Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-18
. VOICE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

mia CORES pondent Of the Washington union.
How long shall it be, before the same beautiful
moral picture shall be realized In our own Stale
Our Legislature will soon have an opportunity
of beginning the grand outline:
"Goy Skunk, and the Superintendent OF our
Common Schools, Hon. Jesse Miller, visited the
PRINCIPAL schools OF this city yesterday IN com.
pany with many of The friends OF the system OF
universal education, and several OF Tie uhicei'
of The board OF control and directors OF the uis-
,ricts. This visit was Of d most gratifying Kind
and the scholars proved themselves 10 DC 0! Inc
very highcs, character. | perceive, and re.
,oice TO know, that wdely-eXten and vigorous
movement is now making in Virginia-the good
Old Dcminion-in favor oil popular Education
a movement which promises 20 be most success
full, and which am glad TO learn, is indebted for
much Of The enthusiasm and energy with which
i, is carried on 10 that glorious and gl;ed repub-
ican, Governor McDowell-one OF The coun-
,rys most distinguished sons. God speed this
great cause! Governor Mcdowell and all those
who are engaged with him in furtherng il III the
State Of Virginia. are laying the foundation OF a
fame that will ouirc all The columns that could
be erected TO their memory. Governor VOL
who was the maS;er-spirt Of the cause OF educa-
lion in this Stale. has embalmed his name in The
anecliona,e remembrance Of a grateful posierty.
and democratic institution; his appeals 10 The Lee
sislalure and his manly and unialtering courage
in the face Of the worst OF obstacles, and against
the most powerful foes, will never, never be for
forgotten, unlil-if ever that day OF darkness
shall cume-lhe cause OF intelligence shall be
overwhelmed in The utter oblivion OF anarchy
and ignorance. And can there be nobler I'M
mortality 10 great mind than this2 Better Than
the success OF the conquerng hero Tor it is peace
full, and educes its consequences increasing with
every year into the distant recesses of The hidden
fuiure-beer than the riumphs OF The politician;
for the Toes which education overlhrowe are the
enemies Of the Stale, the enemies oil progress, the
enemies oil man. In Governor Skunk we have
man whose earliest efforts were connected with
public education, and the history OF whose polit-
cal life is nowhere more pleasant than when II
tells OF his devotion 10 our common schools. He
was schoolmastcr when he was but fifteen years
OF age; and although at that early and almost pri-
mitve period in our States history, schools were
of the most imperfect character, yet the seeds
then planted have produced in his mind the
strongest and most powerful devotion 10 The cause
OF popular intelligence. | wish some ofthose in
Virginia-for learn there are such-who are
opposing The great cause OF education, could
have been present yesterday al the common
schools of this CITY, visited BY the Governor and
the Secretary Of Stale, and those who accompa-
MED them; wish they could have seen The fine,
airy, spacious and comfortable choohOuses,
and, above and beyond all, the very high state OF
perfection at which The scholars have arrived
their extraordinary proficiency in the most diff
cult and the highest branches OF educaion-and
then have taken into view the important fact that
these schools (from the merely primary 10 the last
and principal department, the high school,) are
conducted upon purely democratic principles;
and that all the pupils occupy the same broad
platform; and are all equal and alike. Had they
heen present, and witnessed these things ! do not
care how cold auu indiAernn. th,y are-how mar.
row, or cold or contracted their hearls-they
must have been thrilled with JOY, and warmed and
elevated By the noble consciousness that all this
was one Of the consequences Of the blessed
form of government under which we live!-
The handsome buildings, the clean, Shining
faces" olthe children, their neat ant appropriate
dresses-the quickness and the ap.uess Of their
answers and in the higher departments of learn
scholars proved their proficiency-all this can
not be described The fact, TOO is douby impor-
liant that these schools are silently, and steadily,
and surely, recognizing our social sys,em-are
sending out, every day, into the gay and aristo-
cratic world by which we, in great cities, are ever
surrounded, the sons and daughters Of our honest
poor men, who carry their own letters OF intro
duction with them, in the shape OF complete and
thorough education-who 60 out, prepared to
wresie with the low prejudices and the contemp-
tible pride Of wealthy yet ignorant arislocracy-
and who, al last, must break them down utterly
and forever. And they will do 1.-THE race is no
longer doubtful one. And then lei us calculate
the effect which these schools produce upon the
productive and laborins classes themselves. The
son OF the mechanic who has passed the ordeal Of
the high school-in which there are now four
hundred scholars receiving the highest branches
Of edncaton-now goes ont into society educated
and accomplished. In most cases. he returns 10
his fathers home and learns trade; and thus he
assists in elevating and establishing The work
ingmen OF the country; he aids in making them
conscious of their power, and in teaching them
TO be prepared for the higher and nobler position
they are destined to assume.
As Governor Skunk entered the Northwestern
| School Yesterday morning, Tin The boys depart
ment,) Inc scholars rose and saluied him with the
. following song, sung with great and surprising
effect, and with much artistic skill, for they had
been we'll and thoroughly taught;
Hail 10 him who rules the Stale
TO whose labors early, late,
Common schools owe much their fate;
Hail and welcome here.
You have worked for us, and we
Could not but ungrateful be,
Did mol We say earnestly
Hail aud welcome here
Days long gone you watched the seed
And the feeble plant did lead
Upwards in lis hour of need
Then hail! and welcome here
And when wide the tree is spread,
May It's grateful shade be shed
On your loved and honored head
Then hail and welcome here
Then TO the Governor honor be,
He has worked lor US, and We
Now can sing right earnestly,
Hail! and welcome here.
The Governor was much affected, and passed
around among the lille fellows-bless their
souls land patted their heads and challed with