Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-02-01
For the Standard.

mon school system, which was published
In the Standard Of the 2Sih December
last, snd which can be seen by a refer
encs to the paper Of that date, | endeav
ored to show, that The general dissemina-
ton Of knowledge, independent of all
other considerations, is, in Government
constituted like ours, essential even 10
the frmness and stability OF free insIitu.
tons. Who doubts iti When the very
monarchs Of Europe, are disbanding their
standing srmiesj diminishing the number
Of their royal guards; Introducing the
free or public school system, under the
special care and protection Of the crown,
for the instruction Of all the youth
throughout their respective kingdoms;
assigning a. their reason, that past expe.
rience has already demonstrated, that
the only sure foundation for all good gov.
erunents, iS to be found in the virtue
and intelligence Of the great body Of the
people.
Nor Is our government in this respect
their debtor. The tide Of public senti-
ment in favor ofuniVersal education, so
honorable to Us as u free people, devel.
oped itself in our very origin as a nation.
Since that period it has been encouraged
and fOstered by every department, ftom
our chief magistrate down 10 the common
citizen. The strength of public senti.
msnt in favor Of the system, even at that
eurly day, 10 clearly indicated in the Or.
dinancs Of 1857, passed by Congress
prior 10 the adoption Oflhe Federal Con-
stituIiOn. 10 that ordinance il is express.
ly declared, that "Reiigion, morality, and
knowledge, being necessary to good gov.
eminent and the happiness OF mankind,
schools and the means Of education shall
forever be encouraged" Subsequent to
the passage Of this ordinance, the conven.
tiOn Of delegates which formed the Fed.
e[Sl Constitution, having no doubt an
eye single TO the same object, conferred
upon Congress, among other miscsIlane.
on" powers enumerated in the eighth sec
tiOn Of the 6rst article Of the conslitu
'ion, q power "To promote the progress
Of science and useful arts, BY securing
for limited time to authors aud inven.
iOrs the exclusive right to their respec.
tive writing and discoveries" This pow.
sr, Mr.. Madison views. in his writings IT
l7SS in favor Of the constitution, as one
Of the FIRST importance. "The utility"
says he, ''of this power will scarcely be
questioned" And subsequently,, the
convention which framed the constitution
Of our own state Adopted the language
Ofthe Ordinance Of 1857, with this add.
tiOn, ''no. Inconsistent with the rights Of
cons cence :"
Governor Vance, in his message Of
Dee. the 5th, 1887, to the Legislature
Of Ohio, after calling their attention to
GhO fact, that "One OF The fret objects
that should attract the attention Of every
statesman, is the habits, condition, and
future prospects Of the youth Of tho
State /" that through them we may read
the future destiny Ofthe republic for good
Of fOf svil;" and consequently, the ne.
esSsity Ofguarding their morals, and i'm.
proving their minds. He says: "The
means Of attaining this desirable end
must be had through our common schools;
and although much has bsen done in our
own a. we'll as several Of our sister States
10 the great cause Of education and com
mon schools, yet there 10 still much more
to - done TO perfect The system, 80 as to
bsing within the reach Of our whole pop.
Hlaiion the means Of thorough common
school education -
The doctrines of Governors Shsnnon
Ind corwin on this subject are sound
md Eaffsshing. Their sentiments, as
'ficially agowed, do honor to their he ads
Ind 10 their hearts. In his message Of
he 9Th December 1870, speaking with
lIFect reference to this subject, Governor
shannon holds the following IanguaRe o
1t Is a fact that cannot be too often re. e
psaisd' OF too deeply impressed on the Il
a'ads Of the present and rising genera. !,
aop' that our free institutions can only :,
> Plsastvsd aAd Perpetua,sd by vir,u. al
oeF, ln'e'llsen. and uucOrrupted people. b
sss h's'o'y Otall free governments sd y
lAoA'shs' ~ OF The danger 10 which pub. y y
70 libeFiy 3 most exposed. I,ia The du :, :,
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