Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-07

Western Virginia. e., West Of The Blue Ridge
there were q, s33 indigent children, OF whom
l6C9s, or ST per cent. Ga larger proportion by 10
per cent. than in Eastern Fireinia,) were al
school" He appcnds labes 20 show, that there
are in Eastern Virginia twelve counties which
have less than oEe-lh.d OF their poor Children al
school, and in Western Virginia but six counties
in like condition; and that there are also IN the
former division eight counties with more Than
Two thirds taught, and in The latter ~ This is
plausible, all Of il; bn, a child may be taught
without being instructed, and the report ne speaks
OF, and which have before ne, gives both the
number OF scholars and The number OF days tut
ton they receive. As 10 The whole number OF
poor Children the estimate is reriectr vague and
unworthy attention; as in the FIRST i've or six
counties Of "Virsinian's list-ScO 100 sO', $50,
1900, &c. These accurate" statistics il they
have any foundation al ALL must be based on The
census
herewith give the same lists revised accord
ing 10 this view. "Virginian," By the way, makes
some orersiehis, ard our numbcrsdo not exactly
tally. Pocahunas county, for instance, nc rla-
ces in Eastern Virginia. In Western Virginia,
1887 poor children have 169, $40 DAYS OF school.
ing, and in The East, 1858 &c, S3i 249 days
averaging in The East g., and in The West SO
days 10 each pupil. From these numbers are
excluded the Eastern cities OF Richmond, Norfolk
and Petersburg which have SIS poor scholars
with an estimated (by myself tuition OF 10 coo
days. And inciuiing, ior the sake OF argument,
the total estimated nulatcr OF poor children, The
average Eumher ot days Of schooling given 10
each poor Child in The State, is, in the East "a,
and in The West -; ratio about the same as
that Oh the respective areas Of the two divisions.
As ii would be too much IN ask you, Messrs. Ed
n. mans
they are, give an abstract here, hut send the full
list, with this paper, 10 subslanlialc the general
conclusion. In the first mentioned twelve East
ern counties 1913 scholars have 81 $50 days iui-
liun averaging Il 10 each; and in Inc SIX West
ern cornirs placed hv "Virsiuian" in the same
category, lheie ale 191 chi.yIen who get 40 40
day, Of an average OF 80 10 each. These last
comprise some oil the most Mountainous and
thin.y settled portions Of The Slate-as, HARDY,
SnYih, GGcenbrier, &c. In like manner in his
nineteen counties Of The West the numbers are
7,l9i 10 31117,o93, an average OF 50 dayt; and in
the eight Eastern counlies PIP 10 1861, ave
raging 81 days. Among the nineteen named are
several OF tie most thiclly peopcd counties in
the Culnmonwealrh-as, Brooke, Frederick, llar-
rison. Monongalia and Shenandoah, where each
scholar gels I'll days iu.ion and. leaving out
these, the average OF The others is 4S days only.
There are 10 the West 200U more whites than in
the East.
INST draw TO a close, and can notice but a
few o'her Of "Virginians' Seldom. oppie-like ar
sumen;s. lie asks, How often has The com
plant been made, that Tie rates OF lransporta
ii, over them (our improved lines Of traffic! are
higher han whal;hc SANE transportation cost be-
fore those wo:ks were begun T. There are roads
without toll parallel 10 all these lines, and when
lie brings single Instance o. d Ion Of goods Tor
sahino railroad of canal, 10 go 10 marker over
common road, shall admit that his remark -
not quite insane Ills insnuaiion about the
"drones who need mol this institution" beg leave
10 fear say0urelh sharply Of demasoeuism. !
stop only 10 quote such miserable inuendoes as
follow: Looking il cold indifference and selfish
Incidence uron Ibis awful wreck Of humanity
and immortal souls. Il cal distinctions and
less worthy motives, ;" marrow minded pe:ty,
partizaaship," &C. Let the reader Judge
am not cne OF those who think that any onf
measure or lire oil policy however skiliully de-
signed o. enefgelicaly wrought out, can now
bring sa;eir - the helm ot our oil State, or
swerve her accelcratrg course from tie cold,
hoarse breakers OF pnl*.cal oblivion; bnt II there
be one thing which more han another, can be re-
lied on for the advancing OF her destiny, Indus
tia and moral, il is course which Will make
rs one, which viii raise our aspirations and de-
srcs, 81 the same time that j! raises our mean,
OF gratifying them; which will make our people
a. unit, moi separate integers, constellation, mol
independent Stars; which will extend one hand OF
Virginia for the never srndsel fiiial assistance
Of her giant daughters of the West, while The
other shall be grasped by her Northern sisters, in
whose veins lhrobs The Anglo.Saxun blocd 50 no
bly, and hopefully; which will prepare the peoples
minds Tor Educaion as we'll as Education for
their minds, instead Of spreading tie seed first and
the manure afterwards. Do This, and she may
not vel stand the Niobe Of nations" a "dull 81
Helena" 10 the mlds, d The living ocean, named
only rs The grave Of buried might and glory.
have not one wish adverse 10 Education
ii should Re assisted soon and fully as pfGe'i-
ratic; bal III il not elbow Internal Improvements
out Of The State favor; lie, moi the roof be built
before the foundation. Virginia has declined
more in population and power since 1890, than
ever in an equal period before, and within that
time there has been an almost total revolution IN
internal communication. The States North oi
her have al connected Inc East and Wcs'; mos
Of those South are sojoined BY nature. The time
of her greatest prosperity VS. when she had nc
Covernmen, Schools the people then ronld edu
cate themselves: she was not ihcn behind The age
Enoush-for myself circumstances enable ne
10 speak as disinieres,cdiy 3 perhaps any man
in ihe STATE. No, enc at The improve menls here
advvcatci, or which will mos, likely re acop'et
will pass within 60 miles OF my home. have
no inie-es, in any one on James river; ne"er saw
it in ms lie | give my thoughts for what they
are worth | humbly think they are founded in
truth I lno.c they are founded 10 sincer'tv;I
And Il, when a SUMMER day shall dawn onthe Old
Dominion, if
When the .ssmer's music thrills
To the hearts Of these lone hills,
one more loom shall click within her broad INNS
one more forge make The wilderness 10 blossom
as Inc rose-one plouehman smile over better-re-
warled ,oil-one cotage-inele light more happy
faces. or a single village bell peal one noe The
merrier, tor aush, may do or say, shall De
full content, as tar political Objects NAV sway
nv ambition, ever 10 remain W llS.
.Jnst IN. way Garrison and his eompsr's talk Does
s'vr7in,sn" want 10 assist BY edueaiIop, inc Si',oo-
immortal souls OF our slaves: