New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-10-23
For The Weekly Tribune.
Am Earne.t and Final Appeal for Free
schools,
sY 5. 5. RANDALL

Once more, and, Tor the present at Iedst' Uoi'i
itively the people Of this State called upon 70
determine By their votes, at the ballot box "i'1
Their the benefits and blessings of education s'.an
be freely dispensed to the children ana i0'''o
zens Of the State e ,,,,;ch
This &c a question, the determination OF VIZ
neither has nor could have been coi''''i''ee
aec;sio,, of the popular voice in any otef country
,,,,r mr. al any other period than the pres
49,. r+isa question which makes no dlrect ap-
~ % tbe passing interests of the day proposes
m nyesent. tangible, material good promotes no
<hiect If personal or political ambition or aggran
ai2ement; affords no immediate inducement to
pecuniary speculation; and promises no splendid
results to captivate the imagination Or reward the
exertions Of that restless spirit of enterprise which
has. during the past half century, annihllated
time and space, and well nigh realized the tabu-
Ious wonders of Eastern story. 1t has no "pollti-
cal capital" to offer to the aspiring Statesman or
unscrupulous demagogue; 40 cent. per cent 10
the cautious dealer in stocks and markets no
present and immediate results to the practical
and worldly wisdom OF material age no certain
and demonstrative Eel Dorado" for the magma
ton and exalted aspirations of the enthusiast. 1t
tany of present expenditure and sacrifice both OF
time and means in view of remote and possibly o.
contingent good addresses itself to the wellbe
ing happiness and improvement OF generations
vet unborn and overlooking or disfegardmg I'M
mediate obstacles, discouragements and hazards,
fixes its regard upon the distant future and the
permanent improvement and substantial benefit
of the human race. 1t is, indeed, one OF those
grave and weighty problems which from the CARL
est periods to which civilization can be traced,
has engaged the faculties and tasked the intellect
of the highest and noblest minds OF ancient and
modern times the problem, namely OF the com
n,unication and universal diffusion Of knowledge,
and wisdom and virtue.
We regard it as imperative upon the State inits
political capacity, that elementary instruction
should be freely and equally dispensed to all in
situations recognized and sustained by itself
open at all times to the rich and to the poor
without money and without price, that this
institution should be in all cases adequate to the
communication of that degree Of knowledge, at
least, which shallscnabe the recipient mtclligently
and efficiently to perform all those duties which
in the ordinary course Of human events and the
intercourse of society may devoye upon him, and
TO attain such further and higher requirements as
his ambition or inclination may require; and that
bv the proper preparation Of suitable number OF
teachers thoroughly conversant with their profess
sion, and well skilled in it's practical details, an
ADEQUATE inducement may be presented to the
community at large to avail itself of their services
and ia bring within the schools thus established
every child of sufficient age TO be benefited by
their instruction and discipline Any system less
annie and comprehensive than tins will be found
inefficient and unwise Every child OF proper age
must be brought within the pale ofinstruction, or
the great work of Universal Education IS lmper'
fecty and effectively performed. II but one neg
lected child OF penury or misfortune is suffered to
grow up in ignorance and vice In any OF the ten
Thousand neiehborhoods and school districts OF our
State who shall answer for the harvest OF crime
md guilt, of desolation and wretchedness, winch
the misdirected energies Of that one perverted
mind may occasion? The strong arm of the law,
potent as it ma! be TO Pnmsh, is yet mpotehT to
p7erent the commission OF the most fragrant out
RACES upon the person and the property OF the
citizen. Neither the security aiordedby the gen
eral prevalence of knowledge and virtue, nor the
prompt mterpostion OF the laws and their minis
ters. nor the sullcrings OF the miserable culprt,
nor the salutary terror OF his punishment can re.
store from the darkness of the grave the murder
ers hapless victim nor fill the void III the domestic
circle caused by the lawltss hand OF rapinc and
violence Nor can that community which by an
adequate and timely provision for the intellectual
aud moral culture OF QH its citizens might have
prevented such catastrophe but did it not, be
III. ~, Il Al,
blood thus shed.
But we are told that the liberty OF the citizen
must not be infringed, even for the attainment OF
the blessings Of Universal Education-that the
authority of the parent over his child is sacred
ard must not be intertcrod wth-that no power
exists which can compel an American freeman to
educate his child against his will. The liberty
thus ch0llenged-the liberty of growing up in ig-
norance and in the unrcstrained indulgence of
l0wless passion, in the midst of civilized and
christian connnunity-is an anomalous and dan
gerous species of freedom The maniac found at
large in the streets of populous city, with
deadly weapon in his possession, however peace.
able might be his dcmeanor for the time being or
however strong his protestatons against any in,
hnSement OF his personal liberty, would speedily
be placed under Judclous constralnt: and yet the
equally revolving and dangerous spectacle OF hun
dreds of youth rpcnng for the gollows, the prison
and the penitentiary, daily meets our eyes in the
crowded thoroughiares ofour great cities and large
towns. Morally certain as we are that few
brief years, nay perhaps, a few brief months or
days only will intervene before the murderers
KNIFE shall strke down some devoted victim, or
the robbers reckless and desperate grasp, or the
moendiares torch be upon our cherished homes
or valued treasures, we may not ntcrpose to
avert these calamiucs, and substitute the bless.
ngs Of education in their stead, lest we ciolate
tie hleuyqf The citizen! When the deadly bolt