Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-05

Il would sem as if The ve5y provision which was made
for its support years ago, by doing something, had
thereby intercepted the larger md more benehcent
provision which is necessary to support and TO noun
18Th Alright Satisfied, II would a.P'ar, that some
tling had been DONE the higher and bolder duty Of
doing more and more until nothing should remain ID
be done, has long been preternied, aud successive
legislatures have handed down the existing plan and
provision Of the law under painful end accumna
ting pro1ls of their ruinoua insu!iiciency. Nt.n
il is considered, that this plan of common educa-
ton has been nearly thIty years i'll EXISTENCE
that its VIII /. machinery has become perfectly
familiar TO those who admins'r, and whose duties Of
cdnin rat enforced by penalties lis minor
defects have bee corrected perceivedthit matera!
alterations of structure have been introduced, and That
every efficiency Of which is capable has been given
TO by rs controlling head, whose system vigilance
end fidelity, which make Inn an honor t. the &c
vernIncnt have been long ana ia5orionsiy de
v,t:d 10 the crft ton of this scheme: wien this
sered, and considered also that there III
ry yelve OF our grown-up white population who
neither read nor write that out vi ty thousand poor
chdren Tor whom this scheme is designed, only TWEEN
tyeght thousand have been taught any thing 4, oil.
and that these have been taught average PERIOD
of but sixty days during the past year; when these
things considered, will it be said that the result
IL satisfactory That it demonstrates condition in
this branch of public interest and in the appro-
priaed 10 sustain IL with which the Legislature and the
country ought to be coEt:ned: Ii sixty days tuition
to half of the "indigent" children Of the State
the grand result which present system is able 10
compsh, after many years of perseyering efforts 10
enlarge and perfect It's capacities il is little than
costly and deusive nudity which ought to be abolished
and another and better established in its place
Supposing it entirely improbable that the Legislature
parlking in all respects in the hopes and interests OF
:hc public, will regard duty 10 continue stem
which operates III such manifest subyersion Of both,
they earnestly invoked 10 enter at upon the
work of preparing better, and of preparing it with the
ultimate and comprehensive purpose OF extending the
rudtments Of cheap, If not free education TO every
child in the State With the hope of aiding them in
this object respectfully submit to their consideration,
whether II is not possible to obtain by constructing
system upon the basis of JOINT stock interpretations
The principle of these operations has already been
adopted, 10 extent in The establishment OF our
district schools and there reason ei-
ther speculative practical why it may not be just
we'll applied 10 the support Of schools generally 10
the support OF any other purpose OF public
No other purpose brings public and private interests
into more absolute union with each other than That of
primary education, could better justify, on that
ground, union Of their means for It's support. In
all ordinary OF joint stock associations, ndl-
v:duals the partners OF tho State, and 10 them
the larger interest, and Of the controlling pow
is assigned Ia this case, it is suggested tina,
Ties should take the place of individuals and that the
will of these countless in all of the mlefal points oil
the partnership relation should be declared py The per-
residing in them who tax payers the reve
Of the Stale. Let these persons determine BY
general vote, whether they Will ngree TO any joint
stock cooperation with the State for such purpose
and after agreeing let 1t be their right TO prolong
to discontinue the arrangement at their pleasure Let
the State, its part, and IN The first place, deter
mine upon the sum which il is willing, upon tins
plan, 10 appropriate annually for common cGucalon
let il fix The fractional share OF twohs, or any other
which 1t is wiling give, aud nllot The whole the
counties, respectively according TO their white popu
laton. When this is done, let The county Taxpayers
OF the Stale revenue decide, under authority of law
for tat purpose, whether they Will unite with the
Sale upon the terms and for the objects proposed,
and will ngree 10 raise by separate upon them
selves their share Of The funds required. Should all,
any Of tho count to do authority should
be given FOR the election by general vote, for the
appointment in other FORM OF several persons
who, with Others appointed behalf Of the Stale,
should constitute lccal directory, with full power
10 take charge Of the joint funds, and to carry into
effect under the supervision OF general beard
or superintendent, the whole plan and object ior
wh!ch these funds were intended. 10 The counties
Wh decline this plan Of Cooperation, the quota Of The
literary fund allotted TO them should BE- continued
usual
w II these general elements, il is believed that a
system upon this subject can be formed which will be
FAR more acceptable and comprehensive than the
existing one, and formed under internal checks which
will etsc,uay protect it against hashness abuse and
want of local adaptation. BY associatng the people
of the several counties, it proposed 10 do, espon.
JlDy ana inti0utey Win Inc Government IN the
port and administration of their schools, not only
will the general subject of education be kept alive
its proper and fountain head, but the actual education
Of every one, resting longer upon the footing OF
parental duty alone, will come TO be clllmcd and
tended for as q legal right. Should the Legislature
regard the plan suggested worthy of any att.mpl
part To elaborate into system, principal re-
commentator Of il Is the with which il be
converted for free education; and il is ear
nesty hoped that whatever the scale which it may
be ought hest TO begin, that nothing less wise pai
otto and perfect than this will he thought OF for It's f.
nal and browning result. Let your system of prna.
ry education, winch supported by the funds and pro-
iecied b. the vigilance of all to be free all and il
will be found al last not on y 10 be The cheapest and
the best but The surest OF any TO e1ngush that spirit
o.! eScusi.eDess which the education Of part is
tain 10 inspire, and 10 nnush amongst peorl, from
their earliest youth al! the ynoathes Of mutual ln,c-
rest and Dependence Let be- free, and the poorest
and mos. desoaia oh'id in the STATE Will have dowry
in your iawF, which nothing wres from his hard, >,
and Will your call upon him far service be-
so legitima'e-never can you demand that he shall
submit himself, for your sake, 10 pains and dangers
and desh itself, with perfect right rs when you
have sought him out in his hours OF he pessness and
min;stered to his wants. and have put a~sy from h 8
mind Of the heaviest and beres. Affections which
orphanage and poverty can'bring.
In conne8ion with this general subject, recommend
the notice and 10 the fostering beray of the legis
aturc, the military school at Lexington, and that for the
deaf and DUMB ard the D.ind At Staunton Ihe very
commcd,ou: building which intended for this latter
institution is still incomplete, and must remain SO, TO
the common injury Of The State and her unfortunate
children, unless the Legislature, in spirit OF real
ard prompt philanthropy, will at once interfere 10
carry through what it has lumanely and properly
begun.
The other school, the military one at Lexington,
the annua! report upon which, By the Board of Visa
tors, is herewith communcat'd,) IS not Only entitled
in every point Of view 10 the literary rank and pope
lar confidence which il has successfully acquired
but is lirmy established that ii may easily be made
to conducils operations upon any larger scale which
the munfcence of the Legislature may direct, or the
public demand for its peculiar Elns OF Discipline and
instruct require. Il is rapidly becnmng nursery
of valuable teachers, whose services eagerly sought
for, and upon this ground, independently OF every other,
is well worthy of having its powers OF usefulness
tended. WI Their it be the pleasure o the Legislature,
however, 10 add 10 its general endowEantai present
not the erection Of magazine and of gnn-onses FOR
the cannon, recommended by the ndjulaat general
in lis annual rcpsr cannot be neglected any longer
W thou, serious risk 10 tie property of the place.
1t would have been highly gratifying 10 report 10 the
Legislature ut the beginning Of lis labors, that the
act of the last session authorizing the Executive, upon
certain conditions, to suspend the law suhjec'ng to