Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-03-05
TO THE PEOPLE oF TENNESSEE.

TO THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE.
meeting of citizens Of Lebanon was he'd on the 25th
October last consider the subject of Popular Education
in Tennessee Athat meeting Preamble and Resolutions
which have heretofore been published adopted 10
the eject that our system of Common Schools owing to
the nadequacy OF the funds appropriated to it, and 10 the
imperfect mode Of its administration has filled
psh its object; that convention of the friends Of Educa
on this State should meet in Lebanon on the I'd Thurs
day in July next take this subject into consultation an
to memOrializs the Legislature thereon; and that in the
ume they should bring the SUBJ before the people
by discussions the newspapers and otherwise
excite thereon suitable enlightened interest. 1t also
resolved that committee be appointed prepare On
address th people of the State the subj Of popular
Education and to invite the friends of this cause and
more especially the teaches throughout Tennessee to meet
in convention in Lebanon, the ID Thursday Of next
July, and the undersigned appointed on that com
! mittee.
Thso5jeetoi Common School system to place with
in reach of every child the State Of sufficient age the
means Of acquiring least the rudlmens of knowledge
and it is impossible to conceive of any Of State
Doev that so much deserves the fostering care Of the LIE
qs ature as well the encouragement and Import Of
every citizen We cannot estimate tho Importance of
education AS the of cvIlz NJ our race; Of devel
oDlug the moral and intellectual powers with which man is
endowed and of fitting him fer his duties citizen and
member Of society," and for the exalted destiny that awaits
him the future; it presents the highest claims to the
| attention of every patriot and phianthrOPst
On popular education depend to very great extent The
HAPPINESS prosperity and progress Of nation To secure
these ends virtue and regard to law essentials aud
these e1istouy in enlightened communities Intelligence
and morality inseparable in every age if not every
individual Vice and crime atOInd where ignorance pre-
walls; while public and private virtue, the security Of
property and life and Of the peace Of society are promoted
by the diffusion Of knowledge. only where the msnta
powers and moral sense OF men cultivated and improv
ed BY education that Ist regard paid to the rights
other to the duties and obligations imposed By the social
system and TO the majesty Of the law. system Of public
instruction the most wiEs and liberal system of policy
Stale can devise Abiding the Free Schools Of New
| England, DANIEL WEBSTER has said;
By general instruction we seek as far as possible to
purify the whole moral atmosphere keep good sent-
euts uppsrmOs and TO turn hesTOng current OF feeling
and Opinon as well the Of the low and the
6epuncarons of religion against immortality and crn
We hope for security beyond the low and above the low
in the prevalence CT an enlightened and wellprncpled
| moral sentiment"
Besides the influence exerls on the morals the peace
and security of society another important advantage re-
suits from general educ9iion An intelligent man is more
valuable to society than gnOlaG! one and the State that
makes provisions for universal instruction, will find
certain and ample reward in the improved capacity for
usefulness of its citizens, and in the increase Of wealth
and prosperity. Those talents which usually doomed
by poverty, to obscury and inaeon unfoldsd and
become servcable to society literature science and art
which have e1ered powerful and happy influence
mau wherever they had scope for development made
to flourish and the surest is adopted for securing
improvement and increased skill in agriculture nlanufee
lures mining and all the industrial pursuits which the
welfare and progress Of State depend The importance
in If ste al NV Jspr
SON in recommending plan Tor establishing Common
Schools in rginia:
1.-THE ject bring into action that Of talent
which lies buried poverty every country, for want of
the Of Development and thus give sohvy to mass
Of mind which in proportion 70 the population, shall be
| double or treble what 1t is II most countries
These effects of education understood and apprecia
ted in Europe where soma Of the most Cespoc govern
suts not only main4n schools the public expense but
actually compel the people, by law, to permit thsr chill
dren to q tend thsm.
Our State has made liberal provision for system Of in
terna improvement and for aording aid and encourage
ment to agriculture manufactures and the mechanic arts
and il this she has pursued wise and enlightened policy
It would be at least equally wise and 5enfcsnt to provide
literally fer the education and prO7eneu Of her CHI
zsns who are to be the agents aceomp shing these other
noble objects and for whose benefit they designed
There is another view of this subject that gives pecu
liar importance in cousry. Here t only is educa.
ton necessary the happiness and welfare o. society,
but it is essential to the preservation Of our freedom and
to the psrpstuity Of our inst utons. Arpublc found
ed on the supposed and intelligence Of The people
The public vii The source Of all legislative and exscu-
tive authority the la which the gov5um- mt rests
To give proper and safe dree ion that wilt 70 Insure
inst aid eoairble lava and suoa measures Us are clcu-
lated to seizure our fr edom fory the people against
The influence Of the demagogue that evil genious Of ell
popular governments to d fuse amaRg them the priuci
pies of morality and intelligence which essential the
exsef c. Of our free constitution resort 10 pop.
ulgr education On this point also we have The decided
testimony of some Of our most eminent statesmen One
Of them employs these emphatic tcTm5-"Ifa nation
meets to be ignor nj and free state Of zlton Il
expects hat er was and never will BE- The function
aries Of every government have les to com uand
At will the liberty and property Of their constituents
There is no safe deposit for these, but with The peep
themselves nor can they be sale with hem without infor
nation here the press is free and every able to
read and wrige all Is sac" IA Their less fOTcbly de-
clares al have conception Of any manner in which the
popular republican institutions under which live could
Be bly preserved if early education furnished
to all b. public law, in such forms that all shall gladly
avail themselves Of IL
Were it for the destitution which prevails il our
State Of facilities for general education, it would seem IN
necessary to multiply words this point The view we
are now presenting Of the Importance Of education has
resolved the sanction Of The people of Tennessee in the
most imposing form in which it could be gwen. The
Constitution Of the State he highest expression of their
sentiments and WILL declsres-sr'. Il sec. lO-that
knowledge learning aud virtue being essential to the
preservation Of republican iusil tons sud the diffusion