The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-09-18

I Speaking of education, shall now ven
Iure 10 mention one radical defect in thu
present system of education; which is tht
J.. ennre neg lect OF that most important par
OF our nature, the affections. The intel,
! lect has TOO long been the sole subject o.
I culture, while the heart has been left 10 its
self and TO chance TO put forth the affect
ions. But this ought not so to be. Our
, maker has endowed US with high moral
capacities for some wise aud benefcent
cannot be considered as completed till the
m0ral, as well as the intellectual part of
our nature has been sui jected 10 a long,
aud tender culture. LIT the youthful
mind be trained in the love of all moral
excellence; dsinteresledness. charity,
readiness 10 slcr6cc our own selfish in-
terests in generous desire 10 promote the
happiness of others, a sober conviction
that virtue is the only good worth our be-
ing's end and aim and that the pursuits,
events, and interests of life are the nslru>
nsns designed by Providence for the de-
VeIopmenl eff all our powers.
With what conscious dignity and
seadIasiness of purpose the young aspi.
rant would enter upon the untIie6 scenes
OF this bHsy worI, not the slave of appe-
'ite, nor of god, but inspired with the lofty
sense Of The real character and purpose of
his pilgrimage here below! The prnci,
pies in which he he'd been educated would
not lead him 10 contemn the world, and
the things in it, but to form a more correct
estimate OF their real value, and TO use
them as the means, but not as The end of
happiness, or of happiness itself.
Much lhal is called naive depravtv 10
human nature, might be traced 10 defect
i've education. The heart, with is noble
capacity for good, affections that ally US to
Ia higher orde: Of beings. is suffered to
ron 10 waste. Let the culture Of The heart
aud mind 90 together, hand in hand, aud
vind'cale more emphaticaIIy their equal
ciams to L celestial origin. There are
thousands Of our most promising youth
from IA to q years Of aye, who, though
'ney may be kept emp|oyed 10 business,
but when The days work is completed are
freed from all further restraint, aud suffer
I'd to roam abroad aud associate with the
vile, who, when collected together are ev-
ct ready TO join in any rioling which
promises sport, and are found assembled
N clubs around our groggeriea, praciicing
insult and indecences on age and iuirmi.
ty. These facts show conclusively that
It is not suificlent for Parents, or Masters
10 teach those under their care 10 merely
read and write, or learn trade; this is
but commencement Of course of edu.
cation; but it is also their bounden duty
10 see that their mental faculties are no!
neg iecltd, aud that their minds are stored
with wholesome truth, upon which their
happiness and usefulness depends and the
perpeuity Of our Republican Institutions
are to be preserved.
We have a large class among US, just
abou, entering upon the duties and priv
Ieges OF men and cizeas, and into whose
hands, to a great extent, will rest the fu.
ture government OF our country, and who
are at present receiving but poor educa-
lion TO fit them TO fulfil the important sta,
ions they may be called to fill. 1t is
his hIy important consideration, that on the
moral character Of this people, depends the
salty Of our Government and Institutions.
What is the security that our poIitcal
rights aud privileges, and the form of our
Republican Institutions will be preserved,
strudast and nviolAte? Every thing de-
peuds 90 the Willingness of the people TO
sustain hoge ins,iiotons, and :his will resi-
on mo,aI principles alone, II the time
shall ever come, when the mass Of the
people shall suffer themselves to be sway
ed by n.ercenary motives; when for the
sake of serving some selfish end, they
shall be wiling to see the fundamental
laws of the hud violated, and to see their
rulers transcend their delegated powers,
aud Legislators enact fraud and oppres.
sion, there will then be no human help for
, them. A pervading healthy morality is