The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-10
3lgashrille &lniuu.
To the Members Composing the
General Assembly of the State of

I
iOgus Of subjects that have aud will com
before you, claiming your special attention
I doubl whether any VIII be entitled 10 more
il ss much, as the subject Of Education
whilst many, very many, subjects has 81
ready received a respectful degree Of atten
ton at your hauds, such as encouraging tn,
development Of the resources Of the STATE
by granting liberal charters for mining pur
, poses; but We must remember that there il
another and more important mine, called
mind, which, if properly developed and eul
tivated, will yield more income, and better
income, than All the mines contained in the
, bowels Of the earth, for Of how much value
would ell the iron ore, copper, silver or god
be worth without cultivated intellect to fnse
and refine themg Even a few years since
, what wss rock oil tpetroleum) thought Il
be worth, until scisnce had taught US how
to prepare by redning) It for use? You
may estimate tho value Of all the oil
mines aud every other mine in the state,
and see how insignificant it is when com
pared with the value that resulted fr,m the
discovery and invention Of the mariner
compass, or the power of steam applied by
science, or the discovery and application OF
electricity, or even say the cotton gin, the
spindle, OF the shuttle snd loom. Hence, l
would say = cultivate the intellect Of mind
will in return yield larger, much larger,
nett income in proportion to the capital than
any other miuei l had liked to have said,
and all atLer mines added together for
without educated mind Of what valus are
they, or what value was our rich hills and
productive valleys TO the Uneducated Indian?
SO you will see, gentlemen, if YOU only con
template ths subject in pecuniary point of
view you will readily see that it is not only
a great saving but great gain to the State.
would, therefore, respectfully submit to
your consideration, and for your adoption,
the following resolution, viz:
RCsOIrad. That It is the paramount duty
of the people Of the State Of Tennesfrs 10
adopt and provide Tor universal system OF
education.
Even an expression Of that kind would
secure to yourselves and The State lasting
honor and an imperishsble fame. Though
that would be called only resolution, vet
TO resolve TO perform a good action is
one step in the right direction; for
if there be any truth in that of
repeated maxim, that a representa-
\ tive Government not only depends
upon the Intelligence Of is subjects for lis
preservation and perpetuity, but for its
very existence; and while you have under
consideration a franchise law, consider in
telligencs is the bulwark We have 10 look TO
and re'y upon for our peace, happiness
aud safety. II there is any one inteFestiu
the State that has stronger claims than the
balance, it certainly is the subject Of educa-
tion. We have now arrived at the point
where il is admitted that something should
be done. The next question that presents
itself IS, how il could and should be done
By outstanding our finances, this would sug-
! gest some reforms in various ways, but for
the present we will wait and see if We csu
have the pleasure Of seeing the resolution
above adopted.
Lest some person should wish to know
what We mean by the use OF the term edu-
cation, We will simply remark, a system of
public instruction by which all three OF the
combined powers of human nature can be
| cultivated 60 their highest state Of perfection,
by a constant and careful exercise of the
| physical, intellectual snd moral powers.
| The extent % which each separate power is
susceptible OF attaining to, has never been
| fGlly demonstrated Let Tennessee-great
aud noble Tennessee - furnish not only
her sister States, but the world with
the unparalleled example, Of a State
| that practically regards herself a. the
parent and natural guardian Of every son
and daughter living within her geograPhi-
cal boundary. A population thus educated
would add more TO the wealth, peace and
happiness Of society than all the mines
combined. : It would produce a crop Of
Newtons, Locks, Fultons, Arkwrights,
| Morses, and a thousand and one OF such
characters as has been hailed as the bene-
factors Of mankind. OF what value is the
horse, the OK, the dog. without that
proper system Of education called training?
Witness the effect Of the power ald inhu
ence OF training exhibited by the horse at
circuses. Likewise, behold to hat eCtent
the elephant and the dog, can be sught 70
perform such parts-as is often VIII esssd
Even notice the ferocious snimsls, su. h ss
the lion and tiger, how their tempers aie
s1bduei. Then, if education can exert
such an influence on such animals, what
can it DO for man-who without education
is like the wild ASS colt, going astray from
his infancy, without some gentle and
kind hand 10 guide him? We are OF the
opinion that the mysterious and profound
depths aud powers OF human nature in its
physical. intellectual and moral character
has never been fully explored by the snato-
mist, the mental philosopher or moral phi
| lanthropisi, save he only who was filed with
| an spiritual wisdom and knowledge. lie
1 informs Us that in man there IS not only s.
plurslity, but q trinity Of natures in one
person. While in God there is not only
plurality, but a trinity Of peuons in one
nature Therefore We conclude that not
only the basis, but the sub basis Of any sys-
tenn Of education worthy Of the name should
have special reference TO the nature and
necessity Of man. 0r, from smother stand
point. We would define an educated man Or
woman to be ore who has not only theo-
reiic,l, but, as far as possible, praetical
| knowledge Of al the use.ul arts and sciences.
/ particularly the great and fundamental law
/ Of self-preservatiou, aud last, though not
least. self government. Ia the former, how
indispensably necessary to the preservation
/ and prol0ngatlu of human life that We
should be taught To understand the laws Of
health and the relation they sustain 70 the
/ physical universe; personal cleanliness;
temperance-another name f0 uniformity,
or, more properly, regular habits. Il this
/ important lesson was taught and understood,
we would more seldom have use for the doc
| tor, not half 90 often have % mourn
the uutimely death Of a son or dsurh-
Ter well educated IN other respects.
anu 7alttHaH ora Va eAN AAaAAal AaaEtA
benefits Of useful citizen. But the whole
powers OF our nature should bs made subser-
Went 70 the government Of our moral nsture;
for a man distinguished Tor his great wisdom
has said, with great pr0priety, greater is he
that can govern himself than be that can
/ govern q nation The same distinguished
auihor has also said, Train up child teeu-
cate himl in the way be should 70, and
when he is oid he will not depart from Il.
The illdir dual thus educated Is not The
only bsns6eisry, bat society comes in ana
res ps hundred fold Of The benefits thus
conferred up7u one Of her citizens. But
imsgfne We hear some objector say. the
State IS not able 70 embark IN 80 gigantic an
enterprise q hat Of undertaking % educate
al the ehildreH belonging 70 her geo
gyaphieal boundaries. Let her make the