Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-02-03
The Shame ofVirginia.

Virginia has proved herself unworthy OF
being the birthplace of Washington, as is
shown by recent legal decision of that State,
for which all its citizens are responsible. Mrs.
Douglass, lady of Norfolk, was some time
since accused, as our readers may remember,
of the crime of teaching little niggers" to read.
This case has been finally adjudged by the
court at Norfolk. The teacher was found
guilty and sentenced to one months inn
prisonment, which sentence was immediate
ly carried into effect, and the lady now lies in
Jail expiating her crime.
We have lately been looked to by Europe
an nations struggling for their liberties, as a
land of promise. Unsuccessful instruction,
airy leaders have to man almost, come over
here as to a country free from the despotism
of which they complain. We are not able
to discover what reason their is for lovers of
freedom anywhere to expect sympathy oraid
from America, when one of the accredited
sisters of the GLORIOUS constellation pronoun-
ces it pententiary offence to teach human
beings how to read, ard the national policy,
Executive, Legislative and Judicial, is MAIN
tanned in accordance with such fiat.
Virginia, which has just pronounced the
above-named decision, was the birthplace of
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
We do not wish to lay too much stress upon
that fact, but we may briefly hint that as the
memories of those men are said to be held in
honor along the Potomac, clear up to the
White Sulphur Springs and Whereabouts, it is
well to compare the concrete intelligence of
the State as exhibited in the most forcible and
majestic form, the Law, with the assumed
reverence for the name and fame of such his
toric personageS.
Washington. though not an original motor
of the spirit of the Revolution, was never be-
hind its wants when fairly set in motion.
We look in vain for any trace of doubt or
Encouragement in his glorinus career after
he had at once assumed the position of dele
gate or of general in-chief He was thus en-
phatically a man of progress. He took hold
of the political and social status at one point
of development, and left it, with the assistance
of his peers, at another He found the genius
and talent of this country depending for its
highest sanction on the approval of thick
skulled, immobie court, and left them free to
work out their own problems, renown and
immortality. Living, he did notadd to slave
territory or slave-woes; dying, he freed all his
slaves setting thus the eternal seal of his re-
probation on the accursed system.
Thomas Jefferson also found Virginia en-
comprised with divine right of the monarch
zeal pattern; dying, he left it, as far as the
whites were concerned endued with Democ-
ba1 fha l,,,,
of baronial origin, displaced by the mild phi
losophy of which he was great apostle. In
the Declaration of independence, as it stands,
the rights of all human beings, irrespective
of race or color, are defined with an unsur-
passed rhetorical beauty, and logical concis-
ness. 1--WE hold that all men are so endow-
ed with rights, says the author ofthat immor-
tai instrument. And true to the fundamen-
tai ideas Of Democracy, Jefferson was an Alb
olitionist. In one of his most memorable
passages, which has Jeremiahs depth of
grief conjoined to the prophetic ken of Isaiah,
he trembles for his country when he reflects
on the iniquity of Slavery.
1t is now more than fifty years since Wash
ington, who dying set the seal of reprobation
on Slavery, passed from the earth. But half
century, which should bring such vast changes
of thought and action for the better, presents
the dismal spectacle Of the State of Virginia,
forever Boosting of her light, her liberty, and
her progress, siezing with rude and brutal
hands lady, thrusting her into prison along
with criminals, branding her as a felon, out
raging the dignity of womanhood in her per-
son-and all this because she taught little
children to read
There have been various proposition as to
the disposition which ought to be made of
the remains of Washington. One thing is
clear-Virginia is unworthy to hold them,
since she has unfured the banner ofdarkness,
and made education crime. 1t is in vain
| to spout about foreign tyranny; it is folly to
hold up to pnblic view this or that despotic
prince-nothing can be shown worse than a
State which makes the illumination of the
soul felony, and one of the gentlest offices of
woman an offense to be hunted down with
accusation, trial, conviction, and imprisonment.
Such an occurrence is blasting to the dignity
of the whole Confederalon.-NeU York
Tribune.