Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-01-12

To ire Honorable. ue General Assemble ~ "a g.,
monrcan Of I~Irriuia.
zoe memorial of tho snder.ign,i. citizens q
'""s'Hs and Oh'o coriniy. respectfully r~rpre.cn,.
80 ) S'h una commonwealth. no psrmanctl
'n" ein'ieft system ct common schools, which Ia.
oeen foupd by The experiencp of mary al IA ,.,.,
"s'es' ms s'rc bv that OF some Of the most enl,sh,et,
- countries OF Europe. tn be tho culy suce,s.fnl
mode OF securing primary instruction TO the general
"fs-s OF me young aac r.s,ng generation. Tha, ,hou.
Anos mn "aoc'sni" commonwealth ans yeark en-
ssrine upon oil the duties and responsibihrjcs Of M.
to whom the avenues to even tie rudims,,. of a,
e'usai'on, intellectual VI moral. have been closed
and That this number. IL 10 believed is increasing YER.
~ WIN our population. and that II will continue "a
increase until some plan shall have been adopted by
your honorable oody. which shall contemplate. in is
operation. the more efFeciusl union Of IN. mean, now
a""oeu ny the Literary fund and that derived fron
The eiilteus. ny tho present system. the lars. and
'aiuao'e fund now Of the ,ispo-sl Of the Legislature.
"oaiu seem 70 be directed 10 the aid Of the two CT.
"emes OF oir popolation-ihc ~calshy and the ind.
gent-io the wealthy. in establishing and supporting
universities and colleges. the advantages Of which
are almost efeinsiSely enjoyed By their soas-,o the
"uigeni' IN dnttibtting a part OF the fund 10 the sew.
raj eooniies'o be applied alone 90 the aid of the or.
phan and the destitute; while the int rmsdiatc and
oy Jar the larger portion OF our community derive no
uireet benefit from this fund. in which ayery priuci.
PIC OF justice would give them an equal psrueipa.
lion. ~
Your nemofalists are aware orihc sfisience of,
law. permitting the several couutiss TO form school
nis'fieu. and TO distribute 10 th-.h their rvapectiye
quo'as oi The Literary fund TO and in the education Of
all The poor children. but The great desidvr-tum in the
VI" Is ~nnting-'hs responsible agent 10 ear.y into
operation liz provisional, and il is. therefore a dead
letieri on your statute box. The people of IN.
Commonwealth are not wanting IN The snir,t of lhs
rahiy and patriotism. which would cbeerlnlly furnish
m~shs 10 ensure the proper training and education of
every child within its limits-but tho law, prescri.
oihg and ent-rcing the rule and the mode Of ACTIONS
waning. Hence the bounty Of The state is in a great
wssisd-the number Of schools and of com.
peteh' teachers not increasing. and the whole cause
Ut popular education at least stationary.
-FOUR memorislists would suggesi, as the most Ger.
Iaih mode of accomplishing the great object in Wow.
me passage ola law which would authorize and 70. !
luire the division Of the several counties into districts.
'oh'aihihg a number OF children sufficient for one
'ehooi' and the raising by tar on the sssessible prop.
'ry'a sum which shall he deemed sufficient. To-
yeiher with the quota ofthe Literary fund. for the
uFPoft OF all the schools in the couniy-and that the
'xecnii n Of the law should be assigned 10 som. on.
more superintendants in each county or di,trict
the state. who should be made responsible for tho
aiihini discharge ofthese important duties-and they
would aisoerpress their firm conviction that the pas.
nge OF such a law would be hailed with low by the
,reat mass ofihe people and ihst they would lend
heir earnest efioris 70 carry into practical operation
Is Provisions.
To the early establishment Of such a system of pri.
nary schools as shall bring the most ample means of
to every "Log Cabin" within the state. your
nsmorialisis look as tho only guaranty for the pro-.
and happiness of the peeple-,he de ,elopsm.st
u the great natural resources OF our vast territory
he steady advancement Of the state ia wealth, popu.
alton and POLITICAL importance; and they therefore |
'ray Tor the early aud decisive action of your honor.
'ble body mp n this vitality important, subjecr.and are
"A duty bound will ever pray. (