Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-17
From The Richmond JVLjo

Messrs. Editors:--l read AN article in the
Wing of Monday proposing new system of
Education. by Mr.. S. A. Jewctt. a teacher i'm
Richmond. The plan is certainly very beau
tiiul iii theory containing some philosophical
and most valuable conceptions" but il seems
to me, that neither IT nor any other plan ever
can succeed in Virginia, until we shall first
have gone 10 the root of the evil under which
we suffer, and there applied the proper RENE
DIV. What Is the cause OF the evil we com
plain OF, and how can ii be eilectually rcmov-
ed! are questions which every true lover of
Nirsinia ,ri4o- roioCs ner prosperity ana nap
piness more than his own dollars and cents,
ought now seriously and calmly to investigate.
Why is it so difficult To obtain well qualified
and efficient teachers throughout the country?
Because the population is too sparse 10 afford
such teachers an adequate compensation for
their services. This is the case in almost ev-
cry county of the State. The existence of
that scourge of guilty world, SLduery is Tie
true, the real the undeniable source. whence
sprin&. all the ignorance and much OF In. vice
and immortality which now unhappily aiilict
the State. You may sketch out the most adj
Inirable plan for educating the poor children
ever devised by the wit oil man. but You can
never reduce it to practice with the least
prospect OF success, as long as we cultivate
our lands with slaves, and bring them up to
trades, (Which ought To b. confined exclusive
~ to white citizens,) thus compelling our
people TO leave the State. and seek employ
ment elsewhere, or remain here and endure
the alternative, so Notifying and repugnant
TO the feelings OF iTecmen, OF being compelled
10 labor side by side, with the slave, and have
their services estimated by those of the slave.
Thousands of our young mechanics, Carpen
ters, BlacksmitAs, Bricklayers &c 1.-the bone
Ii, ,,l ia
annually leave Virginia and 90 to some OF the
free States of the West. Go to any county
in the State. particularly in Eastern Virginia,
and you will find nearly all the land worth
cultivating in possession of the slave holding
aristocracy," and almost every man has his
own Carpenter, Blacksmith, &c, from among
his own negroes. The poor boys, ii they arc
brought up to some hard working and respec-
table calling. must leave the State TO end EN-.
ploymcnt; they cannot afford To stay here and
work as cheap as the slave. who fares in tn,
Coarscst manner and is compelled to toll ia
the most inCcssaut and arluous manner under
pcnalCy NJ tlie lash, TO b. inflicted at the dis
cre,Ion of hrs master. Thousands of poo
families leave Virginia every year, principally
from the causes which have mentioned anr
b those who stay behind, are 50 scattered an,
! separated That il is next TO an impossibilty
10 reach them by any system OF Education
that eau be adopted. however " lse and libcrd
III its features. We have seen aCcOun.s of
great many public meetings held in the differ
cnt counties OF the State last summer. on ih
! subject of Education. Many llourishing an
high sounding Resolutions were adopted q
. these meetings. audan Education Convention
I has either already assembled or j. 20 ASSEMBLE
. in day or two, TO take into consideration
the dismacciul amount 81 Ignorance disclose
by the ccpsus OF 40, and ths best means q
diminishing it. Numbrress plans for don
This have been suggested. The Wing ia
= Tunes and Compiler, the Enquirer, aud th
News and Star. have made strong aud elOquen
appeals 10 the pfoplc--Cdlling upon them 4
instruct heir Representatives iouct vigorous
" and promptly ou the subject. at the presen
session OF the Legislature. But mark Mpssr.
Editors, thc predictions An these N seiing
T. and Resolutions, aud E.s1ys. will end h
smoke! Nothing viii b. dome to proinot
= The cause ol education, b'cuusr nothing ca
be agaiIaby done. until our people see . dis
position manifested 10 get rid Df the Slave
. which have tls effect, ikea dcadly pc,tilcncC
OF driving thc people 49, Tar oft a. they ca
i possibly get.
Tie excitement witch now prevails. will
!, in II little while, entirely ,ub~i,l,. and so
will see thi0gs move on Just as they hay
| done. until the nest CeusuS. when we slia
again begin to stir aud fuitcr Tor awhile.
But only awaken feeling On the subject {
Slavery which existed in 1882. and wlic
would have been productive Of so much goo,
but lOr The impairment interference Ol NOrl