The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-01-13

States. But what is the state of facts which the
history OF little more than half century pre-
sents to the world This Union now consists of
twenty States. The original thirteen, 81
new free, and four slave States, formed out
OF the original territory of the United States
one new free and four slave States, formed
out OF territory acquired by treaty since the adop-
ton OF the Constitution, and one foreign slave
State admitted into the Union by Joint resolu-
ton OF Congress, making in all fourteen free and
fifteen slave States. During this progress OF
things, and the action of the federal government
which has reversed the relation of the free and
slave states in point of numbers, our southern
brethren have not failed to remind US of the north
that the general government has nothing to do
with the subject of slavery with slaves, and
that to touch either, in any of the districts or ter
ritories OF the United States would be papable
violation of the rights of the south.
The people ofthe free States have been taught
by the action of the National Government, invok-
ed by the south TO enlarge the limits and give Sc
curity to the institution OF slavery that that pow
er may be exerted to restrict its limits and abol-
lsh its existence in the districts and territories of
the United States, taking ere not to NEEDLE with
1t within the territory of State.
Must they continue foreuer to lend their aid to
the support of an institution, witch they believe
to be morally and politically wrong, and against
which the opinions OF mankind are concentrating
with the power OF gathering tempest
Is 1t not time for them to resolve calmly, but
firmly, that they cannot consent to the further
extension of slavery, or to the admission of anv
new slave State into this Union?
No evil could result from such a restriction
more pernlcious than from an opposite course
Massachusetts, acknowledges with gratitude the
Dement'S which she, in common with the other
States, has derived from the constitution and the
Union. She will continue to perform with scru-
pulous exactness all the obligations enioined up
on her by that constitution, and cling to the 10
ion with an undyng constancy and fidelity. Her
hand will never be raised to insert or drive the
wedge OF severance. But she cannot forget, and
ought not to forget, that, under Providence the
important element of her prosperity has been
the ceaseless, diversified and persevering indus
try of her population. To labor contrived bv
the heads and performed by the hands of her
freemen, under the control and influence of her
moral, religious and free institutions she mainly
owes her present character and standing among
the States of this confederacy.
On this she must RELY for her future veal and
success Our people regard all honest employ
ment as honorable, and look upon idleness among
the rich or the poor, the prolific parent of vice.
But labor, to be successful must be intelligent
whether standing at the anvil or following the
plough, bending the last or moving among
the machinery OF the cotton or wollen mill, in
the quiet retreats OF agriculture or in the mart of
commerce, whether toiling upon the land or up
on the sea, before the mast OF the merchantmen
or hurting the harpoon into the whale of this dis
tant Pacific; whether it is intellectual or physi-
cal, exerted in the field OF science or in the har-
vest held, employed in making the telescope in
the mechanics shop or using it in the Observable
ry, to measure the distance or to ascertain the
position OF the stars, to be successful it must be
directed by intelligence. The weIl-spring of
this intelligence is, and always must be found
for the great mass of our population, in the dis.
trict school house.
There form and direction are given to the charac-
ter OF the boys, who are to be the future men of
the Commonwealth, and to whose keeping will
be committed her future destiny.
cannot torbear opresent to your earnest con,
sideration, as | ave heretofore presented to the
consideration of your predecessors, the impor.
tant subject of popular education.
This subject should be ever present with the
people OF the Commonwealth, and with their
Legislature. Neither can they neglect it without
bringing just reproach upon themselves, and
doing injustice to the rising generation.
In the order OF Providence, to each succeeding
generation OF men is committed the education OF
the children. This is high and sacred duty.
No generation perform it but once. 1t can.
not be omitted without guilt
Among the ancient Spartans an old man. who
hou W INSTRUCT HIS sons In some useful
employment, was not entitled to receive the re-
spect of the young men of the State when he
came into their public assemblies Standing
among them with his head covered with gray
hair, no one was bound to rise and give him
seat. In the nineteenth century of the Christian
era, what demonstrations of reproach would be
too emphatic and whitening for the young men of
Massachusetts, to make towards an old man, who
as one OF her Legislators, had neglected to provide
for them the means OF instruction in the DAYS OF
their infancy and childhood Our predecessors
have not incurred the penalty of such a reproach
Colleges, academies and common schools, have
been cherished and nurtured by them from the
earliest period of their history. In this respect
Massachusetts, has always held respectable DO.
sition among her colonial nelghbors and with her
sister States Though she has been mindful of
her duty in this matter, much remains yet to be
done. Her whole duty will not be performed
until every child within her limits shall be made
to participate in the benefits and enjoy the bless
iDgs OF at least common school education The
number OF INDECENT foreigners who annually come
among US with their families, demand our special
attention 1t gives me pleasure to say, that every
year furnishes evidence that our system of edu-
cation is more and more diffusing its benefits and
advancing towards the object so much to be de-
sired.
The Abstract of the Massachusetts, School Re-
turns for the years 1916 and '46, printed under
the standing law OF the State, makes volume of