Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-05

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tionis as strong, if not stronger here. than a.
ny where else IN tn. Union because submit.
tang TO greater Inconvenience and expense in
order 10 BE- gratitted. Ii is. indeed in thi 4,
very spirit oil our people for academical and
collegiate education, and the great relative
extent TO which they have been able TO &C.
quire 1t, that we are TO look fora main cause
OF that high intellectual character which this
Commonwealth has at all times enoyed.-
She has never wanted Tor the active and cul.
uroted mind which her public or professions
al departments required-hos never sustained.
as to these, rcproachful comparison with
the best OF her sister communities and NAV
IN truth have been the less able. OH this very
account, 10 realize the wrc,chcd inferiori,y OF
her common education. or the teplorable de
gree to which it was impairing her highcs,
capabilities. Realizing it now, however
she would be the more wilfully and cruelty
guilty II she permitted the spirit and advan.
tages oil her people upon this subject TO be
crushed and denies any longer. Only consid.
or that, OF the l66 900 persons in this State
who are OF a suitable age 10 be taught. that is.
between "a aud 6. 10000 only are reported
as receiving any kind of education; an il the
! l2,OOO and upwards of these who are credit.
cd TO the colleges, academies and classical
schools be deducted. there will be- left but 81 :
UOO who are going 10 common schools and
i2o,OO0 who appear TO be going TO no school
whatsoever
Sucha state Of things in the midst of a civ.
iti]ation IKE ours, and above all. in the yer,
heart OF liberty and government like ours
Is absolutely appalling, and calls for redress
win power OF entrcaty, 10 which words can
add nothing. Let the fostering hand of the
government be extended for this redress, and
extended TO those in chief who are most de-
pending and most in wan. In our case the
first and controlling duty, as the facts presen.
ted demonstrate, is not 10 provide for the
highest grade of scholarship SO much as its
humblest elements; it is 10 remodel our sys-
tenn OF common education 10 such extent that
we can oiler the alphabet OF knowledge TO all
who will receive it, and can rescue at once
from The destiny OF unlettercd ignorance, the
helpless and neglected thousands of our youth.
upon whom, II nothing is done, il will be fixed
beyond remedy aud forever. 1t cannot be that
this patriotic duty will be declined and eva
ded any longer, and the great body of our peo.
PIE leit to struggle as they have struggled be-
lore. Here, al least, ii may be dc manded tina I
'nose who support all, defend all, and govern
all, should not, III addition to this be expected
10 sulicr all. But ii this is not TO BE- so; the
wrong and injury already done are TO be stop
ped; II the melancholy distinction of sharing
an equality in uneducated population with a
single American rival is TO be cilaced, and our
labors are hereafter TO elevate the mind which
our neglect has done so much TO crush; if this
Is To be so, not an hour not an energy which
the Legislature can command, should be lost.
Deiorc TINS work OF justice, hope and renova-
ton shall have been begun.
have submitted in former messages what
seemed to me the germ OF u suitab BILE plan for
the accomplishment Of this work. and respect
fully refer To il now as capable, in nv iudg.
ment, Of being successfully matured and ap.
Piled. That plan was, generally, 10 establish
III each county, with the conse mt Of tn. ma
]ority OF Its tax payers, free schools for common
education. To rely for the support Of these
schools upon the quotas of the present school
fund, and upon such additional sum as might
be found necessary, TO be- made up of county
and State taxes united in given proportion.
To place the schools wherever adopted by
county vote, and all matters connected with
their location, accountsand management, I'M
der county tribunals, and these, in turn, UNI
der the general supervision of some central
and controlling head; and to authorize each
county to renounce the plan. after having a..
dopted IT, shouAd It wish 20 do so; and i'm all
cases, whether the plan is accepted, rejected
or renowned, to continue the school quota to
Without illustrating this plan BY additional
detail, 1t is perhaps enough 10 say of it, that,
by placing its adoption in each county upon
the express consent of its own tax PAYERS Won
appeal 10 those who are most concerned in
interest, and most identified with each other
IN intercourse and business, to decide whether
1t Will suit them or not; you enable each
county, in case Of its adoption, TO modify,
adapt and mature ii, according to its Judgment
end Its own view of its local circumstances
and wants; you connect every citizen, i'm some
degree, with Its management, make every
taxpayer sentinel upon its operation. and
thus secure its ultimate efficiency and support
by surrounding it with the largest possible
amount OF watchiulness, interest and affection.
Nor is this all: by supporting these schools
upon general fund, making them free from
any charge Tor tuition, you at once destroy
those designations of indulgence and charity,
which have kept SO many thousands i'm ipno-
Tancc-you bring The rich and poor of our
people into closer connection with each other
--diilusc a kindlier and healthier sympathy
throughout the whole of society. and discour.
age, IN their very embryo, all youthful ten
denotes TO eXClusiveness and caste
Passing from these humber agencies for
education to others of higher and more ex-
Pensive kind, should omit part of my duty
TO the public, II did not recommend TO YOU
The Propriety OF making an early and thorough
enquiry into the condition, management. and
wants OF the University of the State This
institution is d noble monument to the wis
dom OF It's great founder, and 10 the patriotism
oil the Commonwealth and resting as il does
upon the faith OF all for the good of all, il
should be deficient in nothing whatsoever,
winch Is necessary to render ii an instrument
oil the widest beneiaction to- the country at
large. Whether il is already such, far as it
can BE- made so, OF whether il is possible to
make IT more capable for this end than il is
now, by change OF organization or change
III other respects, are enquiries of the utmost
interest to the public, and well worthy of all
the care aud vigor with which they can be in.
vesigated by your body. | commend the
state OF this institution, therefore, to your spc-
cial investigation, and that in the earnest
hope that you may b. able to remove any and
every obstacle that exists TO its increasing
prosperity. and make it. in all poiots Of use.