Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-03-25

been done by our legislature 10 promot
the cause of Agriculture. Farmer
who are sent TO legislaie, from their ,!e
fective education, are so barren in origin
ating, and so powerless in urging an
measures calculated to promote that in
terest, that it is not surprising so litt
has been achieved,
In speaking of n system OF education
| would discard much of the Fashionable
folly cf the present day; for of tha
which is called education, much is, in IN,
opinion, nothing better than ''learne,
ignorance" Instead of gentlemen o
solid learning, how common to see up
start aristocrats. We all see this anC
condemn it, and yet suffer it to 90 OF
without attempting any amendment. W.
boast of our republicanism. and yet the
tendency of things is to throw those who
are puffed up with the idea that they are
very learned, as far as possible from the
mass of the people. Weprate about the
Importance of education, without improv,
ing cur systems of instruction, and still
applaud and honor the results. of bad
system, as much as we should the solid
and useful achievements of the best
Whilst we seem to place high estimate
on It's Importance, we are willing TO put
up with an article of inferior manulac-
ture.
The annals of literature and science
will furnish large number of names of
persons who have risen to eminence
in knowledge, from lowly origin. Ben
ijamin Franklin is perhaps one of the
most remarkable instances of this kind
upon record. From poor Printer boy,
he rose 70 be a peer of the wise and hon
orable of all Hands. Burns, the Poet, was
aploughman. Furguson, the distinguish
ed Astronomer, was the son of day la
borer: And the list of those who by the
exercise of energy and perseverance,
have overcome depressing circumstances,
and acquired on education that enabled
them TO fill important positions in public
life with credit TO themselves and useful
ness to society, would supply other ex-
ampleS to encourage the young man,
however humble his calling, to cultivate
the son of farmer and had he been
more skilful in the use of the scythe,
might not so soon have been sent to col
lege. But he retained love for rural life
and Agricultural pursuits up to the time
Of his death. This was also the case
with the late Judge White, whose mem
ory, as EAST Tennesseans, we all de
light to cherish.
An interesting anecdote is told Of this
pure and eminent Statesman quite char
acteristic of his republican simplicity
" A student Of law came a considerable
distance to be examined by him, while a
judge of our Supreme Court, in order TO
obtain license. The young man had
heard much of his ability and learning
As jusist, and expected to be much en-
barrassed in his presence but he muster
ed courage, visited his residence, and on
being informed that the Judge was on his
farm, went out and intercepted a man
ploughing and asked for Judge WHITE.
am the man. was the reply. | wish to
get license to practice law. and have come
TO be examined Well, sir, if you viii
be good enough to come down into the
shade, will attend to it with great
deal of pleasure. He secured his
got over into the cool
shade, and took the Young man through
a most learned and rigid examination
found that he was well qualified, and,
after inviting him to his house and show
ing him every mark of hospitality and
politeness, gave him license"
Nor will it be supposed that am stray
ing from my subject in thRs alluding TO
the education Of the people, when its
equal claims to attention from the gov
ernment with that of Agricultural i'm
provement, are duly considered. A
learned writer, speaking of the distin-
guished Philosopher and Statesman, Sir
Francis Bacon, says, that Sir Francis has
compared the effect of early
culture on the understanding and tie
heart, to the abundant harvest which Ie-
wards the diligent husbandman for the
tolls of the spring. To this analogy he
seems to have been particularly anxious
To attract the attention of his readers by
bestowing on education the title of the
Georges OF the mind identifying by
happy and impressive metaphor, the
two proudest functions entrusted to the
LegisIator--tAe encouragement Of AgricuI-
turdl industry and the care Of national
In both instances, the Leg
slator exerts a power which IS literally
PRODUCTIVE or CREATIVE; compelling, in
the one case, the unproftabie desert to
pour forth its latent riches; and, in the
other, viyilying the dormant seeds seeds
of genius and virtue, and redeeming from
the neglected wastes of human intellect,
q new and unexpected accession to the
common inheritance of mankind
might go on all day to enumerate in
stances showing that education IS the
main lever, by which all distinguished
men are enabled to develop the greatness
of their minds.
Much asthe Legislature Of our State
has done in appropriations Of money for
the purpose of promoting the education
OF every class of the people, still, our
common-schOol system is SO defective
that very little benefit is derived from
it. Future legislation, aided by the light
diffused from the larger experience and
longer practice of other States, may, it is
to be hoped, make the liberal appropriu-
tions from our treasury, much more
beneficial in efecting the benevolent