Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-24

candidates. With their parzans, ugitae the county for
months preceding the critical day meetings are con
veneG the claims Of candidates discussed The measures
of the legislative bodies vassad resolutions adop'eo
conventions organised tickets prepared, and IN short,
all fur MEANS and sometimes, many unfair, are used TO
success the hand and defeat ON the other
Fe uds are often engendered by the violence oil political
strife which enter families divide between chie irencs
and array brother brother Our groan un
der the wcpht Of political discussions; mails are pom
derous with newspapers and pamphlets our post ohces
beset with applicants for news and our village stores
and taverns, our muster grounds couri yaros anu oe
church yards, swarm with politicians In short we are
nation Of rulers and conduct evnces the sense OF
our personal and relative importance in the
of The country Even the genter sex grace polilca,
gatherings with their presence, patron'ze CLUBS, anu
nci,e the zeal Of fathers brothers, husbands and lovers
by participating in political fees preparing and adorn-
ing The flags under whose folds political professions are
marshalled. Some find sources of regret, and sue
iects Of apprehension in oil this, and much more OF
similar character in the political aspect oil our DAY ana
nation Ifthee be faults either inherent or derived
f abuses either necessary results, incidental conse
euences of the nature Of our institutions, let monaf-
chiss discover and expose them. 1t is not desired 10
speak evil Of the "rulers of people, nor IS this Inc
place for discussion of the Proprey or the influences
Of these things Such facts however, clearly illustrate
the felt by the people, in their political
and prospects. However wrong in themselves, ana
their direct md indirect influences may be, the political
exctemens Of the day, they furnish OF congratu
luon, aordlng, as they do decided evidence OF Tie
public interest in the public welfare Even assigning
to sinister causes party spirit, personal AMBITION OF
desire for private aggrandzement the zeal everywhere
conspicuous, find in the necessity Tor pretehaeo
PATRIOTISM the evidence Of the existence OF genuine
spirit and the homage paid TO love of country TO secure
success, is the evidence that true virtue YET exists
And the incidental evils Of this stale OF things are no
Justly ascribabe TO institutions, than the
euds and sriies Of ambitious and hypocricai priests
to the founder or the faith of our holy religion.
Now, here signs of indifference In our pohu-
cal affairs all is activity, zeal, and perseverance
With some limitation, we observe similar spirit eVn
ced, relative 10 our agricultural and commercial al
fairs. But who regards schools ns institutions con
nected with prosperity Erroneous political
views visited with mmeasurable condemnation !;
and yet our children may be left TO the vacancy
of ignorance the instruction that causes to err IN
of the most important concerns oil lie Inc press
teens with political essays and every minute question
of political nature is anVasscd with untiring zea,
and often consummae ability. The first talent OF the
country is demanded to explain defend and establish
civil rights But, who writes aud who reads essays
on primary cducaiion9 Who devotes talents 10 the
exposition of its claims, and instruction in It's prlnci-
pies, Occasionally few attempts, such as The pre-
sent 10 awaken public interest, appear IN the newsPa
pers bu, the almost total neglect with winch such
efforts passed by, dscourages the writer ana ne
flags in his undertaking. To the surprze and pleasure
of many, very respectable number OF citizens assem-
bed Richmond last winter TO consider the Interests OF
Educaliun-but how were the efforts of this body
seconded by the people and their Legislators? With
few exceptions, members of the House Of Delegates
and Senate seemed barely aware of the existence OF
the Convention, and when its deliberations were lard
before them in bill founded their suggestions after
passage in The o%er House, it failed in the Senate,
and for one year more the people of the State have
slumbered.
We provide halls Of legislation and Of justice, prisons
and penientiary but pass through this State, and
witness the displays of neglect furnished by our
school houses Oiten few logs rolled together hastily
open 6oors, unceiled roofs, rough, high and hacke5s
benches, constitute the sole apparatus for promoting
the mental culture Of children. Located on some
barren hill, exposed to the intrusion Of domestic or
wild animals, with no pleasing prospect without, cheer.
less and uncomfortable Within the very spirits of desc.
laton could hardly choose fitting place for their
revels Apart even from that moral character, which
belongs to too many, such place may well serve as
neighhorhood PenentIary and, sit you are not
good child, will send you to school, is very readily
perceived TO be the most efficient curb the FESTIVE
urchD, and the keenest incentive TO diligence and pro-
priety.
In snch place, there ia often installed man, with
heart Of stone, and hands of iron, too lazy 10 work.
and too indoent ignorant to live by his wits in any
other department of mental labor, whose chief recon
mendation his cheapness, and whose greatest capa
city to instruct, is predicated of his ncopacy for
other employmen's. To him is committed the most de-
delicate of all duties that of forming the ieebes Of
all Gods animated creation, into the noblest spe
cimen of HIS power-to become the Interpreter Of
Heaven, tie Ruler of Nature the Image Of his Maker
OF the progress Of the pupils in these temples of ndo
ence, but little enquiry is made Parents seldom vi
sit the school, Even the titles of the text books to
say nothing OF their character, often unknown I'LL
learned from the merchants bill am persuaded, that,
on this subject, there is great apathy. merchant
who supplies large quantities of school books TO neigh
boring Southern State, INTRODUCED few years since,
Wayands Moral Science and il is not impossible, while
fathers decaimng in the State and National Legis
ature against Abolition tenets, their children at home
learning in this book, that slavery sin. copy
ofthe work placed in The writer's hand by the Prn
cipa Of large female school, and his opinion asked of
the propriey Of its introduction. Its unqualified con
domination inevitable If any regard be had consis
ency, 10 say nothing Of truth. So Of other books But
shall not dwell here. This topic will receive attention
in its proper place. Other evidences Of the preva-
lent apathy OF the public mind could be Produced
such the disregard moral character in teacher
inadequate compensation TO the good and insufficient
evidences OF fitness existing in some, and yet forming
no barrier TO their employment facility with which
schools are dispersed, and difficulties with which
alluded to, that our Legislators find much more
profitable and pleasant employment, in organizing
and conducting political parties, discussing federal
relations and passing resolutions deemed by their
authors worthy the celebrity Of those of 9S that but
little time any, left for the important topic connected
with the education Of children. May trust,
Sir that during your term Of Office, better spirit
will be infused into Legislative halls?
With great respect, yours truly.
LANCASTER.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
On looking over the Report of the President of the
James River and Kanawha Companv was moi nre