Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-06
"GrInding Seed Corn.

We have seen and heard of persons dis
couraging youths under Is from going to
school. 1t strikes us that this is the very
worst policy we can adopt; and we are glad
to hear of a rebuke administered to it short
time since by President Davis. a youth
from Mississippi had joined the army, con-
trary TO the wishes of his relations, who
sought the interposition of the President to
have him discharged from the service. The
President readily complied, and remarked,
that the using up of boys IN the army was
like grinding seed corn."
The above from the Richmond Whig, of yes
terday mornings issue, suggests ideas which
we would I'D happy to aid in impressing up
on the public. The war which has burst up
on US like portent, has arrested the atten-
tentiOn of the people to such degree as to
call off their thoughts from almost every
thing else. This is very natural and if the war
were to prove very brief, it would be allowa-
bic. Perhaps, up to the present time, it
would have proven unavoidable, whatever
effort we might have made against it. Men
are not stoics. and ought not to be. 1t would
have been no credit TO US, if, Graded in peace
and pursuing unmoested our ordinary en-
gagements, we should have been undisturbed
and unmoved from our accustomed paths
by the sudden gathering and terrible burst
ing of the storm of war Something is due
to the sensibilities of our nature, and he
who, without impression, can witness social
tragedies on whatever scale, is less than a
man.
But there has been enough time for the in
diligence of this first shock to our feelings
and this absorption of our thoughts and ener-
gies. Other duties begin now to appeal to US
again for their appropriate observance and
accustomed respect. They demand of US the
recognition due to their long acknowledged
and uuchanging importance. Prominent
among these is that alluded to in the extract
above-the duty of educating the young
Our schools have suffered an interruption
during the present year let it not grow into
their suspension. Let the interruption cease
at once where 1T is practicable, and in all
cases at the earliest possible day. The Op
portunity for instruction, if now lost by the
boys'aud girls who are soon to be cur men
and women, will be lrreVocably lost. The
boy of this year is the man of next year. A
brief period only lies between the schoolgirl
and the grown lady. If this time, allotted
to education, shall pass unimprOved, the sea-
son will be gone to those persons forever
Parents will thus perceive that they have a
duty to perform towards their children which
they may not defer; and the young people
themselves will see that if they do not wish
to grow up uheducated. they have something
to do besides surrendering themselves to the
excitement of the war.
Then let our schools go on. Let US edu-
cate our children as carefully as ever, as far
as we possibly can. Suppose the war should
last, as it may, several years, and that mean
while this policy of closing colleges and
shutting up schools, should continue; the
generation which treads on the heels of the
present adult population, will come to their
places, and will act their part through life,
without those advantages of education which
we so justly value, and we will be to blame
for ii The duty of parents, and the DUTY
OF citizens combine to require of us that this
evil shall not come. The farmer who ''grinds
his seed corn" will reap no crop the next
year, and will deserve no compassion.
While on this general subject, we would
also speak a word in behalf OF those agencies
which the benevolent and good have found
so instrumental in promoting the welfare If
society by fuTtheriHg the cause of good
morals. The Church is, indeed, illustrating |
the doctrines which its pulpits have taught, |
by hospital ministratiOns to the sick, and by |
clothing the brave soldiers. But its doors |
should not be closed, and the fires on its al |
tars should not go out. The Sunday school |
should not be neglected, and the little ones |
left TO find out those who will teach them /
vice on the Sabbath day. They will soon be /
the men aud women OF our land, and should |
have all those aids which will tend to make |
them good citizens.
Let US. in short, while bearing bravely the |
burden of this war, with which our enemies |
have crowned their Wickedness towards US
be careful at the same time not to leave un-
lone, any further than is unavoidable. those
iuties which form the staple of peaceful life
The Yankees have broken our peace-that is
their fault. Let them not make US neglect |
our duties to our children and to society,"
that will be ours.-RiohIEoRd Eng.