The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-11
USEFUL MISCELLANY.
!" Like the landscape to the view,
Ever charming, ever news

4 Like the landscape to the view,
Ever charming, ever new"
ARGUMENT FOR FREE SCHOOLS.
The following remarks are extracted from
those made by Prof , = Thompson, Of
Auburn, at the late Educational Convention
held at Albany:
Now it is evident from Observation and
the history of the world, that education il
its most comprehensive sense, the culture
of the intellectual and moral faculties o
the young, by storing the public mind with
knowledge, and training il to habits of self
government, temperance and virtue, has a
direct and potcertul tendency to diminish the
violation of law, and the perpetration OF
crime. Hence, every man in the commu-
nifty receives direct and palpable 6eneM by
the diffusion of education. lie has more
perfect security and enjoyment OF his prop
erty, his person, his life and his character,
which is dearer than life. Now, sir, for
this guaranty, this moral insurance Of his
possessions, his life and character, which
he receives from the better education Of the
whole body polite, maintain he is bound
TO pay, upon every principle Of justice, as
much as he is bound to pay for policy Of
insurance on his houses or ships against the
ravages Of fire and the storms Of the ocean.
Indeed, the fires and ravages Of incarnate
depravity, are oftentimes more to be dread
ed than the raging of the physical elements.
But there is another consideration in fa-
vor Of free schools, to which would brief
ly advert one, in which this calculating
age may perhaps be more sensibly felt than
argument Of right.
hold it would be a matter of pubHc
economy, as well as Of sound ,oisdom and
Justice for the State to establish free schools,
to send the benign influence Of education
like the SUMS light, into every village, and
hamlet, and family in the world.
1t has been already remarked, that the
history of the world shows that crime de-
creases in proportion as education is diffus-
ed. In like manner, history shows that
as ignorance prevails, and the appetites and
passions are suffered TO go unchecked by
the restraining and purifying power Of ed
ucation, transgressions and crimes increase
in duplicate rate.
Who, therefore, will not agree with me
in the position, that it would be matter Of
economy for the State to establish at once a
system of free schools If half this sum
were annually spent in diffusing knowledge
and virtue through the community, who
can tell how soon our jails would become
tenantless, and our court houses fall into
decay from disuse. And who would not
more cheerfully pay tax TO train up an i'm
mortal spirit in the way it should 60, than
to bring old transgressors to punishment
Who will not say, it is better policy and
sounder wisdom, to expend money to pre-
rent crime, than it is to punish it after it is
committed. Poor, poor indeed must be my
consolation after my house is burnt or the
character Of my child blasted for ever, or its
life destroyed-poor must be my consola-
ton to know that the villain who perpetra-
ted the deed is confined in prison, loaded
with shackles, or that he is about to expi-
ate his guilt upon the scafold. Sir, in this
case an ounce of prevention is worth thou
sand pounds Of cure. Again, therefore
ask, is it not most clearly matter of State
economy as DeH as ,cisdom and benerolcncc,
TO hrow open the acell-springs of education
and inuite all 10 drink freely Of its ,oaters 2
NTHITE LEAD AT MANUFACTURE
m unD