Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-20

eloquence and responsiveness that th
general effect of education upon mankind
has been such as to heighten the capacity
for committing crime Of every kind, an
especially those Of certain astounding
character, 50 common in the present age
and which are Of a nature seeming TO De
msnd the exercise Of uncommon intellec
tual resources. and an amount Of sciene
not usually possessed. : Asd he endeayores
to support this discouraging theme not onl,
by reason, but by the elaborate cita
ton Of recorded instances arising
in the most civilized countries which
be, the speaker, never could reaG
without shnddering or dismay. Edu
cate the mind Of man; cultivate it Al
highly as you please, strengthen hi
reasoning powers; improve his imagina-
ton, invigOrate his memory, make him th'
most profound mathematician that the
world has known Undue him with al
geographical knowledge, bring him into
'fanniliar acquaintance with chemistry
botany, Inineralogy, and all other scienc'
known teach him all the spoken and un'
spoken languages of learsh and leave che
moral faculties in an uncuitiyated state
neglect TO plant the Yirtueswhichdo mos
dignity human existence ia his Immortal
soul, and you only aid in the formation o.
a monster, y. sort Of modern cyclops, pos
seesed OF lrWondrous powers Tor mis-
chief and devoid alike Of inclination
and Of power To DO aughf that i
calculated TO add TO the true happi-
ness and dignity of the human race.
have no respect for any system Of educa.
tibn, however ostentatiously il may be
lextorted by others, which has no tendency
to purify and elevate the affections, enlarge
and regulate the nobler sympathies of orr
nature, inspire sacred regard fer truth,
for Justice, for benevolence, for sincerity,
aad for all that is manly and magnanimous.
/ ana desir0us that in the formation of the
youthful character by our practical eduoa-
Iionalist, care shallbe taken by them to see
that the seed of vice, of prejudice, of low
and groyelling sel6shness are not sown at
ali in the rich and prolific soil with which
they have to deal; or, if sown by other
hands, that they shall be rooted out before
the growing plant shall have borne its
eyfl fruits and have difused its evil juices
into the very earth with which it has be-
come incorporate. | wish that our schools
may inculcate love of country, genuine
philanthrophy, concord, beneyolence, uni
versal brotherhood, the love of free institI.
lions, and the determination 20 maintain
them at ell hazards. We are in the habit
Of saying that our noble government itself
sabsists upon two pillars alone; one is iSI.
tslIioerce and the other is virttce. 1t is our
duty, and particularly the duty of onr
teachers Of youth to strengthen and solid
ify both these pillars of our national pros
perity and happiness, to the full extent OF
their power. From the union of virtue
and intelligence flow all our social bless
ihgs, all our individual dignity, all our ma
tional felicity aud honor. Unhappy is that
country in which different views are acted
upon. Unhappy and degraded is that
community in which different views pre-
vail. / believe that the Spartans were
right in compelling all of both sexes
among them to pass through a prescribed
coarse of education; though | strongly
condemn that portion of their educating
system, which, as we learn, inculcated the
perpetuation of crime.
Wherever mind or moral capabilities
are found existing, there it is the duty OF
the government to see thai the blessings of
educational learning shall re supplied,
without regard TO lineage, race or sect.
Every particle of mind which belongs to a
State or nation should be made available
for the nations welfare.
The Governor then paid a neat complf-
ment TO the intellect Of woman, the mo-
bic instructors OF the rising generation,
and closed with the following
TRIBUTE. TO MRS. PRESIDENT POLK.
That it would be very great pleasure
for him TO perform the duty which had
been assigned him in visiting the hospit-
able mansion of the Veaerated, airs. Presi-
dent Pelk, and delivering to her the mes
sage which you have transmitted. Nothing
he said, could be more proper and becom-
ing, in my Judgment, Mr.. President, than
that the members of this learned and truly
National Association should call upoa this
noble lady for the purpose of showing her
that profound respect which am sure all
here feel for the amiable and accomplished
relics Of one Of cur wisest, ablest, and most
patriotic Presidents. u
Sir: In approaching the honored abode
Of this illustrious parsonage, where she
has 30 long resided in quiet dignity, You
vill pass in sight OF the tomb of her august
husband, and will doubtless pause for a
moment to survey it. Twenty years ago,
| was appointed to deliver the funeral ora
ton in honor Of Mr.. Polk in the capital
Of the lnationI Well do l recollect that
occasion. The task then deyolved on me
was one painful yet pleasing So now, IL
will afford me much qualification to have
the honor of introducing you and your as
sociales TO the acquaintance OF. Mrs, Polk
but, whilst doing so, shall feel, as / never
fail to do when / behold her noble features,
! sentiment of natural regret that so much
excellence of every kind, displayed alike
In peace and amidst the troubled scenes o.
war, in high public position, and amidst
the endearments of domestic privacy, must
In few short years more, be compelled to
leave the society which she has 50 long
adorned, and bid adieu forever to earth
and is transitory scenes of fancied glory.
Mr.. Gregory said thai the friends in the
gallery would sandwich The proceeding
with songs, and perhaps the best way t.
get down from the nights to which tbs
wings of eloquence had borne them would
be on the wings of music. 'i.Vd
Professor McGufey, of Virginia, wa
next introduced q e
Inc Professor said he could not very
well resist the polite invitation to say {
few words on the important subject. H,
had been Just forty-seven years and tire
months connected with education begal
in log hut in the Western Reserve il
Ohio; had passed all through the grade
up to the present position in the Univer
sity of Virginia. He scarcely heard ,
word in the hall on education in which h
did not acquiesce. He particularly agreeC
in the dictum put forth by many in In
convention that the teacher must be liv
man, but there must be a means Of usinl
the teacher. The first school law in Chi
was itlen at his desk. Teachers aDe
| books cannot be utilized without tn
agencies of such laws. On the subject Q
text books he agreed with the 0Keelleu
paper read BY Prof. Nevsll. The genera
plan.'was e begin at the wrong end. II
gave avery interesting account Of an ez
| perience he had 10 primitive log schoo
| house inOhio. LII Ire 7af..l
Ii requires a great deal more skill 3
teach an infant school than TO occupy
| chair OF moral philosophy in great col
lege. The teacher who does not lear
more than his pupils until be is tire
u 49,