The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-04-27
For the Valley Virginian.
TEXT BOOKS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

In the last issue of the Valley T1rginiaa is an
Editorial based upon the discussion of the Text
Book question before the Board of Trustees of
Augusta county, which, in justice to myself, and
the cause which l advocated requires some notice.
The attempt to break the force of nv argument.
in behalf of the series Of Virginia made Shcool
Books by ascertaining the zeal with which it was
presented to mercenary motives may be Iegiti-
mate, though in this instance not fully justified
by the facts; but when it is stated sthat the heads
'of both houses are of Northern Origin, and the
''benefts ultimately destined to fall into Northern
'pockets' The statement is so wide of the mark,
and so Numerically opposed to the facts as dem
onstrated during the discussion, that the public
would certainly draw different conclusion if
informed of the statements authoritatvely an
nounced on that occasion. The head of the Uni
versity Publishing Company is not man ssof
Northern Origin, nor are the profits designed to
fall into the pockets of Northern men. The head
CT the company is the Hon. LOUIS MCLANE of
Baltimore, native of Delaware; and the compa-
ny is composed Of prominent Southern gentle
men of well known position and well established
reputation. Of the $50 MEMBERS composing the
company, about twenty Northern men, but
such men as CYRUS Mccormick, Rev. CHAs
CROSBY D. D., &C.; and the residue are South
erners. How then can it be alleged that the
''benefts are designed ultimately to fall into
Northern pockets''
MCGUtf0V
Readers and the highfalutin eulogium upon their
merits, of the cutting irony with which the effort
to supplant them is greeted, Of the ardent pro-
fessions of devotion to the interests of the South
and earnest avowals of glowing with tenderness
"almost as tenacious as womans affection, every
'thing interviewer with her history" I would
not complain If the Editor had only published the
extracts from the Fifth Reader, to aOhich OBJECTED,
and which, as l believe, should exclude the Book
mrs 7 az WIN INV ,l,o,,,
they were written, the republication of them now,
without word of explanation, without the name
of the author, without word or sign to indicate
that they are not designed to be applied to the
experiences of the last few years; these constitute
valid grounds for critical examination, and in
dignant denunciation. Let the following senten-
ces serve sample.
''Let the American Orator discharge all other
duties but this, if indeed it be not impossible
with the energy and eloquence of John Rutledge
and the disinterested fdelidy of Robert Morris
yet shall he be counted traitor, if he attempted
to dissolve the Union.
His name, ilustrious as it may have been.
shall then be gibbeted on every hill top through
out the land, monument of his crime and pun
ishment, and Of the shame and grief of his coun~
try"
Now if such sentiments as these commend them
selves to the favor and admiration of the Editor
of the Vyyinian, with all his patriotic devotion to
the South and interests, | only say ssde qush-
"bus non est disputandanm." For myself, repudi-
cate it, even at the risk of being adjudged gull
sly of hypcrcritical sentiment without enduring
''substance-of infamed passion subordinating
'sreason-of imaginary evils exercising logical
conclusions SC &C." That the people of Virginia
sympathize to some extent, at least with these
''hypercritical sentiments let the action of the
county Superintendent and Trustees of more
than three fourths of the counties of the State
attest L. &. WITHERS.