The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-17
Popular Education

REFERENCES TO TIE HISTORY OF THE PAST
DIR. SAMSON EXPLAINS JEFFERsoN's VIEWS
WAsHINGTON'S POSITION ABOUT A UNIVER-
sITY-RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS
FORMER ACCORD OF ALL PARTIES. -a
To the Editors of the Dispatch: ..
Inquiries and suggestions have come to
the writer intimating that the brief report
Of an address made at the High-School a few
days since may leave the impression that the
proposed plan OF Jefferson was partisan in
Virginia policy, that it was allied to the
New England system, and especially that 1t
was inconsistent with his stand against the
introduction of sectarian religious teachings
in the university established by his lnflu-
ence. Please allow q mere statement OF
facts touching these three points.
jefferson and Patrick Henry were repre-
sentatives OF the early republican or States
rights doctrine. while Washington and
Madison were as decided advocates of the
Federal element in the new government; /;
but they were alike animated by the convic-
ton that universal popular education was
the only hope for the permanent security OF
the republican Constitution which they had
framed. In his first "speech" to Congress,
January Sth, 1870, Washington made the
closing and longest paragraph OF bis address
an argument and appeal to the assembled
legislature to make special provision for
general system OF popular education. rive
years before this the Virginia Legislature
had voted, as personal gilt to him Tor past
services, shares in two companies formed
for the. purpose of improving the navigation
OF the James and Potomac rivers, which he
had accepted only on condition that he
should be allowed to devote it to some pub
lie institution. When Jefferson and Henry
were pressing their plans for system OF
education letters were exchanged between
them and Washington; and the only differ
ence of view expressed was that Washing
ton thought that the University proposed
should be national and seated at the Fede-
raj capital. Jefferson wrote to DIR. Priest
lev that both Madison and Wash
ington concurred in his views. In
his letters, and in the eighth and last
speech to Congress, Washington urges two
main ends to be sought in the popular edu-
cation provided First, that the "habits OF
destination and extravaganza" and "prin-
ciples unfriendly to republican govern
ment" which were engendered in young
Americans then educated abroad might be
corrected; and second, that common edtl-
cation might be given in all sections. since,
as he wrote, "The time has come when a
plan OF universal education ought to be
adopted in the United States"; and ne
added, esThe more homogeneous our cltl-
zens can be made in these particulars the
greater will be the prospect OF our perma-
nent union"
AS to the second suggestion that Mr.. JET
Ierson may have been Influenced by New
England prepossessions rather than by per-
sonal conviction as to the wants Of Virginia
the following statement to Colonel 1ancy,
June G, 1916, is sufficiently definite: !" II
the LEGISLATURE would add perpetual tax
OF cent head on the population Of the
State it would set agoing at once and Tor
ever maintain system OF primary or Ward
schools and an university where might be
taught in its highest degree every branch OF
science useful in our times and country, ana
it would rescue us from the tax OF torylsm,
fanaticism, and indiferentism to their own
State. which we now send our youth 10
bring from those of New England.
AS to the religious instructions to be
piyen in the schools, Jefferson, who was o
great student Of Montesquieu, only opposed
sectarian and priestly teaching OF dogmas.
Tn his letter to Adams, this question was
discussed on both sides and with specla! ac-
cord. Jefferson wrote: "The doctrines
that flow from the lips of Jesus himsen are
within the comprehension OF child" IL
was with the universal accord OF all parties
in Virginia, Maryland, and every other one
of the States that the public schools were
opened with the reading Of the New Testa-
G.. w. SAMSON.