Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-29
COMMUNICATED.
PEDAGoGICs.---NO. 1.

JMessrs. Editors :-SchIegel makes the above term
include eGuca,ion.s school teaching s. all their belong
ings. fancy his idea and adopti Is II not "pass-
ing stranger that while so much is said about the
Convention and the matters and things upon which
it should take action that Pedagogics" should DO SO
little adverted to- This enquiry brings very iorcI-
bly to mind the remark of St. Paul "The love OF
gain is the root of all evil" The improvement OF
the moral condition of the State affords no mmed-
ate profit and is not fungus that springs by the
warmth ofparty excitement from the hotbed of dem
agogcs and is consequenygleft like wisdom, to cry
in the streets while no man regards ITS voice Yet
it is voice which if not heard IN the ilspIngs oil
the juvenile tongue and attended to IN It's proper
time will eventually be recognized IN fumlnaions
loud as the "Eternal hunders of the Deep" no less
destructive, perhaps, in their tendencies than the re-
verbera,ions that overturned the walls of Jericho
l3hat is of more vital importance to the welfare of
any communty-to the perpetuily of the privileges
and immunilies and the Institutions in general o
free people than sound and wholesome system of
education interviewer with the very first principles
of free government and to all intents, constructions
and purposes part and parcel of them Z We hear
much said about extending the elective ranchIse as
regards The Judiciary, the Shealty, the Magstracy,
Sc, &c. / willingly subscribe to all these extern
sons but would respectfully ask; Is 1t not necessa-
nv to pav some attention to The enlargement oil the
minds of the masses of the people SO aso cradle Them
10 exercise sound discretion in performing these
important duties-to give them strength ofJudgment
and frmness Of principle sufficient 10 guard mem a.
oainst the Vaccinations of demagogues and babbDg
parlizans? have confidence in the virtue of the
neople if properly directed. The yeomanry of the
country constitute the foundation upon which It's
institutions must rest and the education oi this class
should demand The first of its law-makes,w
or in the Convention or the Legislature. lnthe Ian
ouage of Dr. Jonathan Swift, NJ would not give one
man who makes two blades of grass grow where on
Iv one grew before, for all the babbng political
slano-wIangers in Christendom" While other States
are Sharing no expense in placing education up
on the very highest grounds, Virginia has no prma-
rv school system, and her Legislature is continuing
term after term TO illustrate the adage, "Whers The
monkey is the god the priest stands low In the scale
of moral umination," by miserable patch work
and parsimony touching common schools ana The
education of poor children, beautifully calculated 10
bring the whole business into ridicue and contempt.
and to cause moukeysm to predominant where
philosophy and religion should preside while tnou-
sands are lavished in pampering their own aPPeliIes
and millions expended in local, partial and almost
useless undertakings. In electing delegates TO the
forthcoming State Convention let the people fill that
BODY with lawyers and the same objection may pre-
sent itself that now exist in the minds of many against
the County courts-a selfmade body, or rather they
will act in manner to favor themselves. Send drones
and political expecants and asprants TO frame yonr
Constitution and enact your laws and then grlmbe
at your own credulIy and gulllbility. Send high
minded, intelligent yeomanry there, remarkable for
virtue and productive industry--no matter whether
they can talk by the hour or not-and they will act
in manner which will hereafter cause you and your
posterity to rejoice. Enlighen the people and draw
out the latent virtue which resides among them and
there will be no danger to the Union from abolition
lists or malcontents and fanatics in any other shape
And God SAID "Let there be lightw Obey the COM
mand. "A word to the wise is sufficient"
Very Respectfully, SHELBUkNE.