The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-03-31
VERMONT.

/ i ne IOlOwino ndnuSoHe CoHPiehe"' "
the people Of Vermont is taken from the Bos-
ton Common School Journal, of Feb. 10, ed
tied by the Hon. Horace Mann, Secretary
of the Massachusetts Board of Education:
I'VE welcome our sister state OF Vermont
10 the honorable place she has taken among
the retormers o. education. Such move,
ment we had right TO expect, and, indeed
have long expected,-rather too long from
the intelligent yeomanry ofthat state. Be-
tween the agricultural population OF Vermont
and of Massachusetts, we believe there is
STRANGER resemblance Than between the same
class of people in my State in the Union.
Staid. sober, consttutonally strODg-bodied
and strong minded exemplary id conduct,
conservative in character,-raIher too cOnser
vative,-un thoroughly what they
pretend TO understand. with turn Of mind
that leads. to investig aiion and contemplation
of principles, rather than TO a knowledge Of
facls-it was at once certain that the people
of Vermont would eventually espouse the
cause of education, and quite as cetain that
they would not do il hastily. Hence, some
what painful delay. Bnt The funess of the
time has now come. With people Of their
cast of character, however, there is one COM
pensaton for the want of a quick reception
of ideas and prompt action upon them.
They move so considerably and surely, that,
rarely, if ever do they find it necessary TO
retrace their steps. Their temperament is
not of the inhamable brushwOod kind, easily
kindIed, flashing and expiring. On the con-
trary, it is more like a mine of anihi acite
coal, which ignites slowly and with extreme
difficulty; but, when once on fire, nothing
but universal deluge can put it out
"Able, ardent men have been at work in
that state to produce this glorious result
They have toiIed long and valianily, not
fainting under the heat and burden Of The
day. Among these it cannot be invidipus 10
mention the name of Thomas Ii. Palmer Of
Pittsford, long and favorably known to the
J friends of education throughout our whole
country, as the author OF a Prize Essay on
Education. entitled " The Teachers Man
ual.' Mr. Palmer has labored with the true
spirit of disciple in this great cause; we say
with the true spirit of a disciple, because a
disciple has infniie faith in The ultimate
achievement OF his object. not knowing indeed,
When it will come to pass, but working for il
with the same zeal and energy, although its
consumation is 10 be postponed for hundred
or for thousand years, as il he were 10 en-
Joy its triumphs, and TO be crowned with its
honors, the next day.
"All praise is aso due to the present gov
crnor of Vermont, His Excellency William |
Slade, for his perse, ering. sincere. and
efficient endeavors in behalf Of school reform.
He has been one Of The very few governors
in the Who'll Union. who has | rtily and earn
estly sought for an improvement in our COM
mon schools, and who has faithfully used
whatever influence his high official station |
had conferred upon him. TO promote The edu |
cation Of the people. There has been no
lack of babbie in executive messages about the |
blessings Unpopular education and the glory |
Of free and enlightened people. But, in
nine cases out of ten, if not in forty-nine out
of iifiv, it has been mere hollownesS and form {:
a con' eniional acknowledgement only of one
of the most sacred truths, and the most i'm
peraive or all duties. aud born TO live no
Hunger than the echo of the voice ihat uttered |
it. But Vermont has found in Governor
Sladc.-as Massachusetts has found in Gov
crnor Everett and Governor Briggs, hearty |
aud sincere friend 10 the cause of popular |
educaton;. one, who we believe. would have
been friend TO il if il had been unpopular,
nav. The more friendly according 10 The OK
tent Of its unpopulariiy.
heft the Office Of Governor. Such an ncum-
bent bestows more lustre upon the office
than the office can bestow uron him. To
aspire to the station Of Chief magistrate for
the sake Of show aud the parade that aper-
tain to it, can satisfy only the lightest and the
vanest minds. To attend TO the common
routine OF official duty, 10 confirm justices
Of the peace. 10 sign bills for the preservation
of plover and oysters. TO be one of three CO.
ordinate branches Of the government when il |
offers bouty upon the scalps Of foxes, or the |
heads Of crows, or levics war upon nOxious
vermin, can never satisfy the desires Of an
elevated soul. The man who fills that high |
station of public honor aud trust has moral as
well as official duties TO perform. lie should |
rejoice is his commanding station, because il
ausments his power Of doing good, OF ameli- |
Grating and renUvaiing the condition of soci- |
ETY.. of dispeliirs ignorance of multiplying |
the institutions OF charity, Of preventing the |
woes of intemrcrance. In receiving Office |
from others, a man shines only with Dor |
rowed light, which anv body or substance |
however shaped, may do; hut in using that |
Office for purpose al brnifcence, he shines |
with an unborowcd, eternal efIulgence of his |
own"
After given synorsin of the schoollaw OF
last session. aud extracts from DIR Eaion's |
excellent circular, Mr. Mann concluded as
follows:
I'VE rejoice with unspeakable joy, at this
accession Of Vermont 10 the Party of Ere |
eress. Rhode Island had already joined it,
When will New Hampshire and Maine wheel
into the ranks