The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-25

The subject of free schools is awakening
considerable discussion in Virginia. One OF
our contemporaries proposes plan for the
object and, indeed, there are many plans.
No project, however, will be of much avail
unless its practical operation is entrusted to
some master mind. II has always been
observed, when great social or political
changes occur, that some man. held III reserve
for that purpose, and previously not much
known, appears upon the scene, and, by his
strong will and concentrated energies, carries
through the revolution 10 triumphant finale.
Such man has been revealed in the State Of
Maryland in the person of its Superintendent
of Public Instruction, who has lately pub
Iished an address 10 the Governor of that State,
which convinCes us that he Is raised mp
expressly for the purpose of conducting 10 n
successful conclusion the great educational
improvements OF the times. He does not,
indeed, reveal his plans and specifications, nor
condc>cend much 10 details, bat the manner i'll
which he presents the great purpose in view
satisfies us that he ought 10 be sent for by Ntr
siuia, and employed 10 develop the hidden
Intellectual resources Of this State, 10 raise
from the bottom Of the ocean those gems Of
purcst ray serene which now lie buried in its
mflthomed depths, and 10 bring 10 the front
those village HAMPDgSs' who may other
wise perish in inglorious obscurity.
We know that the work will not stand still
ia your hands" says the Superintendent TO
the Governor. at will bridge the rivers Of
prejudice tunnel the mountains Of indifrer
"cncc, and give our people q smooth track to
knowledge"
That is precisely what we desire in Virginia.
~, Sy;y ty,NnN lodi ya
which prevailed in the benighted days Of our
fathers win not answer in the fast era upon
which we have entered. We have no time 10
pare in climbing those rugged sleeps where
FaIne's proud temple shines afar''; or in
reading, with patient and bleeding footsteps,
lAe tangled and thorny paths which lead from
;hc domains OF ignorance 10 the fruitful and
ilowcry plateau of universal knowledge. In this
age Of steam, when rivers and mountains pre-
sent no obstacles 10 our material progress, we
want 4 royal road 10 learning also. II there
was no such road in the former times, neither
had they any other kind of TOAD worth men,
tioniug. In view of the darkehed condition OF
our people, and the antiquated antlpathy 10
common school systems, we insist That the
MARYLAND Superintendent OF Instruction snail
be immediately sent for by the Legislature and
referred TO the Committee on Roads. He Is
the very man for our money. He has machine
which will "Jridge the rivers Wprejudtce tunnel
the nlouatdinS Gf Indifference, dnd gire or peo-
.s1le smooth track to kno,cledye." 1t is obvious
that this valuable invention ought at once TO
be brought 10 Virginia. The old men among
us who have enjoyed no such facilities of pro-
grcss will die in peace if they can see them
secured for their children. The tunnelling of
the mountain of indifference seems 10 us
one of the grandest engineering conceptions Of
the age. The Legislature of Virginia will be
recreant 10 the Commonwealth, and to such
posterity as it may aspire to, if it does not
Immediately import the great bore from Mary
land, and let daylight through the country.