Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-02-27
EDUCATION.


some few DAYS before the adjournment OF the Legss-
he Senior Editor OF this paper the belief Of
Importance that human being could object it, aud that
1t would be acceptable citizen, framed the follow
| ing petition to the General Assembly which sub
erbed by $50 firms and citizens and presented the House
OF Delegates by the Representative OF this city, Mr. Daniel:
To the House Of Delegates Of Virginia,
Gentlemen: The undersigned, citizens Richmond
respectfully your honorable body that,
they presume with all vnians who feel and ough,
- feel oi degradation the decline Of diiused
Information in tue Commonwealth, they take deep ine.
the subject OF popular Education They are are
OF the great difficulties which surround the subject aud Of
the little time the General Assembly has. com.
pass OF ordinary session, devote the digestion
Of adequate SYSTEM In Of this, their wish To
call Education ConpeHOH 10 assemble in the
the approaching summer, whom the whole great and
vital interest Of popular Education may be submitted
collect information, compare plans and IDEAS and
system for practical use hereafter shall be ap
proved by the People and the Legislature and facilitate
their object they ask of your honorable body adopt the
following resolutions, reconmendaory OF that measure,
convinced TIA, the People Virginia promptly accede
to The CALL when approved by their representatives here
By The General Assembly of Tnsinis:
lst Resolved, That he recommended To- the People
Virginia assemble. ia Convention the ensuing summer
at Richmond, Lynchburg, Lexington, Charlottesville, or
Staunion 10 consider OF tie best means OF promoting ge-
ners education.
ID Resolved. That be recommended the People at
Their APnl t-cuis 70 choose members oi the Con
yeniion each county and sending the number that
they are e"tted To delegates an the popular branch Of the
| Legislature.
81 Resolved That each Religious denomination be re-
qaes,ed to depute Cergymen from body TO attend
said Convention Ia capacity Of members.
4th. Resolved That each College Virginia request
ed dePuie IN like manner, and iof like purpose Of
| its Professors
And your petitioners will ever pray &c"
Alter some discussion. the petition rejected 10y
Of 10 80. The point Of objection doe. not appear
IN the sketch Of the debate but 1T understood 10 have
been that the Clergy OF the
we're invited 10 bear part IN it, laborsabor- congo.
NAL lie presumed with their duties tastes and Dur
suits and which they cinncnty qualified Tor ought
To bel above other classes Of the community for dscharg
ing wisely and efficiently. This take IL for granted
was but the soHSiL objection the objection was the
implied lection upon the Legislature of Virsnia itself
the ErGuEE felt to be deserved II it nrcnded-for
having after year utterly neglected s impeous duty
until Virginia had became from the first the very State
in the Union IN point Of popular educaton-or squaner
iny annually large IN long aud utterly worthless
Sons IN ncessani wranglnss about the tes aud
eternal bnbLiug about State Rights and Federal Relations
They reminded 10y portion of the People Of their
duty the People, and y resented the act NJ an infringe
Of their dignity for all tho People do not know what
know very well, that member here - very different
peronage sometimes. from supple aud supplan, condi.
date at home, when the election yet pending
What te Fredericksburg Recorder says ia reference 10
this natter has recalled attention tn IT, and we have
thus briefly sketched ~ history We throw the p,o,t be-
fore the country for it, consideration The Peopie can
~ into Eject 0A0ut the Of their
wants and ~ despite Of their opposition That reconmen.
daon only invited attention to the subject
No appropriation OF money asked any thing which
Vicufive Of principle could 10y possibility be bur
| thensome % the State
Ii obvious that It Is bv such mode only that the
claims Of education the proper attention
IN Virginia. II j. vain expect any thing from the Gen
era Assembly. That body has tie time OF s annual
session,h has not the inoIoson has the capacity
OF obOrious investigation lit has the right sort of ia
Ishis Tor work 81 this nsuretho dug. me an Of
system II primary and scientific education. There rnus
be pioneers IN the labOrnnds capable Of
the defects OF the present system, aud informed enough
supply them, by drawing upon the experience Of other
tries, Of Scotland, Switzerland Prussia and New England
Convention OF enlightened men, ndrng all par
hes, al classes and all Religious denominations convened
alone by patriotic spirit aud unnnuenced by any other
motive than the honor Of Virginia. and the 81
the human race, while the enlightened suggestions
nigh, be anticipated from Deliberations would command
legislative attention and action. II would be coal of fro
on the Teuapn's back, which would compel motion in
despite Of inherent uggishnes5.
That The mode Of constituting the Convention uggesied
IN tho Memorial, - the best, from presuing To
| contend: But know OF no better II = better can
he devised, shall promptly accede 10 IT, and earnest
y sn'i"in iiand invite tho consideration u the
whole country to the subject, and shall be happy ia
receive any suggestions from any quarter, which will
| IMPROVE the plan. We hope the Public Press Of al
parties and IN all quarters Of tho State will unite in
laying the above memorial before the country that il
may pass under tho oye aud receive tho attention. o
al The People Upon this great question at least par
Ties onn meet IN peace and fraternity and sacrifice upon
TIE altar Of country
That the present mode Of Primary Schools is utterly
'n'ic'ent--not TO say han uselcss-and that by
w. large suns ~ money annually wasted, which,
properly applied, would educate 20 certain point all The
Pe'' Is sufficiently proclaimed by the results Of il,
working VEoiTs has notprougy rotrogroded under IL
operation There j. ess diffusion Of education now t,,n
At any iormor period u our history-loss than under
'he Colonial GDvcfnmontand the rcroyradlon j. con.
SANITY on tlo advance. YRsiuA now has the largest
aggregate Il white people who neither write nor
read OF any STATE in the Unon-arger than any Pro-
'esant community in Chrislendomi Aud tho ratio Is
| still on the Increase
u this fact do not touch tho pride Of Vrginiau~ and
come home {, their patriotism ii IL do not rebuke the
grannyisn Of our legislation, and determine the People
I" require ehsnge-ihen any Thing could soy would