The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-14

1 I
developed is as thouRhit were not-emphst-
ically q blank. Individual men rank BY
their intellectual culture and growth, and
90 do nations and communities. France
| stands foremost among the nations of the
earth, not because Of her admirable geo
graphical position, or her enormous militia
| ~ strength but because Of the acuteness OF
? mind and brilliancy Of genius belonging 20
. her inhabitants, and because Of the fertility
Of ideas consequent upon the high enltiva-
ton Of mind SO long prevalent in her midst.
| Russia, with a continental territory and a
vast population, is only beginning 10 be
power among the nations, because Dnt re-
Gently entered upon a career Of intellectual
culture. just as he has advanced in this
4 career so has her influence and power ad-
} vanced, and her rank among the nations Of
christendom. Not territory, not population,
mind makes a State.
Tennessee, one Of large community Of
States constituting in the aggregate a con
tinental, imperial Rspublic, must hold
rank in this great sisterhoOd Of States, not
because her position &c graphically and
lclimatcally is prominently favorable,
and her industrial resources Of peculiarly
rich and varied character, but mainly be-
cause inhabited by people who possess the
highest culture Of the age, and are thus Just
lv entitled 10 take high stand among con-
temporary peoples. In the past periods Of
the brief history Of our state her position
has been high because of the great influence
leXeresed By her people on the affairs Of
government. Hereafter this high relative
standing cannot be retained unless BY a
more extended culture and exercise Of mind.
Every Ieunessean must If E0t altogether de-
void of pstriotic instincts be deeply so
licitous that his native or adopted
State should thus retain its high renown ia
the great commonwealth, SO that always
hereafter as heretofore, her children may
with honest pride and fond affection pro-
nounce her musical and venerated name.
In the new career upon which we in com
mon with so many Of our sister States are
now entering, much if not ali, depends upon
the manner in which we make our start as a
| State Our people cannot too often reflect
that their prosperity and welfare depend
mainly upon the action of their own Gen
eral Assembly, for which they, the people,
I are soiely responsible The United States
Of America may be admirably well gov
eued, and 50 may the large States Of Cali
I iomia and Illinois, or the small ones Of
Massachusetts and West Virginia while
Tennessee through unwise or in defect Of
wise legislation may languish IN poverty
/ and Ignorance, "a scGrn aud contempt aud
proverb among the citizens Of her wiser and
/ happier compeers. The principal topics Of
/ goverument-the ones most vital 20 the
! daily well-being of the citizen, by the
America system Of government tall within
/ the province of each individual State Leris-
| lature. In States where these bodies are
wise, liberal, enlightened, the private citi-
zen being sustained in all honest and useful
enterprises is encouraged b the utmost and
20 long continued effort, and hence the State
makes rapid and secure advances in pros
perity and fame. Where the contrary spirit
prevails nothing remains for enierprisng
active men but 60 leave the unfortunate,
misgoverned Stste or else, which is the true,
patriotic course, earnestly TO fight against
bad legislation and by patiently enlighten-
ing their fellow citizens, 90 work reiorma-
tion and relieve their country Of a curse.
Among the subjects over which the in
dividual State has virtually unlimited and
supreme control, there is one so vital 20 the |
welfare Of the community, and 50 wide !
reaching ia all its relations and effects, that |
had the Legislature no other function than |
the direction of this one element Of civiliza-
tl0n ii would be still an Assembly of su-
preme importance 90 Tennessee. This sub /
iact Is education, which by the American |
constitution Is left entirely a. State control, |
the national government having no function I
in this respect other than the expression Of |
good viii by donations more or lesa extensive /
% the separate States-which 10 the lasting /
honor OF the American Government have 4
been bestowed with uustinted hands,
It has 60 happened, that while pru- /
dence and lberality have charac-
terized the past legislation OF Tennes
sea ON several points of great public mo-
ment her RECORD in this respect is one Of re-
proach and regret from the beginning 10 tho
ending. Going back 90 the early acts of her
General Assembly, we find that higher OF
university education was deprived by re-
peated legislation all the while protested
against, of the Just and handsome provision /
made for il by she parent STATE, North Caro-
lima, and by the National Congress. And |
as popular education has ever been an ont
growth from the University, aud never
nourishcd without the University. ID need i
not excite surprise, that ever from that day 4
60 this the hopes of the masses have been
deceived by futile and nugatory legislation;
that ambitious and selfish political leaders
have ever promised the people q good sys-
tenn Of public schools, aud have ever fflsi-
ied these promises, until at length Tennes-
see had fastened upon her magnificent and
aud heaven blessed domain the neauest.
poorest, most fruitless school system in
America, ranking her among the very fore
most States in the Union Tor deficiency IN
the elemental arts Of reading and writing.
In casting cur thoughts back upon the
history Of the past two generations we can
not AVOID the painful reelection that how
ever much of political and military renown
and reputation the honored names OF our
illustrious public men have bestowed UPON
Tennessee; that yet these distinguished
men OF the past did signally fail OF their
obligations 10 the great masses OF the people
10 whose aid and support they were indebt-
ed for high Office ana distinction. Evident
it W is, that they sought too much their
own promotion aud elevation, and far too
little that Of the people. Let the public
men Of the coming period avoid this error,
50 that when their lives become historic,
their names may be recalled not merely
with pride. but with the warm affection Of
multitudes, whose condition has been made
better by their well-tlmed exertions. The
great truth ever stands, 60 wit; that true
craftsmanship Is not the WELDING the masses
Tor e.f-aCrrandizement-it is the devo-
tion OF self q, the welfare Of the masses.
The latter style OF craftsmanship alone be-
slows undying glory. While thus plainly
advertng 30 the deficiencies Of the past, we
must not fail 10 10 justice % the patience,
zeal and devotion Of the Friends ot uni-
Norsity aud academic education, through I
whose persistent end il-requited labors |
Tennessee hss maintained O deceived repu-
tation ior knowledge and Intellect. They
have done whatever has been done, and far
more than could have been anticipated, % |
redeem the neglect aud Indifference Of the
State, and hereafter their names viii become
household words smong On intelligent pco-
pie, yet 70 occupy the territory within the
Tour lines bounding Tennessee.
Thus with regret and sadness recalling I
the past, we may be permitted earnestly 20
nope that amid the storms and tempcsis OF {
me past iogr years the Tennessee system of 8
pubic Instruction, has iualy persisted, {
never hereafter 10 be mentioned, unless rs
a waning u
N'N tnAi oi Necessity a new start must
oe made, iei en- lovers OF education and al !
true Hiin1ed Ienuesseeans call Tor no half /
way measures. Pro6ung by the rpened q
81 iteDo'1 81 other communities, aud
looking pc the peculiar condition and
wants Of cur own. let MS NM in on q
Grafton system loft public education
which shall literally cndow TIE seats ofI
higher learning, and provide IN aF- / &
cieut trimming ior every chld vithin 49,
borders. Aoihing less than this Il worth / {
attempting. and unless this much Is dome ]
ID Is best 10 10 nothing. Ear better far the
State 30 wait, sad ST length 40 something a
worthy her name aud tcrviceahio % The
public, than 10 crcste again d miserable J
systeui. vainly burieusome 10 the people, i
aud productive Of ignorance rsthcT than
knowledge. ,
As 90 university education, without ample
provision Tor which comm n schools are an Z
impossibility. the rcadiesi method woCld be
'e execute justice aud 30 wipe sway deep
so enduring reproach from cur annals by
80 neg out the arrangements contempia-
~ IN the c0mpacts entered into more than
- century since for the endowment Of q
So sea- OF learning in either end Of the
-, nc spirt OF these compacts nov
fsn5 49, Yea Wan, woald yield 80 large
'1A' Aese institutions might safely