Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-09
cxrRAcT Of a LITTER from

EXTRACT Of a Litter from
"IIALIfAx County, Nov. Both, 1911.
1--WE had two meetings last Monday, one upon The
subject Of Politics, and the other upon the subject OF
Education. We sent delegates to both Conventions.
Allow me TO say, that according 10 my humble judy
ment, the two parties into which the Education Con-
vention seems likely 10 divide, are both wrong. Ii is
wrong, that the friends OF the primary schools should
set themselves up as the exclusive friends oil "Mc
poor" and allow the rich 10 enjny n monopoly in the
advantages Of 4 collegiate and academical education.
II is wrong, that a great fund, belonging 10 The public,
should be appropriated to the benefit OF a small portion
Of the public only, and that small portion embracing
only the extremely poor, and extremely rlcll. Down
with all such distinctions. and lei US all unite IN an ei-
fort for the education of all.
sThere is no reason why the friends of colleges, AGA
de mics, and intermediate schools should be enemies 10
the district school system, or any other good plan thai
can be evised for the education Of the children OF lie
poor, the wealthy, and the atwo %hogshead men Of the
community, without distinction. Neither Is there any
Justice or true philanthropy in singing oul the ex-
ireinely poor as alone entitled to ald-thns putting an
odious mark upon them, calculated to mnrtiy and
humble them-ielling them that they shall not reap
any benefit from colleges, academies, Ne, but shall be-
considered "paupers, and the Literary Fund an eN-
elusive paupsr fund. know that this odioms distinction
humbles the poor child and his parent, at the very mo
ment that they are petted by those who set themselves
up as their peculiar friends. Some OF The poor dlsdaln
TO be considered paupers, and refuse the aid rendered
" Il4S' ttlE VIII Iiis w wv S''s"N
ces, look upon the University, and all colleges and aca-
denies ny aristocratic estnhlrs hmcnts, nndeserving pub
lie muniiicence. All this repeat is wrong Is i moi
more imS:, more philanihr"pic, more Republican, and
more III accordance with facts and reason, to regard all
grades Of good schools, as working together for the
good Of al, and patroni2e them accordingly:
at is not alone, the inmates Of colleges, academies,
and ntermediai schools, who are benefited by them.
We never can have I good common school system,
without higher schools, 10 educate teachers. ! appeal
In pverv Win can write and sneak his OWu Ian.
guase correctly, 10 say whether he is not, directly or
Indirectly, indebted 10 some good college, academy, or
intermediate school, for the better part of his educaiion:
Ii he was mol educated al college, or an academy, his
teacher, or his teachers teacher was. | appeal 10 pa.
rents in The country every where, 10 say whether their
greatest difficulty in educating their children, does moi
arise from their inability 10 procure competent teachers;
81 should like, if had time, TO reason a while with
your correspondent a Nirginian not 10 pick a quar-
rel with him, bnt 10 endeavor 10 give a better direction
To his zeal in the cause Of education in general, and the
education of the poor in particular. lie brings for
ward an imposing array Of statistics from the Northern
States, designed IL prove that, whilst common schools
benef, tens Of thousands, colleges, academies and in.
termediate schools benefit only hundreds. Would IL
mol be better 80 10 direct his zeal, as 10 endeav or 10 give
a larger number the direct advantages OF the higher
schools, rather than deny those advantages 10 the poor,
and allow the rich 10 monopolize them, as he contends
is now the case, Besides, does he look far enough into
his own statistics; Has he consider red, that the best Of
his common schools are indebted for their teachers 10
the higher schools; and hence that even the poor, who
never see 4 college or academy, may thus reap the be-
ne6ts of both; ls'A Nirginian' thoroughly acquainted
with the condition Of our people, and the obstacles rs
they exist 10 the education Of our children; Does he
know, that we have hitherto been shamcfully depend.
ent upon the colleges, academies, and intermediate
schools of the North for our teachers; Ii he would
look to this fact, instead of disparaging those higher
schools, he would see and acknowledge that they no,
only supply the home demand for teachers in the com.
mon schools, but partially supply us also. Ought we
not to supply ourselves; Has not our University al
ready been Of signal service in this way And If the
academies and intermediate schools were allowed TO
share fairly in public munifcence, should We not soon
have more educated men, more good teachers, and few
er poor children destitute Of any education at all: The
truth is, that our legislators have been strangely regard
less Of the ~plighted faith of the State in this matter
When our University was founded, a pledge was given,
and a plan chalked out, to encourage every grade Of
schools. The University and primary schools first,
and then the 50 colleges, academies and intermediate
schools" The pledge was positive. II islands record
ed upon our statute books; and many academies were
pledge for aid. The pledge has been strangely lost
sight OF, or disgracefully disregarded. The surplus
fund, pledged TO colleges, academies, &c, is annually
blended with the primary school fund, and squandered
upon The lowest grade Of teachers, with a few honora-
bic exceptions) and it is difficult even for the mos,
Jealous and faithful Of our school commissioners 10
point out any benefits from its application.
81 a~pprehend that the Distribution Law is 10 be sup.
ported upon the ground mat II VIII ana Internal I'M
provement and Education. We must take 4 bold and
decided stand against that odious measure. Better,
more just, and more economical would il be, 10 go for a
direct school tax-and direct taxes for the promotion of
Internal Improvements. Our motto ought TO be, RE
PEAL the Distribution Lac, and dozen mih its project.
ors, Let US neither touch, taste, nor handle the I'M
clean bait.
"Our political meeting was pretty well attended, not.
withstanding the extreme i%nclemency of the day. You
will receive our proceedings in due time.
WILLIAMSBURG MEETING.
At a meeting Of the Citizens Of Williamsburg, held