Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-01
TO THE TEACHERS AND PEOPLE OF TIL
CONFEDERATE STATES.

AT the late Confederate States Educational Asso-
.ch,ton, which met in Charlotte, n. g., the under
signed committee were appointed to prepare and
publish an Address to the Teachers, the educated
ladies' and the people generally of the Confederacy
on the subject of education and Southern literature
To THE TEACHERS.
Teachers Of the South: You occupy high and
most important position In the nation. As the edy-
Gators of the rising generationas those who are 70
shape the plastic minds Of our youth, you hold in
your hands the destinies of our Government. The
soldiers, the statesmen, the minister's the educators
lin word, all those who to Gil the learned pro-
fessions and the useful occupations, are in your
charge. In the tender minds which you are to shape
lie the dormant elements of that silent yet powerful
influence which is the main spring of human society
and the hope of the world The stability, the pros
perity the moral tone ard glory Of our infant ma
ton, all depend upon the manner in which you dis
charge your duties. Your responsibilities un-
utterably great. E;
Congress IN their wisdom, have, so far, deemed
your services in the schooroom of greater impor-
lance than in the army. You not personally IA
vored in their legislation by being left at home. 1t
is because they feel that You better your
country educators than as soldiers. How impor-
tant then that every teacher of the South regard
himself, and be regarded by others, as public
beneiactor and patriot! How unworthy is every
one who has become teacher from no higher mo-
tive than to keep out OF the army
AS the educators OF peculiar people, holding
peculiar views and institutions, it is of the highest
Importance that all our teachers place themselves
the broad platform of principles which undere
our gOyernment-that their efforts and iabors bar
monte and blend into one grand system, and lead
to one great end. Freedom. and religion are the
fundamental principles of nationality. On this solid
platform should all our teachers sit and instil these
principles INTO the minds offhe young who sit at
their feet
Ii is not only the Office of our teachers to mould
the intellectual aud moral state of the young, but
our national literature also is to mostly from
their men, And the.lterature Of q nation wields
not only powerful influence ION the national mind
but it Is really the exponent Of The Intellectual and
moral condition, and the most imperishable glory
of the nation. :.
Such nation as ours needs, and must have a
literature of its own. Then, Southern educators,
as YOU realize your responsibilities, do you appre-
ciatc the work which lies before your If it is your
duty shape the mind and literature of our infant
nation, how important IL is that you at once begin
the task in earnest. In regard to the literature of
our country, it is inyour power to decide whether
il shall be the poisonous productions of our enc
mics under the insidious garb of g Southern Edi-
ton or the productions of Southern minds,
adapted to Southern institutions. The repubca-
ton OF foreign books generally will but corrupt the
minds of our people, undermine the foundations of
our nationality, and present us to the world as an
ignoble and despcabe people. Frown, therefore,
upon those who are republshing and circulating in
the South this dangerous literature and encourage
those who are publishing Southern books by Sodti-
ern authors. -.
TO TIE EDUCATED LADIES OF THE South.
Ladies The fact has already been mentioned
that the silent yet powerful influence Of pions, in:
tegent women is the main spring of society and
the hope ofthc world. Wien We appeal to the
ladies of the South appeal to those who hre able
and know how to WELD this influence. Your inhu-
ence in the cause of Southern independence has
been felt and acknowledged by the world. we APP
peal to you TO unite all the elements Of your mighty
influence in the cause of Southern education. Let
all the rays Of that influence blend to disperss the
dark, night of ignorance. Your sesyfes are net.
claimed in the Geld, but your country needs, your
influence in the schco-room. Your patriotism will
not allow you to turn heedlessly away from the cries
Of the young and rising generation. The men ofthe
South needed in the field, and the educated ladies'
must take their places in the schools OF the land
Will not every educated young lady Of the South
come forward, at once, and enlist as teacher and
lend her influence in the cause Of education
To TUE PEOPLE.
, People of the South: You have checf(ully made
many noble sacrifices for. the cause Of Southern
independence. YoI have freely given of your pro-
perty and your blood. Having paid SO dearly for
cur freedom, which we think, in tho providence Of
God, Is sure can yop fail to watch the future Of our
nstionf To gain our indspendsncs q nsthp will