Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-02-12

| The resolution offered some weeks ago ny
! DIR. YERBY. of Accomac County, instTuc6ng
the Committee on Finance of the House of
Delegates to report Bill approprlaung One
! Hundred Thousand Dollars annually to the
support of Primary Schools throughout the
State, from the State Treasury, came up as the
order Of the day on the 4th inst, when the mo-
yer withdrew it and submitted the following:
Resolred, That the Committee on Finance
be instructed to report bill appropriating Fiji
| ty Thousand Dollars annually in certificates OF
State debt bearing six per cent interest to be
applied to the increase of the permanent capl-
tai of the Literary Fund, and setting apart from
the surplus in the Treasury, on the LIST OF Dc
tober 1876, and annually thereafter, after de
| fraying the current expenses of the Govern
ment, the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, to
be applied, in addition to the appropriations
heretofore made by law from the Literary
Fund, to the support of Primary Schools.
This resolution was supported by DIR. YER
BY in an able speech, and although the resolu-
ten does not provide for the establishment and
maintenance of such a system of Primary
School Education as the wants Of the people
require, yet it lays good foundation stone
upon which we hope at some not far distant
day to see such a system erected as will carry
the light of truth. virtue and knowledge into
the home of every poor and INDECENT child in
the State. DR.. YERBy deserves the thanks Of
the friends of Education throughout the State
for his earnest and invaluable exertions in the
great and glorious cause of redeeming Virgin
ia from the odium of being ''the banner State
Of ignorance" There are thousands of poor
and INDECENT children in the State, who will be
rescued by his exertions "from ignorance and
vice." and who will yet learn to reverence his
name as a benefactor Of his race. Weshould
be pleased to have it in our power (if the peo-
pie are ever allowed the privilege directly of
choosing their own Governor to advocate the
election of DIR. YERBY to the office of Chief
Executive of the Commonwealth. The con
Guiding remarks of his speech show him to be
/ both sound-headed and ACKNOWLEDGMENT states
man. Here they are-read them -
The influence ola system of primary schools
upon society at large was an important con-
sideraton. Its refining influence upon the
manners, intelligence and morals of commu-
nifty was obvious. In proportion as you build
your school-houses, you viii pull down your
prisons. If you enquire among the conyicts
of your Penitentiary, you will find that nine
teen in twenty can neither read nor write
Intellect is an important element of national
wealth il is the inventor of all inventions,
and the discoverer Of every new truth. 1t is
indeed the most valuable system of internal
Improvements. 1t does not merely enable us
TO obtain gold from the earth, but it explores
the rich ore of the mind. Deep interest has
been felt in this subject by the people through
out the State. This has been manifested by
memorials, instructions to their representatives,
public meetings and the late Editorial Conven-
ton. The importance and necessity OF IN
creasing the means for primary education is
shown by the number of INDECENT children,
and the circumstance that 10000 free white
persons can neither read nor WRITE It's an
astounding fact, that in some sections Of this
renowned and good old Commonwealth, forty
two per cent. Of our white population, over
twenty years of age are unable TO read the or
acles Of their religion. He hoped the time wa'
mot far distant when the odious cross mark
! the last remnant Of teudal barbarity, would b.
baniShed from the Commonwealth. II thr