2407. EDUCATION, New York vs. Virginia.—
Surely Governor Clinton's display of
the gigantic efforts of New York towards the
education of her citizens will stimulate the
pride as well as the patriotism of our Legislature,
to look to the reputation and safety
of their own country, to rescue it from the
degradation of becoming the Barbary of the
Union, and of falling into the ranks of our
own negroes. To that condition it is fast
sinking. We shall be in the hands of the
other States, what our indigenous predecessors
were when invaded by the science and
arts of Europe. The mass of education in
Virginia, before the Revolution, placed her
with the foremost of her Sister Colonies.
What is her education now? Where is it?
The little we have we import, like beggars,
from other States; or import their beggars to
bestow on us their miserable crumbs. And
what is wanting to restore us to our station
among our confederates? Not more money
from the people. Enough has been raised
by them, and appropriated to this very object.
It is that it should be employed understandingly,
and for their greatest good.—
To Joseph C. Cabell. Washington ed. vii, 186.
Ford ed., x, 165.
(P.F.,,
18201820)gt;
