New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-06


There have been numerous educational phi
losophers from Plato to Horace Mann. The
Latest of these is Mr.. Senator Garlic OF Vir-
pna, who, on the 9th ultimo, favored the
body of which he expects TO be favored
member, with his opinion OF the education Of
Africans. which summary was-that they
should not be educated Mt all. Mr. Garlic
was opposed to any legislation to provide for
the education of the Blacks in the District OF
Columbia, for the reason that no provision
was made BY law for the education OF any.
body in Virginia. Considering the present po-
litcal condition Of that distracted State, which
we 20 honestly believe could have arisen from
no cause but the Bpotan ignorance of the popu-
lace. we do mt think Mr.. Garlic could have adj
duced stronger argument, If he had sought one,
ia favor Of Public Education than the unhappy
State of Virginia would have afforded him.
LIDO seryilc humility and unruestinnne faith
with which the Mother of Presidents trotted,
at the whistle of South Caroli0a, into the
slough of Treason, argues but little for the
disadvantages Of Common Schools, and proves
a great lack Of popular intelligence. " In my
State" said Mr.. Garlic proudly, we edu.
cate children without Act OF Congress." Ifby
"my State, Mr.. Garlic mcans Western Vir-
sna, We have only to say, chat We do not
know any State that educates children by act
of Congressman did the bill before the
Senate propose to provide for education in any
State. IL affected only the District of COuui-
ba, over which Congress has entire control.
or to which Congress must extend whatever
legislative aid may be afforded. So much for
the particular bill before the Senate.
But it 10 with Mr.. CarIe's general. and
not bis particular ground, that we have the
chicfest quarrel. We understand him 10 say
that il is not the business Of The State 10 pro.
vide for education at oil. Against this, We
have only to adduce the uniform practice of
all civilized nations. Universal History speaks
with an hundred tongues, to refute this ab.
surd libel upon the Intelligence of man. Public
schools existed centuries ago in Athens, in
Sparta, in Home, in Judea, in Persia in
China, in India, in Japan. They remained,
and even to certain extent hourshed, under
tho blight of the mOnaish Middle Ages, mud
which did remain and flourish al oil. In
modern times, there is not a great nation, be
it's government democratic or despotc, which
does not recognize the duty and the necessity
of public care for the education of the people.
We believe there is not Cabinet in Europe
which has not Minister of Public Instruc.
ton. Ii is true that certain Governments may
have "A peculiar policy; and may even seek,
through the school, to quiet the awakening
liberalism Of the people. But this il not the
point which We are discussing. We are
merely asserting that all Governments have
recognized either the duty or the necessity of
promoting Popular Education por-
haps, the Governments Of some Of our own
Slave States.
OF tho capacity OF the Black Race to re-
ceiye instruction, it may bc prOpee to Say
something But it must be- promised of many
of this most unfortunate class OF bOndnen, that
they are in no sense, Black. Amalgamation
has done, if not perfect, at least an imper-
feet work. Tho question 10 IN many cases, Of
the education Of persons half or two-thirds
white, as to whom all arguments Of the int,li-
ority of the African are futile. They may
still in some small degree exhibit traces OF
African origin, but for all tho purposes OF the
argument, they are white. And generally. we
protest against all attempts to uudcrrats the in
tellectual and moral capacities of a race which
for a loug period of time has been subjected
to the debasiug and degeneratiug influences Of
involuntary scrvitude. 1t is not only grossly
unfair, but it is greatly ungenerous. 1t is only
u natural part OF that system which. having
injured. then seeks to maligu-which, having
treated man as beast, assumes, to escape
moral consequences. that he is beast. and
has, therefore. been only properly treated.
Upon ta. R9lAt, We uay quote tho language Of