Year: 1863

Mr.. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMEN:-Some years ago, when peace
prevailed throughout our borders,
had the honor to address an associa-
ton of teachers gathered together
from different portions OF our State !;
and one of the topics l then discuss
ed was the necessity of teaching the
fundamental truths of American De
mocracy in our common schools
The subject was by no means cX-
hausted, and it possesses, just now,
a fresh and peculiar interest, consid-
cred in the light of the subsequent
history of our country, and the ter


rible crisis in which we stand.
have chosen this topic for another
reason. While it connects itself with
the subject of educational reform,
and is strictly in order on this occa-
sion, my occupation and habitual
range OF thought will better fit me to
deal with it, than with SO large a
theme as that OF education in gener-
al, which has been so often and SO
thoroughly explored by others, and
is so remotely related 10 my familiar
studies and pursuits. This intelli-
gent audience, | am sure, composed
in large measure of those who have
made the subject Of education their
peculiar study, and whose devotion
to it as q profession, is constantly
adding to their stock of knowledge,
will excuse me for standing on my
own chosen ground; for thus only
can | hope to contribute, if it be in
any degree possible, towards the adj
vancement of the great cause in
which you are so worthily enlisted.


If it be true that education, in its
just sense, comprehends that course
of instruction and discipline which
will best fit the scholar for the prac-
tical duties and trials of life, then it
follows that in the United States,
where all the powers of the Govern
ment are lodged in the hands of the
people, the duties of the citizen
should be thoroughly taught, either
as n regular branch of study at
school, or by other competent meth
DDS, rendering the help ofthe school
master superhuous. Such instruc-
ton should he regarded as a first
duty, as an absolute necessity of our
condition. The neglect of it should
be dealt with as a mOnstrous sole
cism in our politics-a wantOn be-
trayal of our liberty. Doctrine nat
urally comes before duty Theory
precedes practice. 1t is as true in
politics as in morals, that right be-
lieving goes before right action
The essential truth in politics must
first be unfolded and understood,
and then duty, or the practical SER
vice of that truth will follow as its
crowning flower and fruit. Sound
political knowledge can no more be
acquired without thought and study,
than sound knowledge in any other
| department. 1t does not come to us
unsought, 10y any natural or super
natural process; but must be acquir-
ed, and no valuable acquisition is
possible without labor. Ii the price
of liberty is eternal vigilance, / can
scarcely imagine a keener satire up
on the institutions of our fathers,
than the folly of committing them to
the hands of those whose boyhood
we have suffered to eliminate in
manhood, without any special train
ing designed to prepare them for the
burdens and responsibilities of cit
izenship, and whose knowledge in
this particular has been gathered up
at random from the fragments found
drifting here and there upon the
troubled surface of our politics.


The case is very different under an
absolute despotism. There, all the
powers of the government are uni
ted in the hands of a single person.
Life, limb and property are commit
ted TO his unlimited control. A power
ful standing army awes the subject
into absolute submission. and IN.
complaining silence. Freedom OF
the press, OF speech, and consequent
ly of thought, are positively inter-
dicted. Even the religion Of the