Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-31
A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH


We invite attention to the following elegant
and interesting letter of Mr.. Walker. y native
OF Virginia, he sought his fortunes in Louisiana,
gbsfle5 hif Him n an honorable judicial distinction Mr.
w. groups together many striking facts 10 show
the progress Of Eiucation in the much abused
CreScen, City, and TO throw some light upon The
present movemen, in his native State, for tearing
away the veil OF Ignorance. While the Nurlh
and extreme South have made such noble Efforts
in cullivating and eleva,ing the human mind,
shall Virginia continue TO oc pointed at as he
sea, OF Intellectual darkness? II is for her people
10 give an answer.
10 he Editors Of tic Enqnirer;
New ORLEANS, Oct II, 1915.
Gentlemen:-l am most happy 10 perceive, By
the papers that The good citizens Of nv old and
honored native State are thoroughly aroused on
the subject OF The education OF the people. Be-
yond all question, the great neglect OF your LIE
gisature 10 provide good common schools Tor
the people has been the main cause of the de-
cline OF Virginia. Her immense physical re-
sources her energetic population her variety n
soil. her unequallcd geographical position, and
great abundance Of all the means Of wealth.
would have preserved her from her present de-
cline, against every other obstacle, but that Of
iofai rant ri cood common shoots, and the ne
elected education Of the people. This has been
the spring OF all your woes. Very happy am l.
an humble, but much loving off,boot OF the Old
Common wealth, 10 hear that YOU have yea
lousy sci 10 work 10 obliierale this standing re-
proach OF Virginia and BY putting your heads
together in Convention, TO devise some plan for
ifp GENERAL education of the people.
In The prolific essays addresses and editorials
called forth By the present excitement, all your
writer's refer 10 New England or Prussia, as The
only countries where adequate and efficient pro-
vision is made for The education Of The people
Now. Sirs, allow me 10 acguaint your readers
with the fact, that. here, in The extreme South,
where common schools have been considered by
some theorists as Experimentation idea not
withou, coun,eHance from The history of The
past ,)-here, in this "Babel of nations, and Ba-
bylun Of iniquily," as The piety Of The North
loves TO dub our quiet, moral and enterprlslns
CITY; here, in spite of obstacles The most serious
and perpexine. system Of public education has
been adopted, which has accomplished in Short
time more good than has ever been wrought else
where bv The same means and in the same time
The public schools Of New Orleans, considering
The time they have been in operation, will com
mare with those OF Boston and Berlin. Their
sudden creation, their rapid progress from the
smallest and most discourasing beginnings, their
perfcc order and efficiency, seem almost The work
OF magic. New Orleans, you are perhaps aware,
is divided into three distinct corporations. My
observation has been principally confined TO one
OF them bn,, in al! three a ke zeal and like sue
cess have characterized their efforts in behalf Of
education In the Second MuniciPality,ln which
reside. The first public school was opened at The
close of the year ls4l under the direction OF J.
A. Shaw, a sagacious and sensible gentleman
The plan adopted was that OF a public school &C
cessble to The children Of all The people,
and so constituted, tina, the most opulent Of
our citizens might think il no disadvantage
10 send their children 10 them, and The poor.
er citizens might feel no sense OF Deepen
dance or inlerority, when their children par
ticipated on equal terms with The Children OF the
rich. in The blessings Of common education.-
The political and social advantages u Tins COM
minging and associaline the children OF The poor
and OF the Itch, will occur 10 you without any
suggestion from me. That abomlnable veslise
OF English feudalism which can well remem-
Der was one of the ca uses of the failure OF your
educational efforts in Virginia, the CHARITY
School or Poor School System, ought like mos,
other things OF English origin, 10 be torn up root
and branch from our soil. What man OF woman,
especially what Virginian, so famous for pride OF
character, would not lei his children starye in ig-
norance, rather than pick up the crumbs from the
rich mans ,able-rather than beg his abe7
How well rcmenberthe POOR liile diry-faced,
meanly clad urchns, with their downcasl cowed
look, creeping along and lodging from the SCOTS
OF the broad-co'h boys, whose Papas paid for their
schooling, and the mragre knowledge doled ont
10 them from torn and dog-eared spelling books,
b. some careless stripping poorly Paid for poor
work Can children thus educated ever hold
their heads mp to the level OF American citizens
Assuredly not Peep into our public schools,
where education is claimed and allowed as The
right Of every citizen, and cas-, your eye through
the we'll filled forms, and see if in that line OF
happy in,eligen, laces, there is a single one with
out The look Of an Amercan-ihe Tree open
| bold and cheerful lock OF Republican equality