Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-03

citizens of Halifax, in favor Of the establishment
a Free Schools in the Commonwealth We received il
during the late session of the Legislature, but did
l. then publish it. because if not above the capacity
it was beyond the aspirations Of that Honorable body
Its soul was absorbed in schemes OF plunder-and il
had neither time inclination to consider subjects
Of great and permanent interest to the wcllbeng of
. the State. Some of the members, too, perhaps in
debted for their position to the prevailing ignorance,
might have felt of gratitude to- and been in
disposed to adopt any for dspellng the dark
) ness, which envelopes the land.
: There is no subject of more importance, nor any
? surrounded by more difficulties No scheme can be
proposed to which plausible aud solid objections
cannot be aegcd-ntrinsic objections TO the scht
ITSELF apart from the intrinsic objections arising from
unfavorable cxtraneous circumstances OF these last
we may speak hereafter.
As to the intrinsic objections to the Halifax prop
osition, this may be said that they are fewer than
may be alleged against any other-and if we wait
until perfect system, is proposed nothing will
be done. We speak of the leading features of that
scheme general system of Free Schools throughout
the state to be supported by general and uoorm
tax upon the people. This has the advantages over
the existing system Of aboshing the charity feature,
and being at the same time more efficient. Ii DIFF
icultes are the sparseneSs ofpopuation in many dis
tricts, the amount of the tax, and the indifference
with many unlearned parents about sending their
children to school, These difficulties, however,
that are inseparabc from any effective scheme of gen.
erAl education. The first, (sparseness of popuation,)
may be obvated to great extent though not entirea
ly, byjudciouS arrangements The second, (tax-
atiOnO may be easily overcome by breaking up the
log-rong system and repeating certain onerous laws
such as that of the present jury law. The last,
(he Indifference or aversion of many poor parents
to sending their children,) can only be overcome by
the persuasions of the more enlightened port OF
the peOple-and especially by the earnest exhorta-
tons Of the clergy of the various denominations We
think the Protestant clergy, we speak generally, and
with reference to them a class have been remiss
in their duties on this subject While they sit with
folded arms their great adversary the Pope of Rome
always in his srrups, with his indefatgable ennis
sares scattered throughout the GARTH and everywhere
sowing the seeds of ignorance and bigotry. Even
during the past year. of his INSCRIPTIONS agents
was honoured with government vessel to ex-
pore the lake country-and he spied out a large
portion OF the confederacy with view to future con
: quests. We see no such activity, such system in
the operations of the Protestant clergy By the side
of the omanists, they drones and to some ex-
teu, they have become tainted with the prevailing
" 'iSS VI NuS lHSl Will preach without pay.
We know churches in the country which are deserts
: ed, or converted into igers because the people
round about not able pay salaries to preachers
As to interesting themselves in the of general
education, yet to see the evidences of it. If
some them Lave private schools is for their own
private gain. The great of general education
has no part in the speculation. We speak not to
wound-but to reform-to enlist the support of those
a lyrho lvt
lead in this work. and should be able to effect great
i good.
As to the importance OF more efficient system of
general education, Republican, possessed of ordi-
nary sagacty, fail TO appreciate it. All the male
adults in our land equal participants in the
high functions Of sovereign power. Eighty thousand
in the State are unable to read write Thus un.
fitted to govern theselyes-a task according to both
Christian and Pagan philosophy, Of extreme Difficult
ty, they are entrusted with still more arduOus task
the Government of Commonwealth. The effects
of extending political rights beyond the capacity OF
the people for the judcious exercise of those rights
are visible, whenever we look to a State Legislature
or the Halls Of Congress- Universal suffrage resting
onignorance, has brought the Representatives system
of Government to deaths door II not mpracticable
Tor good, it has become quite nigh Inefficient and
grows more and more contemplate every day Two
months have not elapsed, since the Car of Russia
the representative of tho absolute system sneeied
England, and ridcued the idea of her Jolrgaise par
lament wagng an energetic and successful war with
. hin. With Congress, the elect of universal suf-
frase and general ignorance, it would be difficult to
. imagine the terms of scorn aad contempt which his
Czarshp would have employed
Every decade exhibits a rapid and fearful increase
Of this mass of ignorance. In 1siO the number OF
tn unIettered in Virginia amounted to 60 900 Il.
1850, it exceeded $4,000. At this rate it will not re.
It qure many centuries to extngush all knowledge Of
~ letters in the State.
We do not understand those gentlemen Of intelli-
gence, who, protesting 10 be Republican, are content
with this rapid increase Of ignorance. Some we have
heard contend that little learning is worse than
~ none-that there many men, who can neither
read nor write, who have more klopige than others
, who have read oil the books in the language There
Is a tinge OF truth in this-and that is all. weak
h. Intellect may be impaired by too much reading-and
- such character denominated by the Greeks, a
seoldstUos and would'receive the nppllaon Of sim
IN pe'on among Aud the Of kno0ledgc without
re letters, referred TO, exceptions By proper cu.
lure, they would have b, on much greater aud more
useful men. It cannot be injurious to any man. with
" any native stuff in him, 10 enjoy the benefits Of letters
Ihey are the key to the portals Of the temple Of wis
y dom The ycsdbue may be entered without them
but not the limos! recesses Of the temple. Some o
vicious natures, weak inellocts may abuse or no
Sect the advantages they bestow but the great mas
would use them to their own and the general good
nd without subscribing to the dogma, that knowledg
u Is power 1t unquestionably Is the chief element
As power. And certainly Republican Reprcsentatiy
system OF Government cannot long coexist with gen
eral ignorance among the people We must max
g up our minds to surrender free Government, or adop
means to enlghten those entrusted with It. It's en-,
may not be in our day-but all that dcfers it. is tn
wilderness Of the West When the wave of popula
ton returns from the Pacific the remains,of the Re
g public, If any shall endure till then will speed dis
appear under the combined operation Of ignorance
and numbers
= We wish the author Of the Halifax memorial wer
member Of the Legislature to perfect his scheme
i and urge it with the weight Of authority upon In
C.wnw. 81 4