Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-03-13
Latest from "UnderWood.'
UNITED STATES District Court,

J
Hon. CHARLES SUMNER-DEAR SIR-Shall
the Southern States still he controlled by the
men and the policy that have already. brought
ruin. disgrace, poverty and starvation upon
them, or shall they adopt the policy OF the en-
lightened States of the North and Of the nine
teenth century? Shall laws, monopoly and
class legislation, with the necessary ignorance
and degradation OF the masses, still prevail, or
shall we take new departure from the Old
course and secure universal education and free
schools, with their inevitable accompaniment OF
enterprise, equality, wealth, temperance, mo-
rality, religion, public, private and domestic
happiness? During my Northern exile from
home in 1856 for opposition to he extension OF
slavery into the flee Territory of Kansas | spent
months in studying the free school system OF
the Northern States, and found in II the spring
and cause of the, Northern wealth, strength,
power and unexampled material, mental and
moral progress 1t is rcrfcclly demon'trab'e
that every dollar judlciously expended 10 nose
states for education has been returned tcntold
in material wealth, to say nothing or the more
important culture aud refinement when have
given dignity Of character and elevation OF
purpose and those princaly bcnelactlonS and
nhiantbopjc charities of their Llwrences and
Peabody's, the wonders of the world, and which
never fail to spread their gentle and ecvatlng
influences, their Christian and clvlllzlng char
actelisticS, through every avenue and depart
ment Of social and domestic lie. III the State
of Virginia, in her present apparently hoteiGsS
condition, should adopt the maxim OF the
North, that the property Of the State shall
educate the children of the State, and impose
tax of three per cent on all her zeal estate,
her only present means, tor the purpose OF
building school houses, procuring libraries and
creating fund for the payment OF teachers, 1t
voald not only aid in Kidding the State OF its
most terrible remaining curse ofland monopoly
but within three years the $4,000. 900 thus
provided would greatly reduce the false pride
Of our foolish aristocracy and raise our real eS-
tate from its present assessed value OF $780,
100000 to at least $500, 900, 600, with all the
other manifold and Inesimab!e benefits OF the
humanzng and ennobling power OF educaIl on.
1t was the glory Of the good King Alfred OF
Old England that he made justice cheap and
brought i TO every poor man door
How much greater glory shall those
wise founders of New England institutions,
shall make education cheap and bring it within
the reach of all the chldrcn Of the poor South
1t is now the province Of the Folticth Congress
to determine whether the old Bourbons, with
their cruel code Of class privileges, their bowie
knives and rcvolvcr5, shall be restored TO power
| or whether the sweet amenities and mild charl.
tics OF the new dlspcnsation established by the
fathers and Sagcs of New Eng and shall be
spread over Tue dcsOlatcd territories Of the late
rcbclIi0us States. in the name Of our common
Christianity bcSccch you, in the reorganza-
ton OF these new governments, leave nothing
to the hazards OF chance or accident. Kindly
bat firmly adopt those well maturcd measures
and principles which shall assure to those in
the future all the blessings which you enjoy in
your own happy and peaceful hOmcs-lhc
blessings Of free and equal laws, OF universal
education, OF freedom OF the press and freedom
Of religion and, above ALL prevent the Zero
cious and bloody men who have destroyed 80
many lives and 50 much accumulated wealth,
from wrcaking their threatened revenge upon
their fellow citizens who, for their confidence
in your justice and humanity, and by ADDER
encc to you and the flag Of our country, have
already suffered more dreadful prosecutions
than this century has anywhere seen inflicted
upon any people IN any civilized country
on this green earth. Save Us from becom
ing f;l~hned like rebel democratic Ken
lucky, but conform US to reconstructed repub-
lican Tennessee, and we will then feel that
those of us who still live can thank you and
our Heavenly Father, and that those of Us who
have fallen in the struggle By the violence Of
our common enemies have no! died III Vain
Your ob2di>nt servant.
JOHN c. UNDERWOor.