, 1861-01-31
Address OF Gov. Yates ut the Dcdica-
tIon OF the Normal Untvcraltys

to get the copy Of Cor. Yates address On tho
occasion Of the formal dedication Of the State
Normal University ut Bloomington, forwarded
10 this office by cur special correspondent: It
will be found, however, to have lost mons Of
Its interest by the delay:
GOV. yATEs's ADDRESS,
In appearing before you upon the present
occasion, Justice to myself requires me to say
that 1t was with the understanding that no for-'
nal addrsss was to be expected. The onerous
duties deVolvfng upon me elsewhere haye rem
dered 1t impossible for me to give the subjects3
which ought to be considered, scarcely any re-$
fiectlon. Those subjects are nothing more or
less than system Of education for our great
State, embracing this University at It's head,
the training Of; teachers for our common
schools, securing uniformity Of instruction
Of agreat system designed to place Illinois the
tlrst in rank and intelligence among her sister
l hare no doubt express the feelings Of al
when say, mn fitied with admiration Of this
magnificent edlace, embracingas 1t does what
ever y substantial and useful ina rchiteeturd.
with the beautiful, grand and impressive: the
buildings are splendid, spacious, commodions;
the grounds extensive, the arrangements for,
exercise, amusement, and manly accomplish
nents complete; the whole organized upon
the most approved plan and principles Of in.
str1ctlon. 1t is . building suited to liber1l
and enlightened period-not o servile copy Of
architecture which has descended to us from
ages Of superstition and ignorance. It is the
largest normal school edItice in the United
States. In word, 1t Ia a monument Of ele+
sance and sublimity for taste to admire, aud
Of usefulness for Judgment to approve and
initiate. -
The enlightened patriot md Christian, how
ever, looks not to this edifce as specimen Of
splendid architecture, simply, but is the head
'the center, OF great system Of education
1t controls, It is to give light and animation
and productiyeness to the whole federatiye sys-
TEN Of free schools. q
Upon the score Of economy, q subject Ger.
tain1y Of the first importauceto the Statesman,
hesitate not to soy that even this costly edi-
tice Is prudent Investment Whatever may
be the policy Of others, am free to avow my
tax IS so light a. that which is levied for the
education Of the children Of the State. To
pass by the influence Of letters on the mola1ty
the Intelligence and religion ofthe people, the
sums expended In education are more produc-
tive than those laid out In railroads or canals,
or other objects foe the material development
olthe country. Agriculture, commerce and
manufactures are regarded as The three sources
OF Tealth, but to these should added, science,
Which Is necessary to point out the means oi
production and essential to the highest od-
yancemcnt Of men in the various trades, pro.
fesslons and improvements.
; Tbs nature Of our Institutions not only sus-
| gests, but requires, and leads to the education
Of the people. Our government, By giving to
every uan the equal right to vote, and open
] ing the avenues to office to the humblest "a
well as the highest, hoids out the greatest
stimulus to education. A man to give an In
tellisent vote must think, must reason, must
discriminate, must be informed, and hence
must be educated II he aspiTes to cf1ice he
must be prepared to show qualifications for the
, discharge Of its duties. Hence our schools
ind dis sseminations Of knowledge through the
press, from tho stump, private and public II,
ceums and associations, are all the national
, offspring and necessities Of onr free institu.
! tlons. Hence our governments, both State
I and national, and corporations and individuals
: become the patrons Of learning, and make
/ large appropriations and endowmcnts there.
: FOR; and In every State are to be found the
chosen temples of science, while myriads oi
3elool houses in city, town and hamlet, every.
: where meet the eye. The boz ut school I'M
/ oibea the genius Of our tree institutions, and
. however poor lie may he, or however poor his
parents may be, be can say: II stand Us much
. chance to be President a5 any other boy"
This is the high training Of American citizen
slip, ard afterwards the intelligent exercise
Of The duties Of that ci,isenship, moulds the
statesman, whose voice Ia heard In the Senate
chamber, In the councils Of cabinets, in tht
diplomacy Of foreign governments, and gives
.luti sweep aud full play to that energetic mind
which las so wonderfully developed the en-.
!terprlse, and signalized the achievements o1
the American people.
Ihc cheapest means Of national defence and
'surest road to national happiness and national
grandeur Is the education Of tile people, Il
our government shall fail, it will not be from
the invasion Of foreign foe, but from the
seeds, sown broadcast, Of national corruption
and Ignorance. Tho Ho4lander, from behind
LIS national mounds, looks un1noved on the
rising surge and raging storm, but he shudders
at the worm which penetrates the dykes which
alone protect his country from the foaming
ocean. Despotism may point to her standlnt.
armies as the prop Of the government, but
point to American school houses mad meeting
houses as the citadels Of freedom,-,he rock
bound foundations Of American liberty.
And would ! make our own State what she
is by nature, the greatest in the contederacy,
the pride and boast Of all her sisters; would
make the star that answers to the name Of lii
nois the brightest in the galaxy, wonldschool
ler children, would make her powerful in
thought and the first in intelligence; would
carry to every log cabin the lights Of learning
and science. And now, standing here, In this
beautiful city Ut Bloomington, IS We look ont
upon our uvu bright Illinois, this heaven
favored E"s:sage, this blooming Eden, this land
flowing viii milk and honey,-over country
with s'sc's magnificent features, such vastness
and beauty OF scene-the gigantic outlines Of
WHICH swell and widen around us in every ti,
Fertion, the rich, the glowing, the gorgeous
t,,;:yery Of prairie, grove and Nelds9et ia re.
solve that its beautiful prairics shall never be
titled, nor its splendid roads ever be Travelled,
BY . people rude and ignorant, from our
criminal neglect to furnish them good md
competent teachers aud an universal educa
ton.
+, When We reflect that our government, how.
ever perfect, Is complicated one; that ou1
Constitution, althoug Il written in the plainest
English, is varlously construed, and seems lin.
Die forever to remain unsettled on disputed
points, let us never consider our liberties sc.
cure, or that our State has reached the shining
summit oil her great destiny, willie single one
Of her sons cannot read the Constitution Of his
country, or write his protest against oppres.
sion and misrule.
To our legislators belong the sacred trust
Of providing an adequate system, and appeal
to all BY the love we bear our State and the
Union, by the tender care VIC bear our ctlil.
dren, By all that eau be dear to us in the name
uf religion and liberty, that the State Of onr
choice and our love shall never fatter in her
noble efforts for the diffusion Of knowledge and
the education Of the people.