Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-12-01
From he Richmond Enquirer.
TO TIE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

TO TIE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
Fellow citizens: having been depu,cd by the Edu
ca.h Convention assembled months since in this
CITY, 10 recommend ito your solemn consideration the
subject OF general primary Instruction. we respectfully
proceed 10 the discharge oil this duty. In the perform
ance oi 81 grave and important task solicit your
sympalhes IN behalf of the poor still less do We seek
excite IN your minds any preudces Tor against the
rch e address ourselves to all, and IN behalf of all
We cannot believe that necessary dwell on the
inlnfence ot dtusng certain amount OF literary
know ledge amongst the whole pcape \ou cannot forget
II al such knowledge is dcuatcd 10 lessen crime to pro-
mote morality and refine the tastes aud temper of the PEG
PIE while tsrengthens and maintains the spirit olnallon-
alrcedom, and essentially tends promote II il does
absolutely secure, the institutions OF civil liberty Poru
lar Ignorance has been the pacn, Of tumult and eN
cess ON the one hand, or otdcspo,sm heoher What
valuable Improvements the useful arts. and in the ap
pcaon Of science TO the practical purposes OF lie may
not be expected. when every handenit is taught
Tho leading principles OF physical science. and 10 observe
and 10 think, with mind stored with the of CIV
ing direction 10 his observation and his rrcconsi The
humbest mechanical employment admits the application
OF scientific principles and ho who exercises the employ
meni, from day 10 day, with small knowledge of
cncc, and habits OF observation and thought ia likely
sooner 10 make useful discoveries than the sanguine
and ingenious theorls in his closet Nno,cnths OF the
greatest discoveries in the appcgHts Of aaenee to the
arts, have been made by working men. VIA - acqulr
ed lltc knowledge, and applied II in theg active
vocations-Nau may be said a have inyeHtt! the
steam engine, greatly did he improve ii. utlah Ia
was but poor maker of mathematical instruments II
Edingbugh. And the telescope Is justly claimed Ms
the invention of an obscure spectacle maker in Germany
h such pi1 aical blessings. flowing from education,
1t not matter The highest public concern provide the
means o elementary Instruction for every child in the
Commonwealth
You provide Tor legislatures and halls for legislation
You provide courts o justice, aud all the apparatus
cessary ir executing the laws the public charge tie
cause they are oi general benefit and without them the
elements Of society would dissolve before the united ct
forts Of force and fraud. Doesa less extended benefit
spring from the nnivera possession Of intelligence by the
peopiei Is II moi better 10 diminish II not entirely Pre-.
vent, the prevalence Of crime by moral and intellectual
culture than 10 reprcss IT, or cndenvor repre5s it by
stripes and the JAIL by the pcnitcntary aud the eaIlnus
An enlightened economy itself recommends the appca.
cation OF this great conservative principle Tor
tend thf benefits Of education arrest the multiplied
ton OF crime and lessen the expenses Of criminal urls
prudence, and increase the productive powers Of the
Commonwealth Besides where is the rIaser ovine
power of our Government no chooses our legislators
md provides our Judges. the to make laws, The
other 10 administer them and dispose Of our property and
our lives? Who Judges Of their acts. and condemns
approves their proceedings Who called on Jurors
aid in the administration of the laws of country
both civil and criminal in their most important and
delicate applications 10 Affections feelings and hi
terests?
There is one, and only one. each Of these
iaterrogd:'rics All must reply. rr Is OUR PEOPLE,
the great Lodyot our people, who commanded 10 per
form these grave ana Important functions. How can
duties numerous and "HTeciable IN their mPor
lance be wisely and vuonsly dIsca1'db by the people
unless they enghtncd} But. iorbeai asay more
on tins view of the subject.
1t has long since been the conviction Of enlightened Oh
servers, that many grieyaus defects exist in the system
Of primary education which has hitherto prevailed in Nr
gnla. Many think. that not only is the money which il
expended IN the education Of the INDECENT inlulcuusl,
bestowed, but thaa ongs the substantial citizens ohe
State. education almos, at its lowest eb, IN
qurnce of the gnoa difficulties Of maintaining good schools
IN many parts OF the State. Few persons, however,
could have ihomed the depth and breadth of the per
vadng ignorance The Federal census of $40 dsclo
sed results. at which every one who Is attached to the
prosperity and happiness OF the Commonwealth, who
is possessed Of spark Of generous pride, must reco
with shame and dsnay The statistics disclosed by
the startling The picture is irghtiul.
making every possible allowance for The inaccuracies of
the document. BY 1t learn, that out Of white pop
uation Of about 10000, there were $500 persons IN
Nginia above the age of twenty years who neither
write nor rcad-tbat Is, one thirteenth OF the whole pop
uatioH. IN every SIX OF those who are OF and
bove the age of twenty years This exposed
our general ignorance in strong and humlllatng coli
trast with the superior enlightenment OF other States OF
the Conlcdcracy. Whose heart is not panied at ths>
comparison? In with you all, are kceny a
live to the dscrediabe difference, bot We must remind
that those of and above the age of twenty years who
unable To write, in the proportions following, To
wit: children, and furnished with nothing inspire
liberation much less n lore of learning Your hous
are taught by men. many Of them incompetent in their
attanments and not qualified in morals-who are not
looked after by parents any public authority but per
mticd to pursue the Suggestions OF their crude judgments
to the subjects 10 be taught. aud the mode olcathing
them. and 20 listen not to the suggestions al thor
conscleuccs 10 the dllgcnt discharge OF their du
ties. This imperfect system costs for its execution, eli
thcr in private contributions public bounty, about
t956.0OO.
In Connecticut, one to 526.
New Hampshire. 10 300.
Massachusetts, one to l63
New York, one to 81.
Michigan. 10 81.
Yes. in young Michigan. hGl the oth-r day terrific
ry, and recently admitted into the n7n her proper
lion is one to %, whilst ours one 10 lut The mum
Der OF adults. who unable 10 write and read single
county in Virginia and that county Of The most in
ellgent and wealthy in the stale, exceeds b. ore hal
the whole number In like state Of ignorance in the
State Of C0ancclicut.
Nvrough We, in making this painful and Notifying
contrast. omit the important consideration that in the
States above enumerated the working classes all in
cluded while III Virginia largest wording classes Of
operatives, $50 caIed) constituting nearly half Of
entire population, excluded Is it vain to hope,
that you. the people of Virginia, will take these things
heart and firmly resolve that they shall no longer
exist? That dark and deep Ignorance shall be swe irom
our beloved State and the beamng light Of education
shall shed lis usire every portion Of the Common
wcalih-Nor resolve only, but so, oct that the
proach shall be removed possible, for the n-
ture2
A.