Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-13

- of the free States. bat il has NOT taken
the precastions which they have taken, to
provide BY a 3ystcm of free schrool for uni
versal education. Il has crowded canvass
on the ship Of State, and brought to her
aid the progressive spirit Of the age, but 1t
has made no provision for an experienced
pilot at her helm. The people OF Virginia
srs now clothed with. or soon will be
clothed with sovereignty, and there is
scarcely any limit to their power; yet it is a
dominating and melancholy fact; that the
proportion Of persons taught. to the num-
Der Of people rs, larger. not only in the
Northern States, but in France, Belgium,
Prussia, Scotland. England and Ireland
than in Virginia!
What is 10 be dene7 Will not the peo-
pls remedy the deficiencies % their Con
ventioni II is the solemn and imperious
duty Of all men who are interested in the
preservation of liberty, in the pure admin
iS~stration Of justice, in the protection OF
p~opcrty. in the consummatIon Of all those
rights which are dear to the citizen and
the man. to see that knowledge and pow
Or 90 hand in hand. Why may not the
next Legislature submit the Free School
System. which has the sanction Of Jcffer-
son, which has worked well in SO many
States of the Union, and has produced ex-
eclferf results in our own counties OF Nor
folk, Northampton. King George, JefEer-
sou, Kanawha, Ohio and Henry, and in
tho town Of Por,smonth-why should not
the next Legislature at least submit this
system tothe vote Of the people of Virginia.
Il prepared" said Thomas Jefferson,
"three bills for the %rcvisal. proposing threo
distinct gradcsof education. reaching all
classes:-lst. Elementary shoots for all
children, generally, rich and poor. 3D.
Colleges for a middle dcgreeo OF instruciion,
calculated for the common purpose OF HE
and 81. An Ultimate grade for teaching the
sciences generally. and in their highest de-
gree" '.Onc provision for the elementary
schoolbid was, that the expenses Of these
shoots should he borne by the inhabitants
Of the county, IN proportion 10 tier gene
raj tar-rates." 'IconsiJered four ofthcse
bills( ofwhich the school wasone) as form
ing 4 SYSTEM" " erebya foundation would
he "laid fora government truly republican"
The pcoplc,"by the bill for the general
education, would be qualified to under
stand their rights, to maintain them and to
exercise piM intelligence, their parts in self
eovernment:-and all this would be eiiec-
ted without the rotation ola single natural
right Of any one individual citizen" More
than seventy years have passed since Mr..
Jefferson proposed his plan, and while Vir-
ginia has adopted some of its features, that
which H. the corner stone of the cdiicc, ell
ementary schools for all children generally,
rich end poor. is still neglected. We have
the University, the College, the Military
Institute, but where are the Free Schoolsl
Virginia goes forth with the cooked hat o.
the soldier. and the robe Of the scholar,
bot her feet nre bare and bleeding. She is
about to erect a lofty supcrstructurc of pc
pular power. but if she neglect to base it
upon popular education. Ter house will
be built upon the sand, and the rain and
the tempest will sweep itaway.
The triAing tax which will be required
for general education viii he more than
repaid in the increased value and security
Of property, in the saving from the diminu-
ton ofcrimc, in the superior capabilities
ofjudges selected by int 3ligent men, in in
telligent jurors, and in the preservation of
ucation can WELD the moral influence Of.
religion, but that it is a powerful auxiliary
. evident toafl men, in fact that the Chris
tian nations Of the earth are the most en-
Eghtened and intelligent; that ignorance