The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-02
Communicated
tommhnicaied
To tie Friends of Education In the Southern States

Communicated
To the Friends Education N the Southern States
great educational movement, having for lis Object
the early and thorough elementary instruction of The
young IN all those branches conducive TO practical utility
and individual and social well-belng Is now progress
at the North, the East and the West under ausDces
emnenty favorable to It's full success The enlightened
ree-school system of Massachusetts, system which
has been operation for nearly centures-has dis
lensed the invaluable blessings OF good education over
every section of that ancient Commonwealth; while the
ample funds set apart for that purpose in Connecticut
and exclusively appropriated To the purposes of public
instruction. has effected similar state of things within
her borders Rhode Island Maine, Vermont, and New
Hampshire have recently organized systems of common.
school education abundantly adequate to the wants of
their respective population and New Jersey has taken
her station side by side with them, IN an energetic effort
to place the of intellectual and moral culture with
in the reach and at the command OF every child OF the
State. The admirable organization and complete eff.
cheney OF the New York system has already brought into
her eleven thousand district schools upwards OF seven
hundred and fifty thousand OF her children, and the
number is annually increasing IN ihe average ratio of
more than twenty thousand IN each year OF its stately
and benefcent progress Her system, combining, as t
does, the various eyceencies, and avoiding to very
great extent the defects of those which, in point OF time
preceded it, has attracted the attention and excited The
active emulation not only OF large proportion OF the
States and Territories, including Ono Michigan
Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, &c. but of Texas at the
SOUTH and Canada at the north; in both of which has
been successfully introduced within the compass Of
few years past.
During the past year an association of influential and
efficient persons has been formed from the NORTH east and
west for the purpose OF dusng the and
adequate elementary education throughout the entire
valley of the Mississippi; and Ex-Governor Slade of Yer
mont aided by effective corps OF well trained instuc
tors has placed himself in the OF this great
benehcent movement,
Thus il will be seen that every other portion of the
Union from Maine on the north to Texas the SOUTH
from the Atlantic coast on the east to the verge OF the
Rocky Mountains in the far wes-the respective State
and municipal authorities, the friends of education and
the people generally, have united IN the most permanent
and efficient measures for the extension and diffusion
OF knowledge throughout the masses OF those who
succeed them in the noble inheritance of our free ns,iu-
tons. Rightly discerning the signs of the timeswey
interpreting those lessons OF sound policy earnestly and
mpressvely inculcated by the sained Washington and
conscious that the responsible mission of the American
Republic can only be fulfilled by the universal and
thorough education of her and dang hers-he states
men, patriots, and phlanhropsts OF the land have Ia
ken their stand upon this great and mpregnable prnc
pie; and called upon by every consideration
which appeal to brethren OF the same common family
citizens of the same nestimabe Union, and equally In
teresed in the perpetuy and abiding welfare OF the
cherished instutonsto cooperate timely, heartily, and
efficiently in this noble enterprise. Shall we not cheeruy
respond the appea Shall we not thus riyet the bonds
of glorious Union far eitectually than
be accomplished by political combinations, by party watch
words, by the most sku Legislation or the most success
full appeal to individual, local, sectional INTERESTS
The citizens of the southern States, individually con-
sdered and especially those who possess the means OF be-
slowing suitable education upon their children, are
is true, in no respect behind their brethren of Other
portions OF the Union in providing those facilities for
elementary instruction which the spirit of the and the
demands of advanced civilization require. But IN CON-
parison with the other States to which reference has
been made their respective legislatures have failed
provide that permanent fund, which requisite not only
aid stimulate. and encourage individual and social ex
erton this respect, but to ensure the proper mental
and moral cultivation OF that large class IN every COM
muny which is destitute of the means, and occasionally
OF the inclination to furnish adequate education tOl
their children The genius and spirit OF our republican
institutions require that all classes and every grade OF cit
be placed far possible upon footing OF equal
y in this respect; and is, for all practical purposes
less requisite to the future welfare OF the State than
that OF those of its citizens who favored beyond Their
fellows point of worldly fortune, that each individual
the rising generation, whatever may be his present STATION
and prospects-wheher the heir apparent OF counties
thousands, the child of hopeless poverty and miso
should participate fully and freely IN the blessings
Of education. By no other means, and IN no other way
can government succeed fulfilling the object OF then
creation, individual and social rights be uniformly re
spected and maintained The aborers hardy and neglect
ed offspring of to-day may through some OF the Immune
rabe chances and changes of caprlcous fortune, be
the wealthy and influential proprietor OF to morrow
and he is at all events and in every contingency certan
at no distant PERIOD to possess an equal voice win !ha
of the wealthes citizen in the administration OF the ala
of the republic He is certain to play his part either o
good or for evil, and larger smaller scale, IN the
varied evolutions OF the political and social circle u
which, for the time being, his destiny may be cast and
if has title to companonship and 10 fair participation
the advantages which civilization brings in its tran is no
with fearful power of those violent outbreaks
which from time TO time electrIfy the public mlnd an
carry desolaon the hearths of some innocent hap
| less victim.
The State not only called upon to provide spec
and ample fund from It's resources, to be expended un
proper restraints and supervision, in encouraging the wen
directed efforts of individuals in this department Of tf
social fabric but, in order TO render It's aid effective,
should create such organization as may appear bes
adapted to the object in view. This organzato
should be uniform, simple, and eilcient-so CONSTRUED
to enlist the active agency OF the inhabitants OF the
several districts their officers and teachers, while al lh
same time it should fulfil, with regard TO other poriol
of the State and to the authorities charged with It's genera
SUPERVISION all the objects and purposes of its creation
In the absence OF such organizatlon very slight
terest will be felt in the scattered and isolated institutions
Tor public instruction. teachers will become Negligent aa
reiniss; public and private funds will be virtual IL
wasted; and the great work OF education will speedy
fall into incompetent and worthless hands.
Having for several years been practically and intimate
ly conversan in official capacity with the benehcIl
operations of the system of public instruction now
progress in New York, and having during that penC
actively participated IN the various movements whch
under the Immediate auspices of OF able an
enlightened statesmen have placed the interests OF pou
lar education IN that State upon elevated ana com
handing basis. the undersigned feels great confidence
commencing TO the earnest attention OF his lelow-clk
zens IN the south the prominent principles and elhce
organization OF that system Many of lis details may
perhaps be found impaccable in communities so sparse
y settled as IN portions of these States but the pacucd
recognition OF the rigM OF every child, destined heeal
TO assume the responsibilities and perform the duties
citizen OF free republic, to such education as s
enable him ntelgenty TO acquit himself OF those h9
functions, and of the corresponding duty the part OF
OF this right, will not fail to lead to the adoption oil sue
measures, and to secure such organization as shaii
found best adapted to the wants and most IN accoIdhI
with the existing habits and institutions OF different o