Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-09-25

educated. whatever else be may have
learned, who goes forth in societ,
untaught in the duties OF citizen OF
the United States.
Ia concluding this topic. allow me
to suggest that some knowledge OF
parliamentary law. or the law gov.
erning public assemblies In the tran
saction of business, should also be
taught Ia our schools. This knowl-
edge important rs it IS to legislative
bodies, should not be confined to
them. II should not be the monop-
oily of Z few men who look to public
F life as Il livelihood, but should be-
long to the whole people. We bor-
row it from the Common Law. with
which 1t grew up to its present COM
pleteness, and il forms a strong ele-
ment OF popular freedom throughout
our entire country. DR.. Lieber tells
Us that every other nation OF anti
/ qulty and modern times has severely
suffered from not having a parlia-
mentary practice, such rs the Ancli-
can tribes possess" Ia our public
gatherings, whether political, com
mercial, philanthropic, or what not.
this knowledge is needed. Every
matter of general concern, in fact,
which is acted upon in public assem-
+ bly,, makes II important TO every ciG-
zen, and enjoins it upon him to un-
understand it. It's most obvious
principles could readily be taught in
our schools, in connection with the
lyceums, literary societies and de
batting clubs of the country. Let
this be properly done, and our Young
men Will have the courage to go into
a gathering of the people ami make
their presence felt, instead OF shrink
inc from tie gaze Of the multitude,
or qumling under its criticism. We
~ often have l seen a few men, 10y a
deXterous use OF parliamentary rules,
carry fayorite measure against the
wishes OF large majority, timidly
looking on, aching to avert the re-
sult, but powerless to help them
selves. Is not such a spectacle to
be lamented in country in which
the people are free, and the political
equals OF each other. Should not a
injecting of the people be controlled
/ by the peopley We have often com
piained OF the undue power of the
+ Southern States of our Union over
the North. Let me say that one Sc
cret Of this is the systematic politi-
cal education OF their Young NEIL
They appear to be born and bred for
politics 1t is said that boy in the
South at the age of twelve years, will
appear in a public body with more
seli-possession than a young man in
the North at the age Of twenty. The
prestige Of Southern politicians in
our National Legislature has been
lproverbial. Their peculiar training
gives them assurance, directness of
purpose, courage, and certain cx-
ecutive force, whilst Northern mem
bers, brought up in the overmaster-
ING love OF money, uIskilled in poll
ties = = profession, and timidly
deicrring to qualities in which they
feel themselves deficient. naturally
fail into a subordinate position. Let
US receive instruction from our
Southern brethren, and ii it be
true that with less tan half the pop
ulation OF the Free States, they have
uniformly dominated over Us as our
masters, let Us lay the blame at our
own doors, and make their example
tributary to our deiivermce
And here, MIR. Chairman, / am
naturallyreminded that an important
link in the chain of my argument
has been omitted. | have cndeav-
ored 10 enforce and illustrate the i'm
poftance OF more thorough politi-
cal education, and of better methods
Of imparting it than have vet pre-
vailed among us But the discus
sion OF this topic would be singular
~ incomplete If should not refer
20 tie frightiul civil war which now
aiiiicts our land. | speak now o.
education generally. Popular ignor-
ance has been the slow match which
at last threatens TO rend our nation
into fragments, and disappoiAt the
fond hope OF the world Popular
ignorance has draped in mourning
more than one hundred thousand
households IN the loyal States alone
Popular ignorance has called into
deadly strife from the walks of peace
nearly two millions Of men, breth-
rcn and kindred, and the JOINT heirs
OF common heritage Of liberty
Popular ignorance i at this moment
sending up wall OF sorrow from
millions Of broken and bleeding
hearts, storming almost the throne OF
God with the agony Of their grief
Popular ignorance, transforming its
victims into human devils, is threat
oning to desolate our land with the
9randest assemblaee Of horrors ev-
er witnessed on earth. an | told
that this rebellion is the creature Of
nuliilication and secession. | an
sWer. tlat notification and secession
would have Deen powerless for mis-
chief, without the horrid background
Of popular ignorance on which they
have erected their blood-stained al
tar. Docs some one assert that the
rebellion IS the offspring Of African
slavery in the South, and that II
there had been no slavery there