The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-12-04

-:ss - - -. onas e.<X ypoio - throwm open
ing, whosscvcs N1A, ~ him take ~ ress-. -
| me neeay Bat Conno< be expeeta6 ekat Z -,
nsussnne CA AAord the. necessary insfyuueI.n
i ~ g " nse snst q Virginia Intelligence
pssespsl ~ sacMcnt 10 secure resuees nom .hfnsd
80 sy and happiness q aooA To os,ts;n =
I -. e51aoie =. sacrifice shs4ad be mada. and M
r We ourSt ,Sa Mnen eosM insure i with certain.
~. - ne open theit balls 70 those who e.rn. ~
- Sn1 oenenfs o( snivessity e.iur.sic, ~ >-0' ""
s ~ mas wisely extended n. ss,.t.,.
way worthy q iss patronare snd as. mn'sn = every
ar Avor fAe principle u eouabinrs ~, popu'
ton of the@ who are able TO nay vs;ss -
tous edueSsson Of tho INDECENT and dessrvinr .n,
come teechers for limited period 4 prouc;ns ~
most tenehcia results; and its application T. an
ourceaegiate institutiors would enhancs its vsl.
and give it power in future which can scarrc,v
be TOO highly estimated.
In 1921, tho general assembly recognized the
claims OF the colieges and passed an act DECLARING
tnat whenever the annual income Of the Literary
fund shall exceed S60OGo ths surplus above thu,
sum, until such surplus shall amount TO s20,0Oo
shall be appropriated to the endowment Of surR
colleges, academies or isitermediste schopls yxjt;
,ne commonwealth as the general assembly NAV
hereafter designate fit institutions for such en-
dowment' The receipts into the treasury TO tho
wereupwards Of sli7eoo wossd It NOT be sdyi
sable 70 devote portion q thfx sam to aid such q
the colleges in the State as are not already epdo.
cd They confessedly ccnfrbute largely to the In.
.S,dgsnce, wealth and power Of the commonwealth,
ana furnish largo portion Of those who devrlope
Us resources guard It's honor and WELD its destiny
Most OF these iastftutons have been stablshed Nv
pnvaee muniheence, by subscriptions from tha
mass OF the people; and where they have nec,
enabled to accumulate suficient h;nd ~ soos. s
means TO erect the necessary builtfnps II .ffsrd
tle eess eyidenee that they are demanded by tho
.s ooaeshonai wants Of the people, who have thus
contributed to sustain them. Suppose, then IN nd.
dfion to the erection Of the buildings Il shoria ~,
required thet when any institution of this cb.r.n
ter shall have raised fund by subscriution f not
less tnan $4,000 and invested the amount in state
securities at par and deposited these securities to
be held by the Literary fund in trust for the;r ban
ene then, in addition to the interest arising fron
the bonds, an appropriation should be made from
| me Literary fund TO- such college, of an amoust
| equal to the interest of $4,000 These wouN eve
to each Institution complying with these terms an
endowment equal to SIS 90 exclusive of b,,iIdros
and would contribute g ttly to place it upon A
solid foundation insuring its usefulness to ali time
IN ~ hke manner, when an hundred thousand dollars
| should be raised and invested the interest upon
5o,ooO dollars might be appropriated And to pre-
vent too large drain upon the Literary fund fho
maximum amount might be limited to such sum a
,ne general assembly might deem expedient 1t In
believed that several Of the colleges could without
difficuty obtain the necessary funds to comply with
these acquisitions. The investment In State se
curities would contribute greatly to raise ths au
Of these securities, and tho bonds would be held by
our own institutions and when redeemed tho
amount would be Immediately reinyested, always
aiding in sustaining the public credit As this plan
would require years for its development, the Lite.
rary fund would no doubt increase in a ratio
suficient to meet any draft that might bo requisite
for its accomplishment II all tho colleges should
ultimately avail themselves Of its advantages It
would give to them increased facilities for instrue.
ton, advance them TO the highest point Of useful.
y Iy,xsoa orAn la fkep.t ~
sively and efficiently to the mental cxaltation tho
wealth. power and glory of the commonwealth
Her literary institutions, placed upon permanent
basis and disseminated through her different sec.
in all directions streams Of intelligence to enligh
en- and bless the masses; and Virginia now great
in her physical resources and political influence
would then be pre-eminent in the means of intel
lectual developments. earnestly recommend this
| subject to ysar favorable consideration
Norwhile We are endeavorng to contribute 10
the Improvement of our university and colleges
should we be forgetful of the academies and prims-
ry schools. Agriculture, the mechanic arts, phil
osophy, navigation, commerce, and all tho impro.
we'd mutations in the condition and morals of man
kind. have education as their ground woIk. The
mental improvement of the masses affords the on.
security for ahe protection of perscns and pro-
perfy and intelligence and virtue ought to be the
only passport to fame and distinction. by en-
tightening the great body Of the people you inspire
them with confidence; enable them properly 10
cOIlpIcucHu 8u0 1PpIectdto tu9 great pr1p1icEeS
and immunities they enjoy; establish upon Arm
basis the magnificent superstruefure OF the gov
ernment, and adopt the wisest treasures for trans
mitting pure principles, unimpaired, to those who
succeed rs on the great political theatre. To ae-
complish these great purposes, some improv eTnent
in our common school system Is absolutely necessa-
ry. II appears to ms to be radically deceptvel
and no featureis probably more objectionable thaT1
the charities of life. It is hmmilating In its ton
dency and discouraging in its effects. Your alton
ton this important subject cannot fail TO elicit
improvement in the system.
1t has sometimes been objected HAT II IN unjust
to require the wealthy to contrb0 D TO the educa-
ton of the poor. 70 our system this objection
cannot be urged, b1huse the capitation tax, which
is the only part Of tho revenue devoted 10 the LII
mary schools should be alike for the benefit Of all
But oven II the objection were tenAbfe and taxation
were resorted to for the education Of the poor, n
might be said with truth that, while the weai-
larger interest at stake, and require . greater
amount of governmental protection. In republic
governed by the majority, the people manage and
control Ii is of vital Importance, therefore, that
the government should be intrusted to the guidance
and direction of educated men.
The poor form the largest class in almost every
community, and without aid are destitute OF tho
means Of acquiring an education. The consa-
quence is, that many bright genius. which might
have shed It's rays and been an, ornament in tho
counsels Of the country, languishes in humble OBJ.
security, with the germ OF It's aspirations oblitera
ted by inexorable necessity
The man of wealth, under our system Of equal
distribution Of property among his heirs, and nm.
der the natural law which establishes period TOR
the growth, maturity, decline and ea tinction OF
wealth as well as everything elso. cannot tell how
soon his descendants may not require assistance
from those to whom his bounty may be extended:
The interest Of both classes are essentially tho
same, and both have like inducement 20 unlock
af knnv fhemspfyfS and their