Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-18

eFary Fund, would BE- more than susilsieBt uaaef
the present system, TO educate all the indigent chill
dren 10 the State.
Il would be worthy & consideration, II we could
compute the amount annually paid by the Stale for
the punishment Of crime, consequent upon that
state Of moral debssement which ia ever the off
spring Of ignorance, and then ascertain how much
less II would require 20 introduce intelligence snd
yittue. Il would be speculation worthy u deep
attention to estimate what proportion Of the cost
Of supporting the poor might be dispensed With, if
those poor we're taught the means Of obtaining an
honest livelihood FIVE could tell how many mir
lions ignorance and vice cost the State, we would
then see the importance OF educating every child
within our territory.
We would fain hope thai the public mind Is now
prepared to require the Legislature to adopt some
system TO lberate the minds, strengthen The ener-
gies, and cultivate the moral and social virtues Of
our ignorant citizens Il is the duty Of government,
TO provide system Of education that will tend ITO
elevate the mss.es. pour Light upon their paths,
that they may find the ascending road to dignity
their toll, TO engbien their understandings, and
purify their hearts" Ofall the sources Of nation
al wealth, il may be safely affirmed that s'the mind,
the intellect OF the community, is not only the rich
est but that 1t is that which gives value, and riches,
and beauty, and convenience, and comfort, and re-
fnement TO every thing else" 1t deserves more
labor, cultivation and improvement than all the
other items Of public property in the statistics OF
nations wealth. Are we to leave the immense
number Of uneducaied children in this State to grow
10 with the fierce instincts OF their natures, or are
we 10 elevate them TO the condition of enlightened
and yiriuous citizensl Are we TO leave uneduca-
ted the mass Of females under twenty and lose for
ever the influence which they bring upon their Oh
springl How truly has it been said that THE ed
ucation of males is thrown awsy, II the nnholy lips
of ignorant, degraded and impure mothers breathe
their moral contamination the infant mind -
The individuals who compose the fountains of pub
lie action must be pure, Il We desire the stream OF
our civil and political progress TO be calm and
healthfu. The soul Of Republics is intelligent vir-
tue when this Departs the form Of Republican
Government may remain, but its liberty-breahng
influence ia gone.
We call upon our fellow-citizens to consider
these suggestions. Every man has influence in the
circle Of society in which he moves, let that nilu-
ence be exeried to the utmost. We invoke the aid
Of the Reverend Clergy. What a noble theme for
the pulpit. What noble aim to awaken in tel-
bowman the consciousness of his powers. What
bright achievement to give to thousands the ca
pacity to exercise those powers for their own i'm
proyement and the advantage of their country!-
How glorious to lead them onward to the accom-
plishmept of their own intellectual and moral des
tinyl
We call upon the Press--the powerful engine of
Liberty,--the handmaid Of Science, to lend US It's
thousand tongues reach the hearts of the People
who viii not give his hand and his heart TO this
great undertaking. Who will not aid in opening
tho doors of science, that those who now shut
out from all that's best and dearest on earth, may
enter her Noble portals and boldly assert their own
humanityi We must tear down the gloomy flag of
ignorance, and run up the bright banner OF knowl-
edge the emblem OF peace earth and good will
20 all mankind Who will not aid in heralding the
dawn of brighter and happier day for Virginia,
when she shall WELD the developed energies of all
her children, happy in their prosperity aid virtue,
formidable in power, and commanding respect and
admirutionl
There is no maxim more true than that knowl-
edge is power In Republican Government, then,
where the people are sovereign, how essential is il
that they should possess the Knowledge which al
ways gives its pos,essor proper ascendency !
Republican Governments are based upon the Prin'
cpIe that the people are capable OF selt-govern-
mspt. But the ignorant cannot control themselves,
and are unfit to govern others. While they con-
tinue debased by ignorance, they are but the insu
ments Of ntrig uing politicians and designing de-
magogues. From the peculiar organization OF mind.
must advance OF rerograde it cannot be station
ary, and the government whose foundation Is laid
in ignorance must osa It's influence, its power, it,
glory, must sink lower and lower, in the scale oil
nations until nothing ia left hut its ancient fame
and the shadow of It's former greatness, deepening
by contrast the shame of its deseneracy. Here.
then, is choice for the people,-isporanee Of in
telhgenee, light or darkness beauty or deto' NIFTY,
power or weakness, eNaNatiun or ueetaihtluh anu
decay. Something must be done speedily, TO ar
rest the State in her downhi course. new
spit must arouse the energy Of Virgina--s new
movement must urge her onward aud upward
That spirit must come from her people, and breathe
through her councils. That spirit must speak
with an eloquence appealing to every hope. 10
every fear, to ever! interest Of life, melting 10 oc-
ton, and warning of danger.
We are deeply impressed, Fellow Citizens, with
the difficulties with which are surrounded -
We know that our territory is extensive, that
much Of it is mountainous and rugged our popu-
lation, in many parts of tbs State is widely scat
tered; that our estates large, our streams I'm
brdged our roads sad-and perhaps, what is
worse than all the funds at the disposal of the
State are inadequate. The greater the difficulties
the greater the triumph iC we overcome them, the
greater the necessity for deIiberation and for con-
cert OF action.
The meeting. Of which the organs have
recon nended that a Convention of the wise and
the good, from every part of The State, should be
assembled to take this subject into consideration.
We invoke the aid of every intelligent mind to urge
upon the people the Importance of appointing del