Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-31
MISSISSIPPI.

lature Of this State which was delivered Oh Inc ON
of January, is an able paper. 1t gives Halter
ing view of the State finances; recommends that
provision be made for The payment Of the Plant
ers' Bank bonds, and other public creditors; ur-
ses The importance OF railroad eastward 10 cor
meet the Mississippi with the Atlantic; calls al
en,ion to The projet for erecting leVee upon inc
Mississippi river, in order 10 protect 5Uo,oUU
acres of land now subject 10 inundaion; brings
forward propositions ior remedying The ineti'-
cheney of the militia SYSTEM dwells upon The Pas
evils OF banks and banking, and recommends an
| amendment 10 the Constitution forever prohioll-
ing the establishment of banks in The Stale; an
nounces, in feeling terms The death OF General
Jackson, al the same time advising that statue
Of him be placed in one OF the inches Of li!c ca.
pitol; and brings many local matters before The
Legislature. On The subject of Education, The
Governor is full and explicit. Besides an annual
appropriation Of $4,000 10 the Stale College, he
recommends donation Of $500 per annum each
10 Ten auxiliary academies; and he submits the
outlines OF Common School system.
The following general remarks apply as well
10 Virginia as they do to Mississippi;
The interesting subject of education has
enerossed large interest in the public mind Tor
some years past. II must be gratifying 10 The pa
| triot and philanlhropist 10 witness The unanimiiy
with which il has been espoused; and il the LIE.
eisa,ure responds, as it doubtless will, 10 The pre-
vailing public sentiment, The imperative command
of the constitution that SCHOOLS and the means OF
education shall forever be encouraged in this
/ ~ on unhppdpd
ledge, :" in the language OF The constitution, "being
necessary TO good government, The preservation
Of liberty. and the happiness of mankind" no ar
onmenls need be rasoried 10, 10 convince the rep
Tesen,a,yes of free people, that il is their duty 10
encourage lis general diffusion.
lei il be borne in mind, that the boys who are
now growing up too many Of them in igno-
rance and vice, must in very few years take
our places and become controllers OF our coun-
RVS destiny; and let not disguise from ourselves
the stubborn fact, that The ignorant and vicious
of these under our forms OF Government, must
be as potential at the bao, box, tor good or for
evil as the most learned and villuons; and !
am fully persuaded, we will employ oil The
means in our power to educate them-to direct
Them in the WAYS Of religion, morality and
knowledge" and thus quicken their devotion TO
their country.
Benefits are not priceless. II we expect to enjoy
blessings Of education, or transmit lis rultsto our
posterity, we must expect TO pay for them. 10
The great mass Of the people, this declaration will
neither be surprising or unacceptable. They DO
not expect knowledge and familiarity with the
inlricacies of government TO spring up sponlanc-
ously in the minds of their children good fruit
does not grow upon uncuivated grounds; hui as
thistles and other noxious weeds take possession
of an unploughed field, so do vice and wicked.
ness spring up in the mind which is not trained
to God and the country. Government gives pro-
lection 10 our lives, our liberty and our property
J bnt who shall give protection 10 Government il
, we neglect i'll fit be true, that 'the blessings
ofGovemment, like the dews OF Heaven descend
alike on the rich and the poor" il must be true
that The rich and poor are alike bound TO contri-
butte TO lis support.
We contribute annually TO the support Of all
the various departments of Government: 10 the
$ Legislative, the Judiciary and The Executive; We
contribute TO the erection OF prison houses ano
temples of Justice; we contribute 10 the sacred al
tar and its divine mnistraions, but TO that which
I, lies at the bottom of them ALL and without which
: the whole must become "as sounding brass anc
D tinkling cymbal," we contribute nothing.
, Education has many volares but few contri
:, butors What should we think OF man who
y had built ship and sent her upon distant AM
$ perilous sea, laden with rich and costly goods
a without insurance? Yet. have We erected Go
vernment loaded it with priceless Jewels OF libtr
, ", and cast il upon the uncertain element OF pc
! pular will, unlempered as yet, by The hallowint
influence Of cducation; and shall We sill refuse tt
a insure the safety otthat Government, by refusing
a to contribute to the only means thai can give
; safely-lhe education Of its people !, The rcl
: may say we have no interest in The education o
the poor There could be no greater or NOR
: fatal error. Pride, The love Of offspring lh'
ephemeral pleasure OF witnessing Inc bud ofyou'i
e and rpens into manhood, these teach The rich Il
: educate their own children, but the higher con
II sideraons Of patriolism-ihc holicr cause of re
{ lgon and nloraity-the pure and unstainet
love of human happiness, teach them 10 educate
. the poor.