Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-04

minds were still unchanged in regard to the vital
cause OF popular Education, notwithstanding the
unjus,hAble treatment you have received from those
Who were bound TO pursue a very different course.
IL IL true that considerable ma iOrity Of the House
OF Delegates dill pass bill, after delay Of nearly
three months spent II would he difficult to say how;
but certainly IN proceedings of infinitely less inte-
rest. This WAS rejected. very unee, emon 'ously, by
The Senate. But what kind of Bill was ~ How
ever good might be lis various provis'ons-howovtr
urgent the call Tor their operationnot one of them
was 10 take elect for twelve months; and, thus,
more than another precious year TO the destitute
youth Of Virginia was, most unnecessarily lost. in
the attempt to DO, what might again fat, although
im2ctiouSly demanded To be done with the least
possible delay. For, be It remembered. that one
year rs nearly or quite fourth of the time which
the children OF the poor can devote to elementary
instruction; and, OF course. that al who have lost it,
(amounting to many thousands), for the want Of
those Primary Schools. which it WAS the impera-
tive duty Of the Lesisl sure 10 establish have only
three years ef for the pu, pose even should they
he established during the next session.
IL were practicable 10 egislatc for ourselves Il
surely would he ctent folly 10 incur an anuuil ex
perse Of one OF Two hundred Thousand dollars m
maintaining oct OF men to make laws f,r rs,
who much afraid of doing what they
were specially delegated to do, as to shift from
themselves the hbor and responsibility OF
dong II, ~hcnevcr they could find even a
plausible prelext for thus Jog. will not say
that al references to the constituent body by their
z
el,s rcquicc To be passed rs possible, pro,
coed from this most unnanly, highly eulpatlc, aud
d. graceful ftnr-for nm confident that many le
I gisaiots are far very far, above 1t But noue car
doubt, who have tho least know ledge OF the cha
ractor and composition ot legislative assemblies
/ that here are not few 10 thcm who 40 Ie,i a. sO
Intensely, rarely to be exempt from its IN hncncc
These men never the authors of any gopu inca
sures, but often delay, or entirely defeat such ar,
OF the utmost Importance 10 the beet interests OF the
community.
Whether or not tho failure OF our last Legislator,
10 do any thing for Populsr Education was at
iributable TO any such men, | will not take upnr
myself to say. But the failure is certain, ard II il
not the first by several. Now, therefore, IL rests
with you to determine how much longer you vii
submit to this continued neglect of the most mo
mcntous, by far, of all public concerns. Are yor
conient, fellow CT izcns TO lie thus IT, ated iron
year TO year, in regard to matter OF the deepeS
possible INTEREST," Will You passivcly wait, as !
totally paralyzed, both in mird and body, until i
shall please our legislators of their accord &c
do something for Educaton,-somethn. to impart
at least the elements thereof 10 the thousands JUROR
thousands OF our youth who entirely destitute
of them2 Or rather, will you not rouse up frou
your past indulgence Of this legislative neglect, nut
tell your Representatives, in language not 10 bc
misunderstood, nor eyaded, that something mast be
done IN this behalf aye, and THAT TOO without
farther delayl What is to hinder us-'hs Sopefei
Psopie"-(as our Legislators so fornd of ca ling
us)-from holding meetings IN every county Of the
State, at all our mex, quarterly courts instruct
them-"oT ssrranis,"-as thew, in their mock
humility, call themseves,) TO pass either the bill OF
tho last session, some other, TO take effect from
the passage thereof For the sake, then, OF
the multitudes of Commonwealth children,
who are now utterly destitute OF the first elements
Of educa,ion-nay, for the sake Of our country il
self let there be no more delays-no more references
OF School Bills TO us, lest another year or more of
nestmable time be lost, whilst poor old Virginia is
suffering most deeply, in her very hearts core for
want Of that bread af life, which alone restore
her to vigorous moral health.
| beseech and mplore you, my fellow citizens,
forthwith TO take all these matters into your most
serious consderaiion;-nono can doubt that they
are vitality important 10 us all; and God grant that
they may make the samo impression on your minds
rs they have made on the mind of
TRUE FRIEND TO POPULAR EDUCATION.