Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-18
Far The Enquirer.
POPULAR EDUCATION.


the subject OF insrucling and elevaiIn2 the mass
es, | have concluded TO give you my limited
views.
am glad 10 see an interest manies,ing itself
on this question; for think il is entitled 10 take
the lead OF all others. hope something will be
done, though the first essay may. accomplish lit
tie. And also hope, that none OF the friends of
The education movement will jeopardzc its sue
cess by attempting 100 much. They should all
bear in mind, that a great system of popular in
struction cannot be created in one winter. II
they but make the beginning at the coming SEES
sion of the Legislature by providing for The edu-
Gallon Of teachers and by agreeing upon some
general plan 10 be submitted 10 the people, |
shall be glad and say Amen for the present. The
movement once begun must go on: II cannot be
impeded.
A large majority OF The thinking men OF our
State, think highly ofthe importance ofhavine the
masses instructed. Indeed-it We except those
who have inherited and still hold on 10, in spite
Of The spirit Of the age, The feuda notions Of the
English aristocracy-I believe all are convinced
OF The utility OF knowledge and "book-learning"
TO every man, no matter how poor he may be, or
how hard he may have 10 Toll for his livelihood.
The great question is-not between The old feu-
DIAL spirit which lin9er, in The bosoms Of some Of
our citizens, and The more enlightened doctrines
of modern limes-bul whether this desired in
sruclion should be afforded 10 the people by the
Stale or not. Shall The people be lett 10 get what
schooling they can in their own way, and without
any concert or regularity, or shall the Stale pro-
vide The necessary schools? Now, Messrs Edi-
tors axe the ground, that duty well as policy
makes il incumbent upon The State 10 act in The
matter am one ollhose who would reduce the
functions oil government 10 the narIowest posi-
bic scope, and yet would have sovernmeEtexert
lis powers in The matter oil education. proceed
upon the assumption, that in this our day, when
art and science and invention are progressing
around us with almost the rapidly OF time, chan
ging The occupations and transferring the capital
OF men, the diffusion OF knowledge is necessary
To the advancement of the Stale. | proceed
upon the assumption OF our ioretalhers who
framed our Constitution, and who deemed
the enlightenment OF the people The main safe
guard oil our Republican form oil Government.
Now, when has il ever happened, that nation
was blessed with an educated population, unless
by the aid and interposlion OF Government IL
any instance has occurred, either in ancient or
modern times, | am not aware oil II. Some States
have become rich bul their Governments did not
care Tor the instruction. OF the people, and the
people never attained education. Spain and Por-
iuaal possessed al one time the treasures OF the
Western Hemisphere; but the people never stir
red 10 render education general. Your CORES
pendent "OatS' contends, that extensive trading
and commercial intercourse are necessary 10
make an educated nation. How does he ind
England with all her commercial greatness, her
compaclness of territory, her dense population
and her enormous wealih2 Where is The edu-
cation which her commerce foinens? Her Par
lament voting EGO 0G0 TO schools al the same time
that fS0000 were voted for The Queens stables
Tier Government does no. provide for popular in
slrucion. and her masses are and ever will be
sank in ignorance And believe, Messrs. Edl-
tors, the same thing of our own State. We shall
never have general instrnction-lt never VIII be-
come The fashion for every child 10 be sent &c
school and well taught until the enaclnents o
The Legislature shall have provided Tor IT. sla
very or no slavery, convention or no convention
internal improvements or no internal improve
men,s, there win never he general instruction
except as u statutory provision. ;.
am imposed @ the present system, III system
il can be called. II is an English ercrescence
which should be Topped off. II prelends 10 be q
,tupendous State charity. 1t draws The line he
tween the rich and the poor in cur schools; arc
! its effect is so slight in diminishing ignorance
i that il would be better To accumulate the income
OF the present capital Of the Literary Fund unit
the amount becomes considerable-beuer 10 wal
ill some new system is devised, than TO continu,
what is Ineffective.
The project which, has been Iput forth by MIR
LYONS has many good features; but have NJ
faith in the success OF any measure which is Il
be administered by our County Courts as is pro
posed by This scheme. Ii is difficult enough L
! collec, together q sufficient number OF Magis
lra,es 10 perform he duties now allotted 10 them
and, il this further business OF attending to Com
mon Schools is 10 be assigned 10 Them, prcdc
at once that they will not discharge il. Let II
moreover, he remembered, that Magistrates ar
usually men who have attained The age whe
.hey are not interested in having schools Tor thei
children. Many Of them are SO situated in re
gard 10 fortune, lha; The establishment or MONIES
adjustment Of public schools would not aztec
them i'll The least.
Lei rs not cnlrusl The destiny Of our schools
the tender mercies OF the County Courts; Blu
whatever taxation may be necessary, lei il be Il
We'd By men who are chosen by and responsible
TO The people.
Your correspondent, Oaiis, argues veh'
menly against allowing the interests Of Educatio
10 be preferred 10 those OF Internal improvement
To Judge by his writings one would suppose b
had caught the railway mania, which is no.
raging in England. II is easy 10 getup zeal Il
Internal Improvements, hecanse there are SO man
sectional and moneyed interests 10 De benehItee
But do any Of these Internal improvement
Schemes promise themselves 10 pay The piper +
Oh no! The common treasury OF me ola!e
looked 10 BY all, amid the general scramble
sectional interests. Has ever an appropriate
IL Tpta Inn Won mi
and tax levied TO naeel The debt in the same bill
on no. The Internal improvement appropria
tons are gotten up by borrowing, and The Who'll
Stale taxed 10 construct works often entirely sec
tional There is in most instances no conneylo
between the place where the money is collecte
from The people and that where il is expended
Not so with regard 10 Education taxes There
no borrowing, 10 be paid al another day. Iher
is no taking money from the people OF one county
10 be expended in another; no leryina OF money
10 be placed al the disposition OF an accidental, an
perhaps log-rollins majority in the Legislature
What is raised in neighsorhood is there e,
pended II goes 10 the teacher who must agar
raw itawav for Iccessaries among the very pee
ple who have contributed il for him. The tai
payer moi only knows what he pays, but he kno"
The specifc object for which il is paid. lie see
il extended al his door and he has voice 10 col
lrol lis proper and bOnn fde disposition.
Now what have been The results Of Intern;
Improvements, where they have been conslfucle
in this matter Of education? Certainly, raj
roads have not enlighlen ned the people OF Il
counties through which they pass-.and the Jane
River Canal has neither increased population M
put The people in a condition 10 become general
instructed. We do not hear of there being an
more schools in Hanover, and Louisa, and FIR
derrick, since railroads are made in them tina
before We fnd on the contrary, that the Peep
living on the railway lines are generally tho'
most opposed 10 the improvement. TIE peop
in the country have discovered, that The towl
and the extreme points are benefited by raj
roads, and not themselves. Tie people Of Il
liie-water counties are blessed with having Il
means of transporting their produce and carr
ing on commerce by means OF navisable rive
at their very doors; but the state of educate
amongst them is just as bad as it is in The her
med in regions OF the mountains. They COZ
plain about as much OF The precarious profits
their agriculture as do the Inhabitants beyond q
Blue Ridge. Let them all have education, If yt
would improve their condition and ensure The
prosperity am for dispensing knowledge hrst-