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

foN II liafS. |
Ma wuhtToS In the Times of ycsterlay. afsr
ut Gag that IA we,tsn Virginia !" there are % 79l
white persons more than 81 years Of age who csnno,
read or wH'e.' you F1ocsed TO account FOR " ~ great
an aggregate of pure. and Unadl lterated ignorance"
ard say. " that five cnsi our eyes to our sister State
where suffrage - Universal. 50 far n. American chi.
<ens are Concerned, %e find them prosperous. and the
peoiiS '|ore generally educated than in virginia :"
You then ask, can We safely oscfibe the latter f,c,
70 any oihcr cause than the eNisiercc Of the former p
wv without giving my opinion in regard to the rich,
u suffrage whether II should or should not con,inpe
subject 10 the restrictions imposed upon !, in ,rr stat. h..
Or whatever may be my predictions tropn the s,bi,c,
l would most heartily, concur with YOU in The pro.
p''c'y Of Initiating the example Of our - sister states. "
by " extending the right to all free uhi.e male ei,izcn.
over Il pr 'ided' you can esahlis, the correctness
OF your position. | am among those who eonsiIet
,duea'on q blessing which should be conferred urou
ai' me-, only because il is Of paramount Importance m
a moral or rlisous point Of view. but because II Is
essential to che supper. Of cri political institutions.
Entertaining such an opinion. I should DO devoid Of
me 'eas' 'hnre OF patriotism. If unwilling to yield oh
J''"ons u MINOR importance. when they ip,erfer.
WIN inc accomplishment Of AN object 50 important.
hui how else do you arrive at the conclusion. tina,
an extension ofihe right OF suffrage. would lessen "ihis
immense amount OF ignosunee m yiry;n;a p Va,
well know that an opinion uirhou, n reason IL s.,to,
satisfactory. unless 1t he one of those e Lotions" which
ae 80 much improved by time as to become " sell
evident and Aence IRE indiSputahIc. And rs your
oPnie"a are scarcely old enough to be "a.iomsr
Enough have much respect for their general correct.
ness ] shall be pleased 10 hear one or more Of tho
reasons (Which with editors are usually :" a. plenty M
blackberIes') which have been ~ conyinc:as 10 Won,
mind. la directing attention u "our lister star,," iryou
could have shown that in Them there is bv, lul. nj
hat +" pure aud unadulieraled ignor nee" of which
you speak. that would have been IN important fact for
yoa. But when We find that in kentucky so or 60,
ooO males over ~ years (see other states ia the same
propotlion) IN the same blrssful condition, the alus,or
was unfortunate. Nor do | think yon were auite han
Py IA assuming the ground that l." citizens are mos,
eonien'ed' when enjoying universal suffrage. True
"eon;eniment is q jewel" but if we consider our pre
sent apathy ia regard to education, and the ccnsequeuc.
which might result from an extension Of ,uG;,ge. ~,
might with reason fear a continuance if not nm in
crease Of "unadullera,ed ignorance
Ii might also, be inpolitic 10 a tl,,, ou, Ios;,
azure as at present constituted, is more ignoranto Of ia,
value OF education. or less disposed TO extend IL 10 all
than other legislative bodies created by universal .ui
irsge Certainly, these to whom The right is now de
Med are scarcely more enlightened than tlose vb,
ENJOY IL. IT, on the contrary we assume they are les.
SO ihen' according to your view. he more ipnoran
Would be lie safer repositories ofihe righr, from which
lie Inierense is unavoidable. that Ignorance is not o.
y bliss but rwere folly 10 be wise.
Asat1end tolhe cause 0 fuKiUerssl education hav,
ventureI to make The above sagges,ions-as | am un.
willing TO believe that without q change in our con.
stiui'on' nothing can be done TO place US on a footing
IN ihis respect, with our "sistes states"
OWESO.