Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-02-26
FsISsEH4E4AE ElGsS.
MIR. EVERETT'S SUPERINTENDENT
g AL IENR MA


CALIFORNIA
The three Colleges If Massachusetts have petitioned
the Legislature that when the school fund had reached
the limit Of million of dollars prescribed by law
other fund of one half million should be allowed
cumuap for the benefit of the Colleges the subject
referred 10 joint Committee. which appointed meet
ing the 7lh ns for public hearing of the friends of
the measure in support of it. Prests Hopkins, of
Williams, Hitchcock, If Amherst and Sparks, of IIar-
ward. appeared in behalf their several Institutions and
Hon. Edward Everett invited to address The commit
in their behalf which he did with characteristic force
and eoquence. From report. occupying some four
columns ofthe Boston Daily Advertiser, we make the
following extracts.
The policy that would conine the Of the State to
the Comm Schools is successfully rrbuked. Nh
Everett regards the whole circle Of educational nsttu
tonS as one interest. Hear him.
For myself admit, if the admission is desired that
good system of Common School Education is, to
religions Influences the great and solid foundation Of
prosperous State To build any thing else is build
on straw ard stubbIe honor beyond all common
Of respect the distinguished gentleman Horace Mann
who! for twelve years has devoted the UNCOMMON pow
Of his mind and the nd"mitable energy Of his char
acter to this noble He VIII be remembered till
he history Of Massachusetts is forgotten as one Of her
greatest heneflctors.
| owe myself large debt of gratitude the Public
Schools although fifty years ago they in very diff
tarent condition from what they are now. My education
began the free schools Of my native village Of Dorches
ter, Our village then was and of this the beloved city
Of my adoption. The first distinction which crowned
my humble career The Franklin medal at the read
ng schul il North Bennett street when much
higher than hat table; and if my tongue is silent
when it onght to speak the praises of the Common
Schools of Massachusetts, may It never be heard with
flvor in other
But can il be necessary? know Mr.. Chairman be
fore this audience 1t cannot be necessary argue the
of higher education, scientific and literary, form
nI it does the best preparation for all the departments
Of professional e;-for enlightened craftsmanship and
fr efficient application IF philosophical princ pies TO
The great industrial interests Of the community. Who
does not know, sir. thai there is not yard of cotton
CT III beached printed in the Commonwealth, without
assistance fromthe last refnemens Of chemical research
that you cannot construct turbine water wheel but By
the aid of the highest mathematics. nor establish uni
form standard of weights and measures without building
upon series Of geomerca operations which began with
lIpparchus
The tables by which the navigator perhaps the llite
rate navioatar,-fnds the ships place sea- writ
ten in the very depths Of the starry heavens; and the
most learned eye for ares have strained themselves dim
through glasses Of wondrous mechanism in ecypherng
the mysterious characters. The electric telegraph which
brings you the daily news. is The last achievement of
department Of Physical Science, in which Of the
brightest nteec,s Of the last hundred years from Frank
lin down have concentrated their powers of observation
and analysis. This step that may be taken by uned
ucated man-may even be the work Of chance-but the
grand result is the product Of cultivated mind, strained
to the highest tension of its powers.
We hear of unlaught men. Sir, Of Franklin and Bow
ditch and heaven forbid that in the city where one
BORN and the other died. their should ever be
pronounced but with veneration. But in the first place
to argue from the of such Franklin and Bow
DITCH to the of the generality of minds, would De
like putting roguish boy apprentice 10 woo-comber
order that when he grows up he might write another
Hamlet But what is self taught man, and what does
he do He is an utaugh man;nor does he GO haz-
fhrOuuh life like lucnmutiVe PnunP n dark uiuh
by The LIGHT Of his own intuition.
Sir, self-tanght is Of strong mind and
strong will, whounder discouragments and III the face
of ohstaces acquires the rudmens of earnng;and when
he has done carries and completes his eiucaton BY
placing his understanding in conlacl with the cultivated
intellect Of other regions and othe- times. Franklin is
certainly most favorable specimen of self taught
He great original interpreter CT nature. The His
tory OF Science has nothing more sublime than the
with which he his armed kite into the thunder
cloud, and drew the electric spark with finger from the
key at the end Of the card But Franklin man Of
books,-a studons man,-a friend Of academlca train
ing.
The law Of Duty is thus expounded:
But to the objection thai School education is the in
teest of the many and College education the interest of
the few, my main answer is, that objection has not
formed even distant conception Of The grounds Of the
duty which devolves upon enlightened State 10 ed,i-
cafe lis children. He is thinking Of individuals He
torges that II is the public such. the State that
great compile Soc al Being which call Massachusetts,
The genial mother Of them all that il is hcr interest in the
matter which creates the duty; aud which gives all its