Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-04-08
Jefferson's Opinion of the Danger of
Northern Education.

constitution OF Virginia, IN the Febru-
ary number of the Southern Literary
Messenger, gives the following striking
views OF the danger of educating South
ern youth Of both sexes at the North:
That far-seeing statesman, Thomas
Jefferson, saw this cloud in the horizon,
when it was not bigger than a mans
hand, and lifted up his warning voice
in prophetic words: "The refec-
ton that the boys of this generation
are to be the next-thatin establishing
an institution of wisdom for them, we
bring home to our bosoms the swee.
consolation OF seeing our sons rising
under a luminous tuition to destinies
of high promise; these are considera-
tons which occur to all, but all, fear,
do not see the speck in our horizon
which is to burst OF as as tornado,
sooner or later. The line of division
lately marked out between different
portions OF our coniederacv, is such as
| fear will not be obliterated; and we
are now trusting to those who are
against Us in position and principle, to
fashion to their own forms, the minds
and affections of our youth. If, as
has been estimated, we send $500, 900
per annun, to Northern semizadrics for
the instruction of our sons, then we
must have there 800 of our sons inn
bibing opinions and principles at dis
cord with our own. This canker is
eating on the vitals of onr existence,
and if not arrested at once, will be be-
yond remedy. We are now furnish
ing recruits to their school," This
warning voice was needed, and the re-
suit was, the establishment of the Uni
versity and other schools, which are
now annually turning out young men
worthy 10 take the rains ofgoyernmen,
from the hands of their sires, as they
dali Y pass from the stage. In the Ian
guage of one of her distinguished Al
umni, although the University has
just attained her majority according to
the civil law, yet her sons are found in
the highest offices in the county,
They are seen in the Senate and House
OF Representatives; they throng the
Legislature; they govern sovereign
States; they shine in the pulpit and at
the bar; they are professors in our col
leges, and teachers in our schools. =
These academies taught by them, will
aid the University in turning out an
army of teachers for primary schools,
and thus will be established a great
system of popular education, on the
only plan consistent with the principles
of free government, and the rights oi
private property" The same remarks
might be applied to the Military Insti-
stitute, and perhaps to other colleges
in Virginia, which have received aid
from the State.
In our judgment, one thing more is
wanted to perfect the system of popu-
lar education SO happily begun, and
that is, a competent provision for the
instruction of females in Virginia, and
particularly with reference to the sup
| ply of the existing demand for South
ern female teachers.
The objections which are felt to The
education of our young men at tht
North, have even greater force wher
applied TO the young women. The
minds of females are more ductile, anC
are more easily moulded into the forms
and manners of the society in which
they happen to be cast. That South
ern people have distinctive traits o
character. which they desire to tran
smit to their children, will be admitted
by all. There are many among US wht
glory in them, and who grieve to set
them passing away as the venerabi
forms of sold Virginia gentlemen
and ladies sink into their graves. As
suming, then, that Southern society
prefer that their daughters shoul'
be trained in the habits, manners, prin
ciples and tastes of the social spher
IN which they are destined to move, w
should offer them institutions upon ou
soil in which thorough instruction vii
be impaired. and where they will b,
surrounded with associations from
which they will receive daily impres
sions of the sound principles. the pur
tone of morals, the modest manners
the simplicity and delicacy which ar
the glory of Southern women. Inde
/ pendent of the considerations Of econ
omy involved in the case, we ask is
wise, is it self-respectful to send ou
daughters, at period when their imae
: inations are most vivid, and when thei
Feelings are stronger than their rea
son, to be infected with that sickly sen
timentalism which seems TO be epidem
ical at the North, and which generate
such monsters as the Abby KelIys an
Fanny Wrights, who stand with tn
! Douglass and Garrisons upon the pla1
forms of "Anti-Sl lavery Societies" an
Women's Rights Conventions" clam
loring not merely for the dissolution {
the Union of the States, but also of tn
holy bands of marriage; and in pray
ing for the advent of that milleniur
when the servant shall be free from hi
master, the wife from herhusband, th
child from the parent, the citizen fror
/ the sovereign, and humanity that ha
! been washed in the baptistnal waters {
christianity, shall return to its walIow
! ing in the lnire of barbarian licentious
ness"