Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-11

| Of education IS as strong, il not stronger here
than any where else in the Union, because sub
hitting to greater Inconvenience and EXPENSE il
order to be gratified. 1t is, indeed, in this yer,
| spirit OF our people for academica and COLLEGIATE
education, and the great relative extent to which
they have been able to acquire it, that we are L
look Tor main cause of that high intellectual
character which this Commonwealth has at al
tunes enjoyed. She has never wanted for the ac
tive and cultivated mind which her public or pro
iessionai departments required-has never sus
taiDed, as TO those, areproachful comparison will
The best OF her sister communities, and may i,
truth have been the less able, on this very &C
count, to realize the wrotched inferiorty of he
common education, or the deplorable degree tc
which it was impairing her highest capabilities
Realizihg it now, however, she would be the NOR,
wlltully and cruelty guilty, it she permitted the
spirit and advantages of her people upon this sub
ject to DO crushed and denied any longer. Only
consider that. of the &C 900 persons in this State
who are OF suitable age to be taught, that is
between u and l6, 10000 only are reported as
receiving any kind of education; and if The IL 600
and upwards OF these who are credited to the col
leges, academies and classical schools be deduct
ed, there will be left but $4,000 who are going to
common schools, and 100000 who appear TO be
going 20 no school whatsoever!
such state OF things in the midst Of a civiliza-
ton like ours, and above all, in the very heart o.!
liberty and Government like ours, is aLso-
iutely appalling and calls for redress with pow
er oil en'Ieaty. to which words can add nothing.
Let the fostering hand of the Government be en-
tended for this redress, and extended to those in
chiei VINO are most dependent and most in want.
In our case The first and controlling duty, as the
iac's presented demonstrate, is not to provide for
The highest grades Of scholarship so much as its
humDiest elements /; 1t is TO remodel our system
OF common education to such extent that we can
oher the alphabet of knowledge to all who will
receive 1T, and can at once from the desii-
ny Of unle,tered ignorance, the HELPLESS and nep
lected thousands of our youth, upon whom, if no
thing Is done, 1t will be fixed beyond remedy and
forever 1t cannot be that this patriotic duty will
he declined and evaded any longer and the great
body OF our people left to struggle as they have
struggled before. Here, at least it NAV be de-
that those who support all, defend all,
ana govern ALL should not, in addition to this be
expected TO suffer all. But If this is not 10 be so;
II the wrong and injury already done are to be
stopped IT the melancholy distinction Of sharing
an equality In uneducated population with sin
gle American rival is TO be etfaced and our abors
are hereafter TO elevate the mind which our neg
lect has done so much to crush if this is TO be
so, not an hour nor an energy which the Legis-
lature can command, should be lost, before this
work OF justice, hope and renovation shall have
been begun.
have submitted in former messages what
seemed to me the germ of suitable plan for the
accomplishment OF this work, and respectfully
reler TO 1t now as capable, in my Judgment of be-
ing successfully matured and applied. The plan
was, generally, to establish in each county, with
lhe consent OF a majority of its tax payers, free
schools Tor common education. TO rely for the
support OF these schools upon the quotas of the
present school fund, and upon such additional sum
as might be !ound necessary, TO be made up of
county and State taxes united in given proper
tlons.-Io place the schools wherever adop,ed
oy county vote, and all matters connected with
'heir location, accounts and management, under
county tribunals, and these, in turn under the SUI
PerVlsion OF some central and controlling head
ana 10 authorize each county TO renonnce the plan
alter having adopted it, should it wish to do so
ana In all cases whether the plan is accepted reject
ed or renounced, to continue the school quota 10
each county just as at present.
Without illustrating this plan by additional de-
TALL IL is perhaps enough to say of it, that, by
placing It's adoption in each county upon the ex-
press consent of its own taxpayers, YOU appeal
10 tnose VINO are most concerned in interest and
most Identified with each other in intercourse and
business, to decide whether il will suit them or
not; You enable each county, in case of its adop-
lion, to modify, adapt and mature it, according to
lis Judgment, and its own view of its local cir
and wants; you connect every citi-
zen, In some degree, with its management
make every tax payer sentinel upon its one
ration, and thus secure its ultimate efficiency
ane support by surrounding it with the largest pos
SlDie amount OF watchfuness, interest and aifec.
'oh' Nor is TINS all by supporting these schools
upon general fund, making them free from any
charge Tor tuition, you at once destroy those de-
SignatIons OF indulgence and charity, which have
kept SO many thousands in ignorance-yon brine
the rich and poor OF our people into closer con-
neXon with each other-diffuse kindlier and
healthier sympathy throughout the whole of So
ciety, and discourage, in their very embryo, all
youthiui tendencies to excluslveness and CASTE
Passing from these humber agencies for edu
cation to others Of higher and more expensive
KIND, ! should omit part of my dOty to the pub
tic, IL did not recommend to you the propriety
OF making an early and thorough enquiry into
the condition, management, and wants of the
University of the State. This institution is a
noble monument to the wisdom of its great foun
der, and TO the patriotism Of the Commonwealth.
and resting as II does upon the resources Of all for
the good OF all, it should be deficient in notlino
whatsoever, which is necessary 20 render il an
instrument OF the widest benefaction to the coun-
try at large. Whether it is already such. as far
as 1t can be made so, or whether il is possible TO
make it more capable for this end than i, is now.
by change OF organization or chance in
other respects, are enquiries Of the utmost inter
est TO the public, and well worthy Of all the care
anu N'Soi WIN whiCh lbey can De investigated
by your body. | commend the state of this in
situation, therefore, TO your special investigations
and that in the earnest hope that you may be able
to remove any and every obstacle that exists to
its increasing prosperity, and make it, in all
points OF usefulness, fully commensurate with
the expectations and wants of the public.
In relation to the other great interest TO which
have directed your atten,lon--that of Internal
lmprovement-it is connected with the ENDURING
power and prosperity OF this Commonwealth far
too vitality not TO merit and TO receive principal
share in your deliberations. Regarding it all
ways In this lIght-as having peculiar import