7. "A Plan of Universal Education" (1795) By PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON Washington, like Jefferson, was always alive to the need of general education. 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 knowledge of the sciences. Although it would be injustice to many to pronounce the certainty of their imbibing maxims not congenial with republicanism, it must nevertheless be admitted, that a serious danger is encountered by sending abroad among other political systems those, who have not well learned the value of their own. The time is therefore come, when a plan of universal education ought to be adopted in the United States. Not only do the exigencies of public and private life demand it, but, it should ever be apprehended, that prejudice would be entertained in one part of the Union against another, an efficacious remedy will be, to assemble the youth of every part under such circumstances as will, by the freedom of intercourse and collision of sentiment, give to their minds the direction of truth. Α It has been represented, that a university cor A.P.S. Vol. 3 responding with these ideas is contemplated to be built in the Federal City, and that it will receive considerable endowments. This position is so eligible from its centrality, so convenient to Virginia, by whose legislature the shares were granted and in which part of the Federal District stands, and combines so many other conveniences, that I have determined to vest the Potomac shares in that university. Presuming it to be more agreeable to the General Assembly of Virginia, that the shares in the James River Company should be reserved for a similar object in some part of that State, I intend to allot them for a seminary to be. erected at such place as they shall deem most proper. I am disposed to believe, that a seminary of learning upon an enlarged plan, but yet not coming up to the full idea of a university, is an institution to be preferred for the position which is to be chosen. The students, who wish to pursue the whole range of science, may pass with advantage from the seminary to the university, and the former by a due relation may be rendered coöperative with the latter. I cannot however dissemble my opinion, that if all the shares were conferred on a university, it would become far more important, than when they are divided; and I have been constrained from concentring them in the same place, merely by my anxiety to reconcile a particular attention B A.P.S. Vol. 3 to Virginia with a great good, in which she will abundantly share in common with the rest of the United States. . . Jared Sparks, Writings of George Washington (Boston, 1836), XI. 23-24. 8. America, Commerce, and Freedom (1795) By SUSANNAH ROWSON An English immigrant. How blest a life a sailor leads, And cheer with hopes to meet again 'em; But toss off a glass to a favorite lass, To America, commerce, and freedom! And when arrived in sight of land, Our ship we moor, our sails we hand, With eager haste the shore we reach, When the full-flowing bowl has 'livened the soul, Our cargo sold, the chink we share, And if we meet a brother tar Then drink round, boys, 'tis the first of our joys To relieve the distressed, clothe and feed 'em: 'Tis a task which we share with the brave and the fair In this land of commerce and freedom! KISS THE BRIM, AND BID IT PASS When in India's sultry climate, When, her richest fruits partaking, Oft shall sigh for dear Columbia, Ah, then to Friendship fill the glass, When the gentle eastern breezes Oh, propitious be the gales! To Friendship, then, we'll fill the glass, Griswold, Female Poets of America (Philadelphia, 1856), 34. 9. Foreign Opinion of the United By JOHN QUINCY ADAMS Son of John Adams, engaged in several diplomatic appointments, later secretary of state and president. I HAVE mentioned that one of the motives of the French Directory in their late proceeding is to influence the American election, or to em |