanting IN the spirit of libc.
rsiiiy and patriotism. which would cheerlully furnish
mscns TO ensure ihs proper training and education of
every child within its limiis-but the law. prescri.
oing and enisrcing the rule and the mode of actions
wanting. Hence the bounty of the state is in a great
measure. wastod-ihe number Of schools and of com.
petent teachers not increasing. and the whole cause
Of popular education at leas, stationary.
Your IN murialists would suggeSI. as the most Ger.
tam mode Of accomplishing the great object in view,
the passage ola Law which wouh authorize ard 70.
quire the division ofthe several counties into districts.
containing n number of children sufficient for one
school. and the raising by tar on the asscssible prop
erty. n sum which shall he deemed sunicieni. To-
geiher with The quota Of the Literary fund. for the
support q all the schools in the counIy,-and that the
execute n OF the law Should be assigned 10 some one
or more superintendent in each county or q district
OF the state, who should be made responsible for the
faithful discharge ofihese important dutics-and th.y
would also express their firm conviction that the pas.
snge OF such a law would be hailed with joy by the
great mass ofthe people and Ih.t they would lend
their earnest efforts to carry irto practical operation
is Provisions.
To the early establishment, Of such a system Of pri.
mary schools as shall bring the most ample means Of
education to every "L0g Cabin within the state. your
meimorialisis look rs tho only guaranty for the pros.
perity and happiness Of the people-Ihe development
OF the great natural resources Of our vast territory
the steady advancement OF. the state in wealth. popu.
lntion and political importance; and rhey therefore
pray for the early and decisive ncIion Of yous honor.
Nhlc body mp n this vitality important subject, and are
ia duty bound will ever pray.