Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-09-25
lADw0A7gE@N0
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.


bly,, have appointed us Committee to promote,
as far as We can, the cause of Education in Vir-
ginia.--We propose 10 urge upon every friend OF
literature In the State TO lend the influence Of his
name, to give portion Of his time, to devote the
energies OF his mind, and to raise his animating
voice in behalf Of IA cause so noble, so worthy OF
every exertion.-We would speak, il we could,
In tones that would arouse the most apathetc to |
action. We would Impress upon all, that this is |
no ordinary subject to be thought Of once, and
then idly cast aside, but one upon which depend |
the destinies of Virginia. We know that there
are enduring blessings 20 be attained, but they
must be sought for eagerly in order to be gained.
We know that there are difficulties TO be encoun-
tered and that to obviate them requires the exer-
else Of caution, OF Judgment and experience-that
there are prejudces to overcome, conflicting views
to reconcie--the overweening love for long es-
tablished systems to contend with, and the de-
stroying fever of reckless innovation to reprove
and restrain. But, if the wise and the virtuous
will unite their cOunses and their energy, every
difficulty will vanish, and every good, which a
wise system can secure, will be fully developed
and dihused.> Every motive, every tie which
binds man to his fellow man, should cons,rain
the educated to devise a system Tor the ins,ruc-
ton OF all. Every feeling Of charity aud good
will TO others, prompts the humane and benevo-
lent to endeavOr to awaken the unetteIed to the
absolute necessity of intellectual and moral cult
walton. 1t is subject Of paramount importance
to the patriot, the phianthropist and the christian.
III there be any object upon which all may unite,
IL is the sacred cause of education. In such a
cause there ought to be no rivalry, save gene
rous emulation to accomplish the most for i'm
proving the ignorant and the unfortunate. There
ought to be no sectional feelings or prejudices-
no exclusiveness. A comprehensive desire to
open the fountains of knowledge, that all may
drink and be satisfied, should alone animate every
heart. Party strife and triumnhS should hp
banshed from theme like this. Think only of
the regeneration of Virginia. Think of the
means best adapted to remove the stain from her
proud escutcheon. Think of tina, ignorance
which pervades the land, and like desolating
pestience palsies its energies and forebodes de-
cay. Think Of the degradation of the man
"whose human frame is but a mechanical auto
maton." Think of the means to iniuse ga new
created sense within his SOUL" and make it wor-
thy to claim its kindred with eternity. There are
great common principles and views, which form
common ground on which all our people can u
mite. All may harmonic and cooperate in one
great system OF moral and intellectual culture.
1t may not be improbable TO enquire into the
condition OF Virginia, as connected with this inn
poTtant subject, and TO contrast her situation with
that OF some OF her sister States. In 1910, the
white population of Virginia was 74O,96S. That
OF Massachusetts was 729,O3O. There being but
little difference in the aggregate amount of white
PoPuidtoH vi TWO StdleS. ne NUMBER oil
those who cannot read and write in Virginia is
5S,767. In Massachusetts it is only 4,4l9. The
ratio of those who cannot read in Virginia to her
whole white population, is one to twelve and a
half. While that of Massachusetts is as | to
l64. In Massachusetts there are l6O,257 schol-
ars attending her primary schools. In Virginia
only 35,32l. In Massachusetts the number of
scholars at public charge is 1853, 1851. In Virgin
la, by the census of 1910, only 9,79l; by the re-
turns of the second Auditor for the last year, 2S-
1863.
In the State of Maine, with white population
OF 500 ,438, the ratio OF those who are unable to
read is as one to l54. The number of scholars
attending primary schools is l64, AT. The num-
Der at public charge is 6O,2l2, and the number
who cannot read is only 3,24l. In the State of
Connecticut, the ratio Of those who cannot read
to the white population is as one to 574. In Vir-
glnia, as before stated, it is one to l2i; in New
Hampshire, one in every 300; in New York, the
ratio is as one 10 So and fraction; in Pennsyl-
vania as one to 40 and fraction in Ohio as one
to AZ and a fraction. In Connecticut the number
who cannot read in the whole State is only 526.
In New York there are SOP 1867 scholars at her
primary schools in Pennsy lvania I79,9S9 i'm
Ohio 2l8,6U9; in Virginia, as before stated, only
2S,369.
BY the second Auditors last annual report it
appears that there So, l55 INDECENT children in
this State. OF these only % 1863 attend the pri.
mary SCHOOlS, DclilS Ilttle more tudn nail the
poor children, and these only at an average of SO
days in the year. The amount ex pended for this
partial instruction of this half being $4,000
that amount constituting the whole 10 be apprO-
priated from the Literary Fund, showing that the
present fund is wholly inadequate to educate even
the INDECENT children.
There are in the State between the ages of
and 20 years, 294, i6 white persons; of whom
47,5ll only, were in the course of education i'm
t.n cal.o.
in the State, including the University How
small the sum to be expended in comparison with
the number to be taught, if any general system
be adopted. That some general system should
be devised, we believe every Virginian upon
view of such statistics will be ready to admit
We cannot expect great results without adequate
means. The people must feel and know that it
is necessary 10 submit to moderate education
tax A small tax levied either upon property, or
upon persons, in snch proportions as shall be
deemed by the Legislature most just, and accor-
dant with the benefits to be enjoyed by each in
dividua', and his ability to pay, would be suIi-
Client. Without meaning to intimate that such
principle of taxation would be the best that could
be adopted, we may suggest, by way of showing
how small would be the burden compared with
the great object to be attained, that tax of I25
cents upon each free white citizen OF the State
would produce the SUN of S92 62I, which added
to the income of the Literary Fund, would be
more than sufficient under the present system to
educate all the INDECENT children in the State.
1t would be worthy OF consideration, if we
could compute the amount annually paid by the
State for the punishment of crime, consequent
upon that state of moral debasement which is
ever the offspring of ignorance, ard then ascer.
tain how much less it would require to introduce
intelligence and virtue. 1t would be a specula-
ton worthy of deep attention to estimate what
proportion of the cost of supporting the poor
might be dispensed with, if those poor were
taught the means of obtaining an honest liveli- !