Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-29
aSfe11Wroet0 Mmatetret.

The arts and embellishments OF social iiis a.. :.
yanced towards perfection. As knowieus ,he
mower, so every increase OF kroWieuse oS 60
ma OF The mass OF men that constitute 'he -
is a proportionate increase OF Inc caPac'' ~
,hat Stale or peopIe 10 hold their station anu
maintain their relative power 10 The ianily u
united communities. Ii would perhaps &c NV
much 10 say that the political ihn"ehce " 80
States has respectively advanced or re',al III
iionaIy in proportion, exactly, 10 NC o., :,
sion of Education in each OF thehi' =
: No, - he denied that the coincidence IS
remarkable, and how indeed should II NC guy ~
wise7 II thouoht-lhe power OF Teasonihs-.n
capacity 10 make external objects snoserVieh. -
our use and happiness, constitutes, IN idc' u's
difference between mind and natter -oe.m ,:'a
bru,es and men between baroarism anu eh ,A"
,ion. is il moi clear that that reasoning Po"ei
is dcyeoped the capacity 10 make 'iie mus =,
external circumstances IS augmen'eu, d.u -
moral and political force oil the community ~
which that development takes place IS enIaneeu'
Who can believe, for example, md, .nosa
would now be in The relation she STATUS, y a.o9
New York ia population and in TAR mahi"S
Do,rer for common government, ifil had been pos
sible so 10 diffuse the blessings oil Edncatioh As
thai every adult man in the State could reaa'
write. cypher and exercise his mental iacullies
with such power, as 10 be able TO understand inc
pripciples of The Constitutions OF The States ana
General Governments; the economical vaiue oi
GOOD roads The principles oil draining land lhe
philosophical uses and effects OF lime ana mar
and other manures; The mechanical prihciPies
involved in the use OF water power, ana the eou-
struction Of agricultural machinery ali u WIZ
mich, and oush, 10 be taught in every common
school?
Such knowledge so diffused, would be more
than equal 10 trpicaion Of the money capIial
OF The State, more honorable. more enduring,
more productive Of happiness, more conservative
Of liberty-but gentlemen, have adVered 10
these obvious points oil connection, between gene
"a | and well grounded education and the agncul.
tural prosperity and political power Of States,
onlv 10 explain how impossible il is, that any
man conducting an agricultural JouIhai, WHO
gives his heart 10 his duty, with honorap'e am
bilion 10 be usefnl-how impossible il IS, mat nc
as living al the bottom If all certain grown ana
lasting glory for a Republican Stale.
The friends Of education everywhere, ifor The
cause has catholic and lberalizing Influence
which regards neither secls nor sections,) have
seen with lively concern, the movements making
in Virginia, on this subject. Among the hum
bles, OF them, have watched her proceedings
for consider good system for the increase and
diffusion of knOwiedge as necessary 10 every
scheme for her improvement, as is sulid iounda.
ton 10 house thai is 10 stand against wind and
rain.
In my humble judgment, good normal school
al Richmond, or some other Town, The population
Of which might supply many of its pupils, is an
indispensable accompaniment OF any well d.
ycsled plan. BY normal, lmean school Tor The
instruction and preparation OF teachers for The
common schools.
never witnessed, or listened TO any moral e1-
hibion or lecture, that SO profoundly affected
me. as did casual visit, last Summer, 10 Inc
Normal School at Albany, in company with the
writer of The enclosed eIler-so deeply was
impressed with its tendency 10 elevate the intel
lectual character, and augment the productive ca
liabilities of any community enjoying It's bene-
frs. Ii your Stale could get the aid OF some
such crperieneed person as Mr.. RANDALL TO as
sist in drawing The working plan, and laying The
foundation OF her system OF free schools, she
would secure the advantage which always re-
suits from right beginning.
send you the letter in advance Of its appear
ance in the Farmers Library where il will be
accompanied with Professor fuckers tables ex-
hibiting the proportion OF "illerate persons" in
the several States, alt as bearing directly on their
agricultural and poi,ico-economical condition
and prospects. You may deem Them worthy Of
a place while your Legislature is in session.
There is nothing in this letter, or in the much
that has already appeared in the Farmers Libra
ry, on the subject of "Edneatioi IN prgenia,
that does not equally apply to the Caroinas,
Tennessee, Mississippi, and other western and
Southern States. J. S. SKINNER,
Editor Farmers Library.