The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-24
To the Editor Of the Union

Permit me- through the columns Of your paper to call
the attention of the public to the claims Of California
ment in regard to education That that interesting por-
ton Of the western continent will be by treaty what II
now is by conquest part OF the United States, no one
sincerely doubts Destined as her future population is
TO take part in the government OF the Unionto affect
seriously for good or for evil, the affairs of what now
constitute the conederaton-no who has the good of
his country at heart wishes the welfare of humanity
al large look without anxiety upon the future moral
and intellectual position of the Pacific coast A
in the commercial intercourse of the world is about to
take date With a ship-cana across the isthmus of
Tehuantepec in the inevitable progress of the age,
must bcwith the settlement of the whole coast, from
Vancouvers island to the head of Lower California, with
great commercial depos Of San Francisco, of Pugets
Sound, and Monterey-who can doubt the great
ca change about to take place, the impulse that wealth
and enterprise about to receive, leading, if tempered
with equal increase in the facilities and practical ap-
plcaton OF the of education. equal change
in the social enjoyments OF the great family of and
racer We about to be brought into the neghborhood,
and almost into actual contact with the islands of the
Pacific, the continent of New Holland and the Chinese
coast. And who can calculate the vast influence are
to exert in raising in the intellectual moral and social
scale the millions to whom have hitherto beef CON-
parativey strangers 1t is the duty of the statesman,
teecua well as the political interests of the people
Unless the mind be well cutivaedhe blessings of edu
cation thoroughly difsed among the people-no repub
government be stable, form of civil polity
like blessing Let the people remain ignorant and
debased and the tendency is TO arsocratic monar
chical form OF government The only true and lasting
foundation of repubcanism is virtue and intelligence
Knowing, then, the political destiny Of California, and
the influence il to exert upon the business affairs of the
world how important it that with the establishment OF
our government there means should be taken TO insure
to its people the blessings OF education With this object
vew and for the purpose also, of cooperating with
scientific men and institutions in other parts OF the world
as far astronomy natural history &C., are concerned
natory steps have already been taken to establish, at
some eligible spot the Californian coast-doubtess
near the bay Of San Frapciscoa university on liberal
plan, which will eventually form the radiatng point
from which shall be sent forth the nvgoratng and en-
tightening beams of science and terature-the fountain
from which shall flow streams of intelligence to water
the whole country. As far astronomy is concerned
know Of spot more eligible desirable for an obser
vaory as starting point from which the natural history
of the country shall be learned Its geological features
examined, the San Francisco unryalled The valleys
of the Rio Sacramento and OF the Rio San Joaquin and
their numerous tributaries, destined yet to contain
vast population, descendants mostly of citizens of our
republic, who are already swarming there by thou
sands and settling upon those fertile streams To make
them vrtuous, useful and happy citizens, they must
be educated To be educated, they must have among
them the means, both pecuniary and mental-a school
from which teachers shall be sent forth, and means for
the support of schools. AS University, from which
teachers shall be sent forth into all this vast REGION what
eligible than the proposed AS the head OF an
Educational Regency, If such system should be deemed
advisable, and certainly WILL for that country possesses
nnumerabe advantages any better spot be selected
for its location any better time chosen give it life and
activity, than at the very moment OF the acquisition OF
that territory
1t is proposed at present. to make the system per-
lect-to establish there school having all the advan
tages and facilities Of eastern universities and col
leges That hardly be done at once the founda-
ton, however, must be land broad enough for the future
wants of the people A beginning should now be made
and as the country swes in wealth and population upon
the foundation LAID IN the commencement superstruc
ture should be erected, which shall be commensurate
with the growth Of the county. Those engaged in the
enterprise look to two for the means Of carrying
INTO operaon-o the donations of the wealthy and phi
lanthropc, and TO the general government To the first
no application ca be made till plan fully dgested,
organization formed. and full assurance OF final success
can be by those engaged Based upon the assump
ton that at the next session of the national legislature
California will belong by treaty to the United States, an