Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-26
MILITARY INsTITC TE AND COMMON SCHOOLS
Executive DEPARTMENT,
January 18th IsI3 {

To the General assembly Of Puginia:
| Genemen-i communicate herewith, for your infor
nation, the annual report Of the Board Of Visitors
The Virginia Military Institute, which has been maos
oG and forwarded TO by the President thereof accord
ing 10 law.
communicate also, and that in The confident expec
ta,on that il will be found seasonable and usefu
auxiliary 10 your labors paper Upon the establishment
of common schools in this State, which has been pre-
pared with much care By tie superintendent of the
institute and which, at his request, is submitted Il
your consideration. THIS in many respects, il lie well
entitled TO receive II is aper OF decided merit 2on
subject of great interest," and furnished by gentleman
who is not only competent from experience capacity
and habits OF study TO the matter he presents
but who IS happily distinguished 10 the whole country
as the conductor, in Chief Of of the most servcea
BILE and best regulated literary institutions within it
Whether his scheme be adopted not, il is rich in
materials and these may be improved and sha ped by
The wisdom of your honorable body aid you in esa
hlshing system Of public instruction which shall effec
tnaily protect the future hislory Of The Commonwealth
from the reproach painfully fixed upon the present
the reproaci, namely, that in the mds, Of her and
her renown there OF every twelve of the gIownup
white inhabitants Of this State Of that thinking acting
controlling mass which regulates, at will every RICH, and
interest amongst us-onc out oi every twelve Of these
who can neither read nor write This uncomfortable
fact, which has been brought 10 light by our census
discloses state of common education here which up
peas 10 public authorities for immediate redress
md appeals 10 them through the humiatng figures by
which that state is expressed with point and urgency
of persuuson 10 which nothing be added by words
You the authority and the only one, who can pro.
vide the redress that is needed and representing, as
you do, both the power and expectation of the public
you will not aud cannot permit pernicious cond
ton OF 's highest interest TO descend and 10 fas.en it,
self upon any other than the generation that suffers
it, IL IS condition III no respect tolerated by the CT
vilIzation requirements Of the age in which We
live. 1t belongs to one that is past belongs to an
age nearly two centuries back, when Governor Of
Virginia could boast he retired from his Office that
he lef! " no free schools and press behind him"
and trusted that he would be followed by neither "for
some hundred years after" This hundred years and
more have gone and although in that interval, We
have press which has risen up 10 maturity of pow
er, if not of excellence and although we have legis
lated much and provided much for the spread and
manenunce of early education, yet g free schools
have been comparatively little cherished in Virginia.
il they had ceased TO inspire with alarm. II
for you, perhaps, that the honor reserved Of esta-
fishing and adapting them, others of kindred cha
by wise and ample provisions, 10 the wants ami
situation Of our people Ii is for you, who do tLisk
Sir Wm Berkeley thought, that general ignorance ia
blessing but who DO think, the enlightened every
where think, that il is w-sy an evil, and especially
evil to States, because containing in itself the double
power Of making the worst Of slaves under govern
mens that not Free and the worst Of masters under
governments that are-it for you 10 reduce this OPT
MON to results BY so applying The authority and the
con6ded TO your hands that primary education
may he easily and cheapiy and every where obtsned
Only let this be done, let but the rudiments of know
ledge be d,lTused and sustained by system of
provldent legislation, that the remo,est and the poorest
amongst may be able 10 enjoy them, and il may be
our lot TO retire from the trusts which we hold with
the noble hope that we leave not citizen behind US,
who has come TO maturity that cannot read in his native
tongue the oracles of his faith, and the Constitution of
his country.
! have The honor TO remain,
With great respect,
Your obed't servant,
JAS. MCDOWELL