IX. NATIONAL EDUCATION.

How can man bo intelligent, happy, or useful, without the culture and discipline of education? It is this that unlocks the prison-house of his mind, and releases the captive. REV. DR. HUMPHREY.

Education is the chief defence of nations.

EDMUND BURKE,

POPULAR EDUCATION.

Promote, as an object of primary importance, stitutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.

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In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it should be enlightened.

EVILS OF FOREIGN EDUCATION.

It has always been a source of serious regret, with me, to see the youth of these United States sent to foreign countries, for the purposes of education, often before their minds were formed, or they had imbibed

any adequate ideas of the happiness of their own; contracting, too frequently, not only habits of dissipation and extravagance, but principles unfriendly to Republican Government, and to the true and genuine liberties of mankind, which thereafter are rarely over

come.

1794.

We ought to deprecate the hazard attending ardent and susceptible minds, from being too strongly, and too easily, prepossessed, in favor of other political systems, before they are capable of appreciating their

own.

1795.

It is with indescribable regret, that I have seen the youth of the United States, migrating to foreign countries, in order to acquire the higher branches of erudition, and to obtain a knowledge of the sciences.

1795.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

That a National University, in this country, is a thing to be desired, has always been my decided opinion; and the appropriation of grounds and funds for it, in the Federal City, has long been contemplated. 1794.

True it is, that our country, much to its honor, contains many seminaries of learning, highly respectable and useful; but the funds upon which they rest, are too narrow to command the ablest professors, in the

different departments of liberal knowledge, for the institution contemplated, though they would be excellent auxiliaries.

Among the motives to such an institution, the assimilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common education of a portion of our youth from every quarter, well deserves attention.

1796.

The more homogeneous our citizens can be made in these particulars, the greater will be our prospect of permanent union. And a primary object of such a National Institution, should be the education of our youth in the SCIENCE OF GOVERNMENT.

In a Republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing on its legislature, than to patronize a plan, for communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?

1796.

MILITARY EDUCATION.

I flatter myself, that, under a skilful Commander, or man of sense, (which I most sincerely wish to serve under,) with my own application and diligent study of my duty, I shall be able to conduct my steps without censure, and, in time, render myself worthy of the promotion that I shall be favored with now.

1754.

OFFICERS URGED TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE FROM BOOKS

Remember, that actions, and not the commission, make the Officer. More is expected from him than the title.

Do not forget, that there ought to be a time appropriated, to attain knowledge, as well as to indulge in pleasure.

As we now have no opportunities to improve from example, let us read, for this desirable end. 1755.

MILITARY ACADEMY.

The establishment of an institution of this kind, upon a respectable and extensive basis, has ever been considered by me, as an object of primary importance to this country; and, while I was in the chair of Government, I omitted no proper opportunity of recommending it, in my public speeches and otherwise, to the attention of the legislature.

1799.

The institution of a Military Academy is recommended by cogent reasons. However pacific the general policy of a nation may be, it ought never to be without an adequate stock of military knowledge, for emergencies. The first would impair the energy of its character, and both would hazard its safety, or expose

it to greater evils, when war could be avoided: besides, that war might often not depend upon its own choice.

In proportion as the observance of pacific measures might exempt a nation from the necessity of practising the rules of the military art, ought to be its care in preserving, and transmitting, by proper establishments, the knowledge of that art.

1796.

Whatever argument may be drawn from particular examples, superficially viewed, a thorough examination of the subject will evince, that the art of war is at once comprehensive and complicated, that it demands much previous study, and that the possession of it, in its most improved and perfect state, is always of great moment to the security of a nation.

This, therefore, ought to be a serious care of every government; and, for this purpose, an Academy, where a regular course of instruction is given, is an obvious expedient, which different nations have successfully employed.

1796.

THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, OF NATIONAL INTEREST.

The Arts and Sciences essential to the prosperity of the State, and to the ornament and happiness of