Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-09-16

haze 50 well discharged, they have undertaken
voluntarily, and have in view no other object, bu,
the honor and we.!are Of the Old Dominion,
which every tue sob j. equally bound 10 cherish.
lie, their impressive appeal be welcomed and act
ed upon at once Let Us hear the cheerful "noes Of
preparation rc-cchoc! from every corner Of the
Stale. Ii Virginia MR. acts the bold and patriot
c part which is called Tor, uev lie will he in
fused into her venerable veins and new glories
added 10 her honpred name. To every ono
who sees This excellent paper, We would say, in
the most earnest and solemn language, ''Rsa|
THINK, ACT
Address to TIE People Of Virginia.
The citizens q! Richmond, in primary Assem-
by, have appointed Us committee 10 promote,
as far rs we can, the cause OF Education in Viz
ginia. We propose 10 urge upon every friend OF
literature in The Stale 10 lend the influence Of his
name, 10 give portion Of his time, 20 dcvo;e the
energies Of his mind, and 10 raise his animailng
voice in behalf OF cause 50 Eubie, 81 worthy OF
ever cxerlion. We would speak, il We coald,
in tones thai would a:ou,c tie most apaleiic 10
aciun We would Impress upon all, Tia; this Is
no ordinary subject 10 b" thought ui once and
then idly cast aside l.l one upon which depend
HE deslinics Of Virginia. We know that there
ale enduring blessings 10 be attained, but lhey
must be sought Tor eagerly in or,ier 10 cc gained
We know that Their. are difficulties TO be cncoun-
:e,cd. and hal 10 obya;e them requires The cAcr
else oil caution, Of Judgment ana experience
tina, there are prcGiccs 10 overcome. conflict
in. views 10 feconcic-hc o"erweenins love for
long established sy>laTs 10 contend wito, and The
deserving fever ui reckless Innovation 10 rcrro:c
aud restrain. Rui, II The wise aEJ the vi;tuou-
will unite their counsels art their energy. ever?
difficulty will Vanish, aud every good, which
wise system can secure, will be- fully developed
aud diused Every motive ever tic which
binds man to his fellow man should consiraln
The educated - devise system tor The INSTRUCTION
of all. Every ieelingoi charity and good wi!iio
others prompts The humane and benevolent 10 Ell
deavor 10 awaken the uuIriered 10 the absolute
necessity Of intellectual and moral cultivation
II is suajcc! oil paramount Importance 10 TIC
patriot HE phiiGn.hropi>l and the christian II
icr- h. any object upon which all may nDiic, il
i the sacred cause al Education. In such carsc
there ought Ia ic no rivalry, save a generous
emulation 70 accomplish the most FOR iinpro" NJ
HE ignorant and tie nIiofi. There ought
To he ~ sectional feelings or prerdices-no eS-
cusiverass. 4 comprehensive tesire 10 or2n
and he satisfied, should alone animate every heart
Party strie and party trumphs should he ba
nishcd from theme like this. Think only Of
he regeneration 0i VirziEia. Think Of the
means hes, adapted 10 remove the stain iro.n h,l
proud cscu.chcon. Think Of that ignorance
which perrades he land and, like a dcSc!atina
pcStiicnce, passicS is energies and !orebnGes de-
( cay. Think Of he degradation III the man
'whose human hame is bet 4 mechanical auto
), atom" Think OF the means 10 inuse "a new
orr. cd sense within lis soul, and Eake il wor-
,b,, ~ >i:n is kinoreJ with eternity. There are
orra, co 'r,on pfinc'p!e6 cai riews, which lorn
? common n, und on which al! our people can
unite. All II. a, harmonic ana Cooperate IN
one great system 2! mofai 2na ih'eie"'"a' Gun
lure. 49,
itmay mol be IN urof;,. hle 10 enquiIt mo tn'
condition Of Virginia, as Connected WIN ih's ~
porIan, subject, and 10 ontrasi h"i situation WIN
that of some ut her sisei- States In 1910, the
white population OF Virgins was li0,96o. That
OF Massachusetts was 20, 039-iae:e beiES but
li;lle difference in The aggregate amount OF Whit
population nl The two States. Tic number Of
those who cannot read and write in Virginia is
IS. ISL. In Massachusetts il is only HIS
The ratio OF those U:io cannot read IN plr.
ginia to her whole vile population, IS as
one 10 twelve ard 4 hall. W:ii!e that OF Massa-
chuse.,S is as ole 10 one huDire.. AID sixty
la Massachusetts there alc 1925 scholars at
tending her primary schools. In Virginia, only
.?532l 10 NASSAU huseiis The number oil scholars
al pubic charge is 1851. In Virginia, BY the
census OF 1910, only 979l; by the returns Of the
Second Auditor i1r the last year y, 500.
In The State OF Maine, with a while population
IL 800, l3S the ratio ot those VINO are unable 10
read is as one to l5i. The number 81 ,cholars
attending primary schools is al. The nrm-
Der at public charge is G0,2i23; and tie number
who cannot read IS only 3,2ll. In Inc State oil
Connecticut, the .atio OF these who cannot read
10 the white population is az one 20 OH In VIZ
einia, as be!ore stated, il j. one 10 ~. IN New
tiamnshre oHa in every 800. In New fo.k, the
ratio is as one 10 - and fraction. In PennSyl-
vania as one 10 10 and fraction In Ohio rs
one 10 IL and fraction. In Connecticut, The
number who cfnnoi read il lie whole State is
only $50. In New FORK there are %? 3hI scho
lars al her primary schools. In Pennsylvania
1899 In Ohio, 2lS,GUo. In Virginia as be-
lore stated only - 1860.
Bv The second AUDITORS last annual report, il
appears that there IRE SO l:,5 u,disrm children in
this State. OF these cnly 2S,3t9 attend the rf;
mary schools, being little more than halt the
POO. children, and these only az an average OF
81 lays in .h- year. The amount expended lor
This partial instruction OF lhis bali bring $4,000
-lha; amount constituting he whole, 10 be ap-
prnprialed from The Literary Fund showing that
Tic present fund is wholly inadequate 10 educate
even The INDECENT children.
There arc ~ tn SAFE between the ages :! )
and - years, 20 4 10 white r.Iscas; @. whom
iT,5!i ONLY, were ~ The course Ct education, IN
1910, al all liz schools, colleges and academic,
in The Sat", in ujng the University. How
small The sum 10 hc expended in comparison with
The number 10 be taught, ilany general system be
al h1t shOut 10
devised, We believe every Virsinan upon a
view OF such statistics will be ready 10 admit
We cannot EXPECT great results without adequate
means The pcop'e mus, feel and know t,a j;
is necessary 10 submit - a moderate education
tax A small tax levied either upon property, or
upon persons in such proportions as shall be
deemed by the Legislature most Just, and accor-
dant with The rcaes 70 bs enjoyed hr each nd
vid1hl, an his ability 10 pay, wonld.be'snficienl.
w thont meaning 10 intimate that such prnc-
pie Of taxation would be the best thar could he
adopted we may suggest, b. way OF showing
how small would he TIE burden compared with
the great beet 10 be attained that lax Of twelve
and half cents upon each Tree white citizen Of
the STATE Wouh. produce The sEm al s92 GEL (
which, added 10 The income ofthe Literary Fund (
would be more than sufficient un'cr nc present (
system 10 educate all the INDECENT children in the
STATE.
Il would be worthy OF consideration, II we
could compute the amount annually paid by The
State Tor the punishment Of crime, consequent I
upon tha, state Of moral deoasement which is
ever the offspring Of ignorance; and then ascer
tain how much less il would require 10 introduce
intelligence and virtue. Il wonld be siecuia-
,on worthy Of deep attention, 10 estimate what
proportion o! the cost of supporting the poor
might be DISPENSED with, il those poor were
taught the means Of Obtaining an honest liveii-
hood II ne could tell ho. many millions igno-
rance an rice cost the State, We would then s's
the Importance Of educating every child vi hin
our territory.
We would lain hore, that me public mind is
now prepared 10 require The Legislature 10 adopt |
some system ID i,beraie The minds, strengthen me
ernlpiss ard cuilivale The moral and social viz