The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-03-28
AN ADDR h SIS,


i Published a'req,test ofHe ,4ssoclatloH. rH.
Concluded. ,.t.rr
Secondly. Another benefit ofsound edu-
cation, will be the promotion of thnt equality
among the people which under Our form of
government ia so desirable. We profess to
believe that all are born free aud eg,ta'. We
discard all fictitious distinctions, aud titles
ofbonor. The rich and the poor stand on
the same level, both alike may participate in
the affairs of government,and share the same
rights and privileges.
Nothing so powerfully tends to preserve
this equality, aud promote free intercourse
and good feeling between the rich and the
poor ns n good system of common schools. In
oar schools the children of the rich aud poor
meet on II level, mingle together in their stud
lbs aud pnstime, free from envy or jealousy,
md lay the foundation of those attachments,
which ms they grow up, form the strongest
] n'ls of society. But TO secure this desirable
result we must have gO0i common schools. In
the language ofanother, good enough for the
richest and cheap enough for the poorest.
The sure effect ofleaving our schools TO
anguish, as they do, will he, n separation be-
tween the children ofthe rich and the poor;
the former will be Withdrawn from the com
mon school, aud placed in private schools or
Academies. Men ofintelligcncc and wealth
will see that their children are furnished with
Inc means Oh cuutNtiOlS anu ~ 'iip Np'i'ip'
schools do not afford them they will be taught
elsewhere. This would BIO nm incalculable
injury to our common school interest, and ac-
velerate their downward tendency. every
thing human tends to degenerate, and no sys-
tom ofpublic instruction, however perfect can
he sustained in vigor and excellence, but by
umremtting care and vigilance" II demands
the united effort OF rich aud poor. Neglect
the schools and nvidious distinctions viii
Vl,,., oil n
south New England has a population less
by some three hundred thousand than Virgin
ie and the Carolinas aud yet New England
has nine times as many scholars in the COM
anon schools, and only little more than twice
as many in college. Ofall the scholars in
Virginia and the Caroiinns, one it three IS il'
coHegc The higher classes have all the ad-
vantages ofthe highest institutions while the
poor arc destitute of any. OF one hundred
and sXty-siX thousand in Virginia who ought
to be in school, only f0rty-siX thousand are
receiving apyinstruction, and twelve thou
sand Of those are in private schools and col
leqes Only thirty-four thousand attend
common schools. while ono hundred and
twenty thousand attend no school. OF four
thousand six hundred and fourteen males
who took out marriage licenses in lc37, only
len hundred aud forty seven could write their
names, less than one fourth, and n still great |
From late message ofthc governor of that
state it appears that more than one fourth of
the white male adult population OF the state
nre unable to read aud write; and one mn OF |
the white families are so extremely poor as
10 be unable to contribute dnJ,hmg toward
the education of their children. And the
governor, like an enlightened statesman and
philunthropist, strongly urges upon the leSiS-
ltire the adoption of measures TO promote
the education Of tic common people. This
state of things has grown upon thetn IN spite
OF the early and earnest endeayorS OF her own
sons who have been all honor IN their state "
nation, .-Washington Madison and Jctftr-
son. all orwhom were the earnest advocates
of thorough aud universal common school
instruction.
With all her ignorance Virginia Is far in
advance of SOM other states in rhc union in
point orintelligeuce. And we ought TO feel
ourselves called upon by the popular igno-
rance that abouuds in other portions Of our
land TO seek 10 counteract its tendency, by
the promotion of more sound and general cd
ucntion ofour own children.
Thirdly. Another benefit to conmunlty,oi
sound education, is its tendency to promote
virtue aud diminish crime
Education in that comprehensive sense
we have considered, does tend 10 check and
rcpulse mans lower propeusites, and devel-
one and strengthen his better nature. II tends
t. form and siren gtten good hahts; habits oil
reflection, selfcoutrol, industry, puncnaty,
order and neatness, and all those, if not IN
Themselves virtues, are promoters OF virtue
The we'll educated mind has been taught the
grounds of nloral obligation, To pay Difference
TO are and station, full respect for authority
aud re gard for iatc.3 So that we might sup
pose beforehand, that those vices and crimes
which disgrace society, would diminish with
the promotion of sound education: and facts
Justify the supposition. We will hear give
few facts which we have collected from va
rious authors and publications.
In Scotland, about A. ID. 100, before pa
rochial schools were established, and educa-
ton ,tle universal, Fletcher says,''two h I'M
dred thousand Migrants roamed over the land,
living by pilIage & beggary, having no regard
for the laws ofthe land, or even those of God
or nature. In years ofplenty he says, many
thousands meet together in the mountains
when they feast and riot for many days; and
mt country weddings, markets ana burlais,
they are to be seen both men and women,
perpetually drunk, cursing; disappearing and
fighting together" How different from a
true picture of Scottish life now! In less than
half century from that time, common schools
had softened that savage race; ana IN less
than q century, had transformed them INTO
the most moral and orderly people IN Europe.
There are no poor rates in Scotland now and
very few beggars. The wages oflabor main
tain the laboring classes. similar change
has more recently been effected in Prussia,
and by similar means. They have now an
excellent system of common schools, aud the
nation is largely reaping its benefits.
After the present system had been III oper-
alton fourteen years, lin which time the pop
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