The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-06-01
CIRCULAR.
To the Friends Of Popular Education in
the United States.

You have already been a%pprized, through the
public press, of the existence of an association IL
the State of Ohio, for the promotion of Popular
Education, and Of the acceptance by the under
signed, OF an invitation 10 act as its agent Hav-
ing been engaged in thatservice for the last six
months, he deems it appropriate TO lay before
you the results, thus far, of his laborS, together
with an account of the origin, purpose and pres
eDt condition of the enterprise in which he is en-
gagged.
About two years ago, six gentlemen-fve Of
them residents of Cincinnati, Ohio,-associated
together by the name of The Central Committee
for promoting National Education" The great
destitutionS OF many parts of the country, in re-
gard 10 popular education, -iearfully increasing
with the unprecedented increase Of population,
especially in the new settlements-waS the mo
tive ofthe moment. The supplying as lar as
practicable, the destitute children OF the nation
with intellectual and moral training, through
competent and well qualified teachers, was its
object.
The enterprise embraces two branches of Ia
Dor. They are, LIST, To explore the more desti-
titute portions ofthe country, ascertain their wants
in regard to well qualified teachers, and secure
appropriate arrangements for their reception and
employment. I'd, To find competent teachers,
and obtain, through the ~liberaliiy Of the friends oil
education, the means of preparing, and sending
themto places which may be provided, and sus-
tanning the agencies necessary to carry forward
the whole movement
The undersigned has been engaged for the last
SIX months in both these fields OF labor, common
cling with the last, by visiting some oil the cities at
the East, for the purpose ofexplaining The char
ter and objects OF the enterprise, and raising funds
TO commenceit its perations, and thence proceeding
to the West, where, for obvious reasons, arising
from the rapidity of its increase, and the compar-
alive sparseness OF its population, the necessity
for special efforts in regard TO education, Is the
most urgent and pressing:
In the Eastern field ofhislaboT, the undersigned
was greatly encouraged by the ready apprecia-
ton. every where manifested, OF the importance
ofthe movement, and unequivocal Indications
(which substantial edT1eSts were given, OF dlspo-
sill IN 10 contribute literally 10 its support, when
the fields Of want should have been explored, and
the extent of the required aid should be better un-
derstood.
In the Western field there has beenfound equal
| announcement in the manifested conviction oil
men of intelligence, in every part OF II which The
undersigned has traversed, of the want OF special
efforts 10 extend to the masses the dement's oil edu-
cation. and of the adaptedness of the organization
in question, 10 render important aid IN accom-
plishing thai object.
properly the North West, the undersigned has
been INDUCED the privilege of addressing assem-
blies. on the subject Of his mission. in Columbus
and Cleveland, Ohio,-IndianaPolis and TerTe
Haute, Indiana,-Springfeld and Chicago, lin
nois.3Burfngton. ioway City and Blooming,
ton, in IOway,-Milwa ukie in Wisconsin, and
Kalamazoo and Detroit in Michigan-ln four oil
which places he had 0PpSrtunlImHIi; nO y; % aHd IL.
wsv and Gaining. to some extent, the ears ofthe
constituted guardians Of the interests o. educa-
,;on IN those States. For the uniform courtesy
and kindness with which, he has been received by
men OF all political parties, and all religious de-
nominations; the undersigned cannot refrain from