Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 20, Number 46, Vincennes, Knox County, 26 December 1829 — Page 1

WESTERN SUN & (SEVERAL ADVERTISER.

a BY ELIHU STOUT. VINCENNES, (IND.) SATURDAY, IJECEMUEK 20, 1829. Vol. XX. No. 4G

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THE WESTERN SUN 5n? burthens which now arc light. And it is j liberty, ages of patiiot tears and blood, call

IS published at &2 SO cents, for 52 nura- I neucved mai no measure coma le divised (Upon you, and tinhorn generations echo the

I 11 lilt CUIblllll 1IU31. ,-our country's, let us

hear the call."

immense infiux from the

surplus popu'ation of Europe urges the proposed measure upon this government.

W lthout reproach to that portion of our pop

Iv't S W hicll mav wC uivjiiai gcu uy utu pay -q " ' v" " j m-ui . v , iw u, iu luuuim c-2 at the time of subscribing. every parent and of every good citizen in a j Tor God's sake, and for j

Pivm,nt m advance, being the mutual in- hrui allegiance to the Ciena al Government. say, let us intrcat you

- . . . u . ,l In nnli.!ar I S P. i T!)P l:irt nf ll;p

torcu ot botn paru

A failure to notify a wish to discontinue at the expiration of the time subscribed for, will be considered a new engagement; no subscriber at liberty to discontinue, until all arrearages are paid. Subscribers must pay the postage on their papers when sent by mail. Letters by mail to the Editor on business must be paid, or they will not be attended to. Produce will be received at the Cash Market Price, for subscriptions, if delivered within the year. Advertisements not exceeding thirteen

iincs win oc inserieii unee uuiv im uu-

LETTER V. As proposed, this letter will be devoted to

proving the present a, . favorable period , 3 . ? , ,tl'sr.c?1artlc1' r-.u-.-. t i: i . r that it has not been prepared by the influence

iui me c-jiauii-juuieni oi an insiiuiion 01 inc

highest importance to the welfare of this country. The prcscntiaa period of peace with all the world, with a prospect of its continuance.

Although among some classes of citizens, , embarrassments arc felt, yet seldom docs it

been prepared by

of institutions like ours to improve and enjoy in the best manner the advantages offered by a free Government. The mental elements

! on which liberty depends do not, like the ; physical elements, circulate without human

efforts If we would have our vast . tracts of unsettled country inhabited by an intelligent,

fall to the lot of prrnfer nrn?nfrifv

?.r. rnd tvurntU'ive cents for each alter in-

, -t ...,.nnrimn 1 L Cfllirntlnn nm, tlir t iPm In :) rhn:ii trp till n

any nation to experiences.;..... , r i i ., ... virtuous and Iree population, they must be than this now enioys I , ..... ,.:.!....,.. r.

scrtion longer ones in the same proportion, j nothing further can be done.

fe7rersons senUing Advcrusemenis, musi r.pccify the number of times they wish them inserted, or they will be continued until ordered out, and must be paid for accordingly.

enjoys raised to that condition by the influence of an

LETTERS TO CONGRESS, OH NATIONAL FREE SClIOots. LETTER IV. The object of this Letter is to give a sketch

of a Plan for establishing and patronising a system of Free Schools. It is proposed, that the appropriation for this purpose shall be apportioned among the several states and territories cf the Uuion, in a ratio according to the representation of each State and Territory. Such apportionment would leave undisturbed the unhappy controversy between the two great sections of ihc Union. It would best confornvto the spirit ol conciliation and compromiscwith which the Constitution was formed amLiidop ted. I reler to the compromise between the alaveholding and the non-slaveholding states. It is proposed that the portion of appropriation allotted o each state or territory shall, under certain conditional regulations of the General Government, be left to the disposition of the Government of each state or ter-. ritory, with liability to forfeiture for misapplication. Where states arc formed into school-districts as in the New England, Middle, and some o'her states, thcr could be no difficulty in the equal application of the quota of each state. Each congressional district would be entitled to an equal sum, say, ten thousand dollars, and each schooldistrict to a sum proportioned according to the estimate of population. Or it might be apportioned among towns according to popr- illation, by the state, and under certain restrictions, left to the disposition of the towns. In those states were common schools arc neglected and no efficient system is orga

nized, an appropriation from the General

to the genius and spirit of a Republican gov

i crnment. For this purpose .no time should

oe lost, in new countries with a snarsc

education arc obtainr . .t

lor internal improvement, and for the aid , 7. ... 1.1 ,

.1 . I . 1 i nvuuLiii null M'Liimistli I u IU I UC and protection ol our commerce and naviga- i , t . . r it , . a-ity to extend to ihem such advantages as tion being m a stateof advancement. Unless .. ... - ... . r ,. '-' Will flip l.into Ihmr rum illnn li.i t- . .-..1.

the revenue, contrary to all reasonable calcu- ... . , . , , . 1 c , ,T lation, shall be reduced, a larCe surplus will I ? e,v,K em lha,,hc Prosperity of the L5oon have been accumulated 'in the national i "lon n lht b" ''rea"'

It has beertshown in the preceding letters.

that this Government is free from cmbar-

rassments, its public debt being nearly paid,' , .. , . , rt , r i i r : population the means ol and importantworks, lor national defence, ... . ...v . r . i . i r , ;'d with great diflicu y.

treasury. The revenue also accrucing from the sale cf public lands moy be cspected to swell that accumulation. Could this nation be assured of no cause of

Should it be still urged as an objection

agmnst an imnie-litc appropriation by Congress for the suppou of National Free

Schools, that the present is a period of pe-

war, the repeal of a great part of the duties jcuniary embarrassment, it may be proper to by which the treasury is how replenished ; advert to the example ol the early settlers of might perhaps be deemed a wise measure, i tM13 country, and to consider whether embarHut no statesman would take upon himself ; rassments induced them to neglect the imthe responsibility of a policy that v. ould strip j portant duty ol providing for the education

his country of the smews of defence in cmer- 1 01 inclr children At the moment, when to

subdue the country, to delcnd themselves against their enemies, and to provide for the first wants of life their endured the sevcrcs

her increasing millions of revenue exclusive- hardships, and when with truth it might be

ly to fortifications, to the erection oT roads and j salcl that they had no money, even then were canals or to an increase of the army and navy? j lhcy riot s6 false to their children and to the May it not be reasonably expected that ere j cause of civil and religious liberty as the neglonerthc nconlc will demand either n rrdnr. Mect to make provision for their education.

tion of duties that will dry up the resources I The Court of the Colony of Massachusetts

gencies that may possibly arise. Such a pol

icy would be suicidal. Is this country now

prepared to adopt the policy of applying

of the government, or some system of appli

cation of those resources in whose benefits

levied taxes upon the people to be paid in articles of fircducc instead of cash. -If they

millions of dollars, annually, to the support of Free Schools, would tend to lighten those embarrassments. Such an application like blood flowing from the heart to the cxtrcim. tics, and bringing back to the heart fresh vigor, would create new means to replenish the national treasury. The money in the treasury ought not with miserly policy to be hoardcd up, The government is solemnly bound to apply the revenue drawn from the people as directly and equally as possible to their benefit. If we may regatd the m3xims of the best authors on political economy, the present is a most favorable moment for this government to aid the cause of education. Say, an eminent writer on political economy tells us in his chapter on production, that "academies, libraries, public schools and museums, founded by enlightened governments, contribute to the creation of wealth, by the further discovery of truth, and the diffusion of what was known before? thus cmpowering the superior agents and directors of production, to extend the application of human science tothe supplyof human wants." The soundness of this doctrine ought to recommend it to all governments instituted for the benefit of the governed and especially to Republics. ' If it bo objected that appropriations by government in aid of education cannot be immediately productive of revenue, the objection is not valid. The writer just cited very justly remarks, thatthe sacrifices made lor the enlargement of human knowledge, or merely for its conservation, should not be reprobated, though directed tc objects of no immediate or apparent utility. The sciences have an universal chain of connection. One which seems purely speculative must advance a step, before another of great and obvious practical utility can be promoted. Up

sides, it is impossible to say what useful properties may lie dorment in an object of mere curiosity. When the Dutchman, Otto Guericke, struck out the first sparks of electricity, who would have supposed they would have enabled Franklin to direct the lightning, and divert it from our edifices, an ex

ploit apparently so iar beyond the powers of

m n n '

is essential to their safety. Before then the

apprehension becomes more general and deeply fixed that the resources of Government drawn from the people are to continue to be unequally and unjustly applied, let it be the care of the Representatives of the people to commence a system that shall carry back

Government would awaken new emulation in ; from the national treasury to the people some the cause of education. Let a system of free beneficial effects that shall be palpable. The 3chools be required of each state and tcrrito- j people of the United States have a right to

ry, by the General Government, as a condi-jtnc evidence that they arc taxed lor their own

benefit. It is an eternal law ol Republics

adopted by the illustrious founders of ours,

tion for receiving her quota, anfl it nny bo presumed th.it not oitc state or territory would lonr he delinciucnt. How many ai e

-, y

they may enjoy a participation more direct ! ,,acl not ncney to compensate the schoolmasand equal than that which now prevails I j lrr tlic.v XVC1C obliged to pay him in grain or Already arc there indications, that in relation orthcr articles of subsistence. In 1 635, enly to this "subject public opinion is apprbaching ! fiflccnycars after the landing of the first scttto a crisis. The people of the United States ' !frs at Plymouth, schools for general educa are beyond any other people jealous of their ! lon wcre established in Boston by the inhabi

tants. I thank God that they are so. This lanjs oi mat town, wnisst it was still almost

entirely a wilderness, in 1 047 tlie legislature of the Colony of Massachusetts declared by a general law, " that every township with fifty families should provide a school, were children might be taught to read and write ; and that every township of one hundred families should provide a grammar school where

youth should be fitted for the University." Similar laws were passed by the Colony (if Connecticut, in 1650 The colonial laws of New Haven ordered, 1 that the deputy for the particular court, in each plantation in the

juricdiction, for the time being, or where

the villages where the inhabitants would belted for the common benefit protection, and formed and organised into school districts,! security of the fieoile, nation or community;"

that Government is, or oiurht to be institu- lhere af c nn fillch deputies, the constables or

other officers in public trust, shall from time to time, have a vigilant eve onnhciv brethren

constituting so manv little republics ; whose I and that " of all the various modes and forms

youth now growing up in ignorance, idleness j of government, that is best which is capable j

and vice, would then c;' y means or improve-J ot pt oducing the greatest degree ot happiness ment both intellectual and moral, without! and safety." Such is the language of the

, K which man is a degraded creature and a pest j constitution of Virginia. It is the language ' to society. ! of her great statesmen whose names will be

So many arc the states that now have their honored as long as Republics exist. The sy stems of school districts organized and in constitution of Massachusetts framed by operation, that no state could have difficulty : statesmen and patriots of the same great in divising a pla.i suited to its situation. j school contains this provision. "Wisdom and Let the General Government hold out to each j knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused genercongressional district the inducement of anally amahg the body of the ficofile being tiefew thousands of dollars far the proposed j ceasary for the preservation of their rights object, and by every part of the Union it would cvid lbert:es: and as these depend on spreadbe received with sentiments of devotion and ! ing ih. opportunities and advantages of cdu-

gratitude more general and ardent and last-1 cation in the various parts of the country, inr; than any act of this Government has ever! uul among the different orders of the people,

called forth it shall be the duty of legislatures and ma

True, indeed, the sum proposed would hot ! gistratcs in all future periods of this Com

be adequate to supply entire support to monwcalth, to cherish the interests of litera

thcjyhole system ol I rcc Schools. In the

opititvih of the writer such support would be

estpablc. It is better that the pe-ople tfULnavc some direct pecuniary interest

fin measures for the support of their own in- ' . .

stitutions. All that the people require is the

influence of aid and ol an earnest, in the coun- them. Much has been done by a number of tcnancc and example of the Government. j states for the cause of common education.

They require only to know that the Govern- By a number of states education is still neg

ment is engaged to consult measure lor their happiness.

An appropriation from the Government to

and neigbors, within ti e limits of say! plantations, that all parents aiui mastery do,fl$ly endeavor, cither by their own ability jmd labor, or by improving such schoolmasters or other helps and means, as the plantatiofvxlocs afford, or the family may conveniently provide, that all their children and apprentices as they are capable, may, through God's blessing, obtain, at least, so much as to be able to read the scriptures and other good and profitable books in the English tongue, being their native language." The power of the common people at that day to read and write was an acquisition far above the acquisitions of the common people of other countries But it was seen by our wise and keen sighted ancestors that for purposes of self government the people must be educated. Their schools were open to the poor as well as the rich. Each town was

lure anu the sciences and all seminaries of! so divided into small school districts, that

them." At th3t period of the Republic ! the schools were accessible to the children

hat

when the fathers cf it had learned by experi- all. A wiser institution for the purpose? oJ

ence the cost of their liberties, their solid-1 establishing and maintaining a system of self-f

tuile tor their preservation led them to reflect government, it may be asserted with conh-

I deeply on the means essential to preserve j dence, could not have been deiscd. Those

sagacious men who had studied and felt too the causes of oppression and the means by

I which the people of other countries were

lected, and among all, hc means arc still un- i kept down in servitude, were determined at

equal to the importanco of their object. ! all events, that if their children even lacked

o; every consideration ot inc present $ tc i oread, tney snouid know enough to enable of the Union and of the world, the mSjaue '. them to ward off the evils of siavcrv. Not-

them would recommend with an eloquence

bevond mere words, to their care and vigi j proposed is urged upon the attention of our i withstanding the severe embarrassments airvl

s ot education, i i uiers. in me language ol an elegant writer vexations the colonists had sullercd, previous

1. ...... 1.1-.. ii V- l t'. .ir i .. .t r . . . M

i miiuiu 3ny, ao men ever emoycu sucn i to me itcvoiuuon tney iiau lounucd and erv-

an opportunity as is given to you, for accom-1 dowed no less lhan eight colleges and univerplishing the best hopes of patriotism and ! sities. Considering how greatly the means philanthropy. Solon, Aristidcs, Demosihc-1 and facilities for advancing the cause of edu nes, the Fabii, C Ho, and Cicero, had no such ( caiion, have been increased since the Revo materials to work with as you have in the j lution, it is apparent that as a nation we have intelligence and virtue of this free nconlc. i been dulv emulous of following the wise rv.

. . j - - r

lance the all important interests

Who has not noticed the influence of the patronage of a number of the state governments for the promotion of agriculture and other useful art ? A few thousand dollars of the bounty of a state give impulse to enterprise, and the most beneficial effects arc cvciy where evinced in improved modes of cultivation and in all that can add to the convenience, ornament and comfort ol life. The plan of Natioval Fiirr Schools is then feasible. The revenue is competent to oirry the plan into opciation without incrcas-

To all human view, the last great experiment of republican freedom that is likely to be tried for ages, is passing under your guidance. The eyes of the world arc upon y ou. Ages that have passed in the noble strife for

ample of our fathers.

If the people arc suffering to any considerable extent from pecuniary embarrassments, and at the same time a surplus remains in the national treasury, the application of a few

rl here is a further consideration that must claim the serious regard cf wise statesmen. Where the power of government is hereditary or is retained by the incumbent in oflice during life, the government may proceed in its operations as does the Clock until it run down. But not so with an elective government where the elections are frequent as under ours. Once in four years the force of the public mind, enlightened, or unenlightened, improved or deteriorated, is brought to bear upon the chief magistracy of the union and to delegate to the sovereign power the elements of its own wisdom or folly, purity or corruption. At shorter periods the same elements are dclcgaied by the elections to other departments of our government. Hence the importance of perpetual vigilance, and of powerful causes in perpetual action, to preserve the Republic from degeneracy. Hence the importanccof providing, without delay, those measures essential to perpetuate in the knowledge and virtue of the people the vital principles and energies demanded for the preservation and prosperity of this Union. 1 he fall of Republics like that of the first pair from innocence and from paradise has in times past been sudden and tremendous. Ignorance, the blind goddess " Springs her mines, And desolates a nation at a blast." S. P. Vol. 1, p. 203. Tin: m:siijENrrf message.

Tho stylo and character of the hVt Mes?ac f IV-Mdent Jargon, Invc fully mot the Jit i- t

equations ot hi friends: and hi opponents . confess that they havo been disappointed. Tho moderate and intelligent portion of hiT' advisarie concede, that it is a ehasto and lucid document, which, while it develop a perfeet knowledge of the nature of our federal government and of the purposes for which it was instituted, is so simple and comprehensive so unassuming in its tone, and in its gencr al tenor, so benign and patriotic, that it cannot fail to bo approved by the American people: while tho most virulent those who are determined to oppose his administration, "right or wrong" involuntarily compliment it, 1,y wondering"'' w ho could have teen its author! By this singlo inquiry they actually arlmit, that the stylo and matter of "the message are of the very first order; that it so far excels whit they anticipated or, rather, what tly had predicted that they are at a loss to designate its talented author. The surprise manifested on this head, whether real or affected, will ba well understood by the American eopIe. Those who wtrc actually induced to telievo (ien. .Inekson would Ik incompetent to write a respectable Message to Coun ss, will be view, cd as the dupes of designing and unpriacipled partisan:; while their who were heretofore busy in underrating his intelligence and acquirements, aud who now, to preserve the appearance of consistency, coutinuo to deny his competency to discharge the duties oftho'hi-U otfiee. to which 1m hus t-o'Jn called by t?m 7i

oi