Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-06

before The House, and The connection -
luton with other kindred propositions. = 80
not Influenced by any vain desire 10 Gonn e. ~.
name with The question Of education, pWt IL :
49,: 80 ~ 10 rel;eve The Commonwealth rom me
renroach which had been cast upon her, aia !"
which this House participated in a great uesiee.
Hc would be eratihed if any modification u =
resolution could be proposed, when "ou'u -
:, mors av,ilable and beneficial TO Inc ehtiie
State THE first inquiry 10 be maze was MI ~
rssncc; TO the condition OF the treasury; ~
report OF The Auditor shows, lha' 'heie - =, ~.
nroobable surplus in the Treasury on rne 60,
/ ifobcr next of Sl9l 900. The report ol ~ LII saIo
mit,ee on Finance states, that IL ,e snrnlns in
r,ave. be continued there will be a surplus IN
,he Treasurv on The lst Oct l947, OF SSio.ouo,
snd with 4 reduction OF ten per cent. IN me iaaes
,here ,yould be a Surplus OF 2I3,oU1 uollais.
tn ,monnt anpropriaied 10 the
I'D ;s ~ 600 dollars, which being deducted
60 an o0o dollars. leaves $4,000 dollars IN
.nnronria,ed. He did not advocate this measure
far The purpose of diverting the innas lohn nv
nal improvements. It was not usual lol ny e
State TO make direct APPROXIMATIONS ifu"t .ne
Treasury, and he would prefer Inc issue VI ola,e
, bonds for the purposes OF lnlernai improvement
should the surplus in the Treasury remain un-
annronria ed for the promotion OF Education, II
Wind. in all probability, be devoted 10 purposes IN
which The State was no, generally interested.
This resolution would provide Tor The diffusion
of these resources throughout the State, and, Ike
The genial current that circulates through Inc
human system, il would give life and vigor 10
every portion OF the body polite. lie would
next enquire into the condition OF the Literary
Fund. By reference 10 the report OF the Second
| Auditor, il appears that the total amount Of
available capital on tho 10Th September, lS4o,
was 81 ,52l, 500. The amount annually distribu,
led is 9O.Ot4 dollars. The amount appropriated
| 10 The primary schools during the last year was
10000 dollars. The number OF INDECENT chill
dren in the Stale is estimated al D ,UUU, only one
half Of whom receive any education whatever.
The amount OF the Literary Fund was wholly in
sufficient for the purposes Of education. The re-
norl. from The School Commissioners show that
he presenl system is becoming more popular
with The people, and that additional funds are
| alone required. in order 10 perfect II. The Com
missioners of Hanover say, that the sum OF
/ 300 dollars could be aGYantageously eX-
nended in that county. In the wealthy county
or Albemarle, they report ihat double HE
amount at present appropriated was fequico.
The commissioners Of Halifax mat
the Legislature contribute more Literally 10 the
cause Of education and devote less OF their time
"a The consideration Of Federal politics and meta
pbysical distractions. He hoped they mishtnol
have occasion again 10 renew this recommenda-
lion. The repofl Of The Education Convention
confirms the opinion that the present anountd de-
voted 10 urinary instruction was wholly INSULT
cient. The average cost in Massachusetts Tor
each pooI child educated in the country IS - ~
ner annum. In the city OF Boston 81 81. In
New York country schools So IS. In Pennsyl-
vania So as. The product OF 81 81 by oi,UCo
would be the amount required SOL ,2OU-
While there are many in each county VINO
under The present system Contribute no.
thing, if the appropriations were increas-
ed. they would have an additional induce
ment 10 make an ~eXertion 10 help themselves
The increase of the amount would not only edu-
cafe a larger number of children, but would en-
able them To employ teachers Of higher qualifica-
lions The influence would be also ielt by The
academies and colleges. The principal reason
nj The limited number OF students al the colleges
in The Stale. was 10 be found in The circumslanc
that so few have received an education qualifying
them for the higher Institutions OF Learning
The expense is thus rendered SO great that many
of orr citizens are compelled 10 send their sohs 10
The colleges OF other States, which are more nu-
merously attended. The University OF Virginia,
and William & Mary College, presenting aaVan,
,aoes not surpassed BY any institutions ~ 'e
Union. have al this time less than Two nun
dfed and fifty students; while they are caPa-
Bile of educating three times This number
With The number ofstudenls in the Northern Col
leees. they would be enabled TO bring thelf az,
yan,aees within Inc reach OF many now deprived
ofrhemm by their limited means. He was a friend
! of these institutions, and wished 10 extend more
widely their benign influences. Provision would
thus be made for the middle classes. VINO mad
heretofore been disregarded. The influence OF a
system OF primary schools upon society al large
was an important consideration. It's refining m
t. ...nar. ,ptnllt0pnnp ami mo-
rails OF a community was obvious. In proper.
lion asIyou build your schoolhouses, you will pull
down your prisons. If YOU enquire among Inc
~conyicts in your Penitenliary, yon Will nnd maj
pinstssn in twsnly can nsithor road nor write
| Intellect is an important element OF national
wealth il is Tie inventor of all Inventions, and
the discoverer OF every new uuih. IL IS ~
deed The most valuable system oil internal
improvements. II does not merely enable US
TO obtain gold from The earth. but il explores the
| rich ore OF The mind. Deep interest has been ielt
in this subject by the people throughout the Stale.
| This has been manifested by memorials, instruc-
| tons to their representatives, public meetings and
the late Education Convention. The Importance
! and necessity Of increasing the means Tor primary
education is shown by the number Of INDECENT
children, and the circumstance that l2O,OU0 Tree
white persons can neither read nor write. IL IS
an astounding fact, that in some secllons oil inns
| renowned and good old Commonwealth, iorty TWO
per cent. OF our white population, over twenty
years of age are unable to read the oracles
of their religion. He hoped The time was not far
distant when The odious cross mark, the last rem
nan, OF feudal barbarily, would be banished from
the Commonwealth. If this House intends doing
nothing for The cause of education, lei ii be known
TO the people at once, in order thalthey may speak
in more Ineligible language TO their representa-
,ives. Shall Inc ~reproach and degradation OF be-
ing the banner Stale OF Ignorance be longer hxed
upon Virginia by her Legislators Virginia once
the first Slate in the UniCn and the lawsiver 10
her sister States; The land Of Heroes and States
men. The noble mother of noble sons2 He called
the attention OF the House 10 his proposition, which
would afford the means OF carrying into effect any
plan that might be adopted, whether The District
School System or any other. 1t is not the inten-
ton OF the friends of the District School System.
10 force il upon the people OF any county. The
wealth and population of all The counties are not
| sufficient 10 authorize its adoption in every in
stance. Those counties will have The privilege OF
adopting il. 10 whom The system is adapted. The
action Of the Legislature at the present session,
would exert a powerful influence upon the future
success of education in The State. dc would IN
woke the aid of The Legislature, II not III the name
of Justice, al least in behalf of benevolencc. lie
would appeal TO them in The name OF the INDECENT
Il III III III tiG a. w A>NSbN 1900 800 -
rance and vice, and afford them the means OF be-
coming virluous and intelligent citizens.
Mr.. EDMUNDS moved 10 amend The said
resolution by adding thereto the following:
Resolred, That the Committee on Finance be
further instructed 10 provide in said bill, that The
amount appropriated in said bill shall be distri-
buted among the counties, towns and boroushso OF
this Commonwealth, in proportion 10 The taxes
paid into the Treasury from the counties, towns,
and boroughs respectively.
MI. BURWELL said he would mol enter al
large upon The discussion OF The question OF edn-
cation. but would make a few remarks upon The
amendment proposed 10 the resolution. The OBJ
iect Of the amendment was 10 embarrass The
question. He represented a county whose wealth
would en,itle it 10 a large distributive share, yet
he did not approve of the principle of The amend.
ment. The fund 10 be appropriated was a mere
sraluity 10 be distributed in The same manner
with the Literary Fund. The entire basis OF
i J;ctr;hpt;on ,ro,,ld he oh n ood hy the a amendment