Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-03-05
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS.


before ''the Common Council Of Boston" "on
the subject Of creating the office Of Superinten-
dent of Schools, )" from which we make below
a most beautiful extract and commend it not
only to the perusal but 10 the careful conside-
ration Of our readers.
Alas where are we ?-our State Education
! Convention has met and adjourned-and what
has been done for the cause OF Education In
Virginia. The Convention recommended
wise measures TO the Legislature, but our Leg
islators have turned away from the subject as
though it were not one worthy of their first and
lastconcern. Gov. Mcdowell, the late and dis
tinguished Chief Magistrate of this Common
wealth, urged the importance ofthe subject up
on the attention of the Legislature year after
year during his term--so did his immediate
predecessors in office, and what good has it
accomplished None The Legislature APP
pears dead TO the true interests of the people
and the glory and renown of the State.
There is one power which Virginia politi-
clans fear, and that is the vote Of the people at
the Polls--then we call upon the people to as
sert and put that power in force. Appeals to
the Legislature are vain--resolves of Conven-
tons are useless-let the subject of Common
Schools be made an issue at the polls--and our
Legislature be there instructed to act in obedi-
ence to the wishes of the people. Who doubts
the wishes of an Overwhelming majority of
the voters ofVirginiaupon this subject? Now
is the time for the people to act--there is a
comparative calm in the political strife of the
whole countrv--and the States of the Union
are most wisely and commercially engaged in
attending to theirown internal affairs. Virgin
ia is alive upon the subject, and though the
present Legislature has done nothing to adj
vance her glory and prosperity, yet we mus,
not be discouraged by defeat No, no rather
let us fix our determinations more strongly, and
battle on with undismayed hearts until wesuc-
coed in bringing the Legislature to terms
The dominion ofignorance must fall-the peo-
pie will not always bear with the injustice and
wrong inflicted on them by the Legislative
Power of the State Would to God! we
could hear their voice at the approaching cleo
ton. Is it too late to act we hope not-sever-
al Counties are making it the sole issue in the
canvass-why cannot the people throughout
Virginia speak outupon the subect2 Let the
Public Press in Virginia urge its importance
upon the people. Come brethren, here is q
common platform upon which we can all
stand and treason together" Oh! that we
could point the eye Of the Intelligent stran-
ger" TO the common Schools in Virginia ''as
the best Jewels in her crown" Oh that we
: could excaim ''the dawn of new day is red
dening the tops of the mountains--and that
higher yet may that light ascend, till its golden
shafts have pierced the deepest valleys ofigno.
rance and SIM" Alas we fear adeeper nigh,
is coming on--we fear the disappointment Of
; the people will settle down into fatal apathy
No, people of Virginia awake from yourslum
bers and act. 1.-THE Legislature are willing to
repose the beloved "old Commonwealth" upon
the bed Of her past renown-be We not content
to let her slumber there--wake her up--poini
her to a glorious future--remind her that 'the
tide of improvement is sweeping by herr
and tell her that now is the time "to launch
her bark upon the stream" We could notde-
sire richer boon for Virginia than to place
her House of Delegates and Senate for Nine
ty days under the Legislative action of body
of men like Mr.. Hiihard Here are his re-
marks-they refer to Boston--,hey are appll-
cable to Virginia He says
have spoken strongly in favor of this mea-
sure, because am convinced of its utility.
think that wise, laithfuland jealous superin-
tendent will give completeness and efficiency
to our system of school government. The
schools of Boston are the best jewels in her
crown. III were asked by an intelligent stran-
!, ger TO point out to him our most valued pos
sessions, would show to him-not our rail
roads, our warehouses. filed with the wealth
Of all the earth, our ships, our busy wharves
and marts, where the car OF commerce is ever
'thundering loud with her ten thousand
Wheels" but | would carry him to one of our
public schools, would show him its happy and
intelligent children, hushed into reverent ST.
lence at their teachers word, or humming over
their tasks with a sound like bees in June.
would tell him that here was the foundation on
which our material prosperity was reared, tina,
here Were the clements from which we con.
structed the State.
Here are the fountains from which flow those
streams whichm glad our land. The schools
ofBoston are dear to my heart Though lean
have no personal and immediate interest in
them though no child on earth calls me IA
Their; yet most gladly do | contribute to their
support, according to my substance i and when
, see fathers eyes filed with pleasant tears
as he hears the music of his child's voice link.
ed to some strain ofpoetry orburst ofeloquence
| lean sympathize in the feeling in which cannot
share May the blessing Of Heaven rest upon
our schools. They are an object worthy of al
efforts and sacrifices. We should leave moth
ing undone which may tend to make them
more excellent and useful. For this, we should
| gather into our own stores all the haryests o.
3 experience which have been reaped from othel
. soils. The present is an age of progress. The
claims of humanity are now beginning to bt
heard as they never were before. The move
menis in favor of Peace, of Anti-Slavery, o
Temperance, of Education, of Prison Discip
line, all spring from the same root--a sense O
sympathy and brotherhood. Is it too much t.
say that the dawn of new day is reddeninf
: the tops of the mountainsR Higher yet may
: that light ascend, till its golden shafts have
l,,,ar.ad ,ha JaaDaot ya1la,Ye If tr,ooear,a IN,