Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-19

DAILY WING
THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 10. is,S.
"DUTY OF AMERICAN WOMEN TO THEIF
COUNTRY


upon the subject which we have placed at the
head Of this article 1t is theme full of interest,
full Of Importance; and the author who does it
Justice, would deserve n statue among the bene-
factors Of mankind.
From the very slight glance which the Journal
gives at the contents of the work to which we al.
lude, we perceive that the gifted authoress, Miss
&. L. Bescher, lays much stress upon the impor
lance Of education to the welfare of a people, and
endeavors to show nv the census, that our coun'
try is rapidly approaching vortex OF ignorance,
in which our fee institutions will be ultimately
submerged. She states that in population OF
fourteen millions, we have one million OF adults
who cannot read. and two millions of children
without the benefit of schools In regard TO Viz
gina, she makes an erroneous statement. when
she saws that more than one half the adults of our
Commonwealth cannot write their names. Not
quite so bad as that, Miss Beecher, although, un.
less we adopt some efficient scheme of education,
such NAV soon be our ignominious condition.
She attributes to ignorance the frequent and out,
rageous violations of law, and makes a most STIR
ring and beautiful appeal to American women TO
apply what she considers the only corrective
educate the people.
If. after these reflections by so eminent an
authoress one of the cOarser sex may be per-
mitted to add few humble suggestions, upon
the Duty of American Women TO their country,
we would say, that that, as well as every other
duty, is comprised and best performed in the
quiet and faithful discharge of the domestic
relations. The world is the theatre for man to
act. 10 strive, 10 win himself n name, but HOME
is wOman's Empire, and her lowly foot stool ITS
throne, where, by submission she rules, and with
'meek majesty" wiclds the sceptre of love. Her
gentle hand muulds and humanizes the rousher
character of the other sex; her heart, ever sus.
ceptibe of good impressions, gives back with ge-
nerous bounty, yet almost unolservcd, the lessons
OF purity, virtue and peace, it has imbIbed from
Heaven. We know not but that we may utter n
heterodox opinion. when say, that 1t seems TO
us, when woman leaves this scene, when she
habitualiy occupies conspicuous place IN public
mlvements even for the advancement of gene
raj intelligence, or the reformation of mankind
from degrading vice, she loses her magic power,
and exposes robe Of heavenly whIteness to be
solled by ;he dust and impurity of earth Ii is in
our view one of the GROWING virtues OF Virgil
mia matrons, that, with shrinking modesty. they
do no, generally indulge in Obtrusi'e displays of
benevoence and charity, but have followed the
Apostolic Injunction TO be "stayers at home, and
there fulfil the true mission of woman; and
NAV point TO the result as one OF the proudest
proofs of the wisdom and success Of their course.
Look at the faults of Virginia. and We aver it
with honest pride, there is not one which affects
her moral character. Let the world laugh at her
bad roads, let it rail at her ignorance, let 1t Ieer at
her des ,lation. Bat let il point, if IT can, TO
race of men beneath the circuit of the sun, more
flithful to their pubic and private obligations,
more warm hearted, generous and true, more no
nest, honorable and upright in their social and
domestic relations These are virtues indispen-
sable TO human happiness and the perfection of
human characteristic absence of these could
never be compensated by great works Of improve.
ment and education these the proud mOnu-
ments Of womans virtues exercised at Home
We trust that we feel and have ever evnced as
lively an interest in the diffusion Of education as
any man or press in the Commonwealth. Not
for a moment would we blind our cy to the APP.
pallng Gestitution which prevails in Virginia.
Not for moment would retard the progress
oflhe light which ere long will break upon our
gloom, and chase away lis porentous shadows.
But we protest, here, at the threshold of our ef-
forts, We solcmnIy protest against the miserable
dcu5on that education, which, in its common
acceptaon, is the mere development aud dIsci.
pline Of the intellectual faculties, will prove the
great plnacea for all the Ills OF the State,-that
it will of itself secure the PerpetuIty Of insti.
tu,ions and the happiness OF our race. We have
no faith VA such doctrine. All experience proves
It to be false. We must educate the HEART,
FIRST foremost. above all other things; we must
teach IT to love and prlc sc truth, integrity, self.
sacrifice, justice, marcy and all the other virtues
of Christianity. This II the work Of Woman,
and HON, is the school where by example and
precept, she inculcatcs these essential principles.
La performing her duty to her children, she per-
forms her duty 10 her country. Aye we would
far sooner trust the blind instinct Of virtue to dis.
cover and pursue the right than the intellect Of
Bacon without the elements of goodness. She
who takes a single child and with days and nj hts
of weary care, with a mothers unceasing sollci.
tude, tolls to remove from its character every low,
selfish. unmany trait, and to infuse into its DO.
som love Of God, love of the Republic, love Of
man, gives the Commonwealth gem Of highest
value, which she may place with joy in the dia.
dem Of her glory and exclaim with pride, "Be.
hold my Jewell" That child will sustain her
best interests in peace with a single heart he
will be loyal citizen, vcnorator Of the law, a
true man; aud be found IN war, the first upon her
battle fields painting to avenge an insult to his
native land, and dying with the proud joy Of the
French soldier, who, giving up his bravo spirit IN
the lap Of victory. exclaimed with his last breath,
MY Mofherl Ny Country"
We do not, however, wish to dispaage Educa-
ton. We do homage to It, power. But let It
never be 81, .rated from Moral Culture. Let
them 60 forth, like twin angels, upon their enbas
~ Of knowledge and love. Let them occupy the
highest and hottest place in our Republican Tenn.
pie, and together guard, like unsleopng cherubm
the altar Of Freedom.
The highest compliment ever paidto American
women was from the pen Of De Tocquc, lie,