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iThave men to the highest enflnenre by theitf Such oi tW above as worked duringEDTTO ATIONi own exertions. Tims Giftbrd, the cabin, boy, became one of the most influential writers oivacation earnedtution, than to one who depend* entirely upenhi*50 09 »friend* tor support. Apd if it was otherivi^e*, . ftMANUAL LABOR COLLEGE.Extracts from a Report by the Trustees of Allegany College.,No fact is more clearly established in the annals of modern literature, than that the present most common mode of instruction, is deplorably defective in both these important particulars— [viz. the security of the health and morals of students.] Aeonstant application of the mind, Without giving the body suitable exercise, enervates the system, stupifies the faculties, impairs the health,and of course prevents vigorous application to study, and eminence in the attainment of use* ful science. And such are the deleterious effects of this course upon the student, that, according to the estimate of several eminent presidents and professors in colleges, one fourth of those who may be called close applicants, come to premature graves, while the great majority pf the remainder drag out a feeble existence, with sickly frames and shattered constitutions.Though numbers of ladaof the institution 1 your committee |havo dctobis whether it would-bo -' his dav Metas'tacis a friendless be?, tine- \ and others not accustomed or disposed to , f accordance wuh the chatter of tins msumikm g Ihtsaay.Wetastacis, a j si gAx ^ activity, have earned not more j ? Jo notw^t toWr/vhjinc verses through the streets, became one oi ! L«'L..^ n,,tT. u^, im,ch aif jj,e charter whs granted beforethe greatest ornaments of Italian literature. j l“aQ Iro,n to tour cents tier hour, ana j bor ftVPlem wu8 generally adopted, and of11 not f lid lmnnrtonl' . * i . i i • « i •«* •The two Milners raised themselves from the weaver s bench to the highest eminence in the literary and religious World. Epictetus,born a slave, became the pridb ofthe stoics,and the familiar friend of the best emperorsof course will not expect the important pecuniary results before us; yet the above statement gives cheering evidence of whatf He la-course ivvitli a view to establish a classical school of the j ordinary character. Rut while the usual privileges r are given to monied students*, there can be no le-may be done by young men of active, en— j fal objection in extending the privileges of theof Rome. Ferguson anti .Murray raised ihem- J J*ie ll0pe that the day may net befardisergetic, and laborious habits; and inspires i mstitmion to those who labor for their support.selves from being shepherd boys to be distin guished instructers of mankind. Brown,the author of the Concordance,Commentary, and Dictionary of the Bible, was a shepherd boy. Pope Adrian was the son of a barge builder,—availed himself of the privilege of a charity school at Louvain, and being too poor to buy candles to study by night, he would read in the Church porches and at the corners of streets, where latnp9 were kept burning. By unwearied diligence in this course, he became eminent for his acquir-ments, and rose to be preceptor to Charles V| by whose influence he was promoted to the[From the Beardstotvn Chronicle. 1HUS'HVILLE CONVENTION.the means of self education shall be placed M Ata '^etmg of Delegates appointed by the in it.nit. „r oil '.i, . I several counties, in the northern part of thistant, when, by the increasing improvements and success of mannhl labor institutions,\i(in the hands of all young men'who have Q ’ i t 11 • r u •« .sufficient force or character lo obtain or ^ 8ta,e ; began and heW ”• Rushv.Ue, on thebe benefited by a thorough education.”In the mean time, according to the prov- papal chair. Terence was a slave, yet rais-•erb, • An idle man is the devil’s workshop,” being an active agent, he will be doing something ; and if not usefully employed, will be doing mischief Hence the idle manner in which students usually spend their leisure hours, tends strongly to vice : so much so that many piou9 parents have feared to send their sons to college, lest their morals should be polluted, and themselves be rendered a curse instead of a blessing to the world.That these evils exist, and that the best, if not the only remedy for them within the human grasp is manual labor, to occupy the hours of relaxation from study, appears from the testimony of nearly one hundred gentlemen, presidents and professors in colleges, and otherwise distinguished for their literary attainments and thorough knowledge of men and things.Bodily exercise, for some hours each day.ed himself to such eminence that the haughty consuls of Rome courted his society, and delighted to do him honor.Franklin, a printer, raised himself, by studying while laboring at his business, to sucli an eminence of literature and general science, that he became the greatest philosopher and ambassador of his age. The two Stephens, Robert and Ileury, father and son, rose from being the most laborious printers, to be among the most learned men of the age. Brindley, when a boy, a carter and ploughman, afterwards a millwright, became a celebrated engineer in constructing canals, tunnels, aqueducts and locks.— Sir Humphrey Davy, the son of a wood carver, and an apprentice to an apothecary, become the greatest chemist of the age.— Columbus, a sailor, became the greatest geographer, astronomer, and discoverer ofThe operations of the manual labor system is not confined lo the institution itself; its practical effedls and pecuniary benefits may be exhibited by the students on the road to and from their r* ves of instruction. Thus several young men, \\':o were educated in the Oneida Manual Labor Institution, in New York, wishing to enter the Lihe Seminary at Cincinnati, instead of taking the stage and Steam Boat as most young men would have done on a similar occasion, they took their packs on their backs, and travelled on foot to Glean, at the head of the Alleghany river, hired themselves out on rafts, and descended tho stream about 800 miles, and received each twenty two dollars to help him to an education, instead of having spent that sum for travelling fees.This system does not contemplate so much a direct reduction of tho expenses of education as an indirect one. The board, tuition, and other7th day of April, 1834. Col. Samuel Alexander, was called to the chair and 11. Fellows. appointed secretary pro tem.The Convention being called to order, the following named gentlemen appeared and answered to their names, to wit ;'From the county of Knox.—Henry M. Gillett and Mourton McCarver.From the county of McDonough.—\Vm. W. Chapman, John A. Chin worth and J. Clark.From the county of Sangamon.—-Peter Cartwright. John T. Stuart, Samuel Morris, William Carpenter, Sam’i. H. Treat andGeorge Forquer-.From the county of Hancock, land.From the county of Morgan.-IIsaac Gal-Col. A. S.incidental expenses of students must be paid in ; West and Thomas Beard.1 From the county of Macon.was required in the system of education a- i his times* Beu Johnson, the dramatic po-dopted by Pythagoras. And in Persia, Rome, the Grecian states, and, indeed, inet, was a mason, and a soldier when young. Roger Sherman, a shoemaker, became oneevery well regulated ancient government, I °.f ‘ba most distinguished orators, and pat-their systems of education mads daily bodily i ”ot ‘^teamen of the American revolution, exercise a requisition. The system prevail- j ■?ef8 e *a m Nova Scotia,these institutions as well as others. But the excellency of tho system consists in a provision by which the student may earn enough to pay a part or the whole of these expenses, at the same time he is pursuing bis studies. And ip addition to the advantages he will derive from the preservation of his health, guarding his morals, and contracting habits of industry, he will in many, or most instances form a character for usefulness,and lay the foundation for future wealth and honorable affluence through life, in the habits of industry which he contract?,But while the labor student is thus enabled to pay a part, or the whole of his expenses, the system contemplates also a reduction in the expenses of board, both from its kind, and die modo r{ ob-J. Johnson, j -J. A. Men-1From the county of Tazvvell. dell, Benj. Briggs, David Baily and Addison Allen.From the county of Adams.—S. A. Alexander, Earl Pierce. Jesse Bowls, John Kirk- j patrick and George Gilbreath, iFrom the county of Warren.—Col. John Humphrey and Capt. James McCallon. -| From the county of Putnam.—Aaron v Payne. ;From the county of Schuyler,—G. W, P* | Maxwell, Edward Worthington, Abraham Marshall, and H. Fellows.From the county of Peoria.-Francis Vor-Mitcheil anded genoraily. if not SfSt commenced studying the motion of theuntil monasteries were established and li*, i P *^ta *en walking on the sentry s post ararv men inrne.d m„„t. ■ D1Sht- aQd belDg discharged that he mightrary men turned monks, divorced themselves from useful and practfcal life, and ended their days in cloisters, where they might become sluggards, and dozed away a life that might, with activity, be rendered useful to the world.In accordance with this ancient usage, we learn from the historians of those days, that those distinguished statesmen, soldiers, philosophers, historians and poets, connected manual labor with study, and many of them were dependant on the avails of their toil for subsistence, while employed in the literary pursuits which have immortalized their names, and placed them on the imperishable pages of history as the benefactors of their species.About two centuries ago, Milton wrote a pamphlet in which he urged the necessity of manual labor to secure the health and morals of the student. And since then, Jahn, Ackerman, Salzman, and Frank, in Germany ; Tissott, Rosseau, and Londe in France; have all written largely on the subject. But it was reserved for the Rev. Mr. Wesley, whose extensively usefhl labors, rendered him one of the greatest benefactors of his age, first to revive this ancient mode of instruction which connected useful labor with literary studies ; by founding and putting into operation, tho “Kingswood Academy,” inEngland. 1. vConsidering the usual idle mode of recreation, or spending leisure hours at schools and colleges, as a sinful waste of time, and of course tending to immorality; and that regular exercise in some useful employmentis necessary for health a9 well as morals ;and, above all, desiring to qualify the young men under his care for usefulness in life, he made it the duty of students to spend their hour* of relaxation from study in some useful employment. It is highly probable, a3 Mr. Wesley made the bible the standing rule of his conduct, that when he founded this school he had his eye upon a similar one founded by Elisha the prophet, for “the sons of the prophets,” in vvhich the students labored, for they “borrowed axes and chopped timber to build them houses,” kc.In the introduction of Methodism into A-meriea, the economy of its founder was adhered to in this particular. Cokesbury College, near Baltimore, founded by Bishop Coke and Asbury about forty five years ago, had connected with it work shops, gardens,- c. in which the students were required to spend their hours of recreation, instead of idle plays, which were strictly forbidden.— But this builing was consumed by tire, com-, municated, fas was supposed,j by the hand of an incendiary. Another was built, but sharing the same fate, the Methodists became discouraged, and made no more at-• tempts of the kind for many years.The next effort was in “ the Maine Wesleyan Seminary,” the model of which was taken lrom the above named schools. But these institutions being under the patronage and general superintendence cf the Methodist-Episcopal church, and having grown out of her economy, appear to have attracted no attention out of that bod}', lo have been viewed a3 a part of her religious institutions, and suitable only for the members of her communion, or their sons.But shortly after the establishment of the Maine Wesleyau Seminary, some enterprising spirits in the State of N, York, succeeded in getting np the “Qnpdin Institute.” totest the manual labor system, and such has been its success, that the system has become the most popular of any mode of instruction now extant ; and not only new schools and coiieges are being erected on the plan in different parts of the union, but many ofthe old colleges are also adopting it as important improvement in themodus opero/tr/t for instructing youth.And such is the prevailing /conviction of its utility, that the benevolent societies.of the day. have added to their mighty phalanx ono in N. York to promote manual labor in liter-attire institutions. This society employed Ir Theodore D. Weld as its agent, during the year 1832, who travelled very extensively, and corresponded with literary gentlemen mjch more so, and in bis report has collected a mass of information apparently sufli-rient to satisfy the most skeptical mind, that this is the best, if not the only system of eduction in use, in which the health and morals oi students can be safe.That our young men can prosecute theirstudies with great success, and at the same time labvjr, not only to preserve their health, but also to defray all the expenses of tuition, board, books, clothing, k-c, is easily demoii-. inuul by numerous cases, in which menlaming it which renders it still more easy for him !to meet his expense by his labor. Such students j is, Doct. Lang worthy, Wm.us l:ve high, “and fare sumptuously every day,” Doct. Rouse*must expect their expenses to be according ; but iTVorr.such ns are willing* subsist on the most simple ! lhe coun,y _ M„ , „diet, (which indeed is admitted to be the most J , hereupon, on motion of Gen. Maxwell,healthy for studious persons) may reduce the ex- . Lot. ISamueL Alexander,was appointed r res-J.T. Temple.pursue his studies to greater advantage, became one of the great teachers of the world in the science of astronomy.'' Shakespeare was a butcher when a boy. Samuel Lee, a carpenter, labored and studied together io early life, yet became the most distinguished linguist of the age, and professor of Hebrew in the University of Cambridge, Eng. Adam Clarke, a farmer's son, an apprentice to a draper, became one of the most celebrated linguists and divines in the world.And Rittenhouse, the astronomer, was abrass founder. To these distinguished names might be added a host of others, well calculated to inspire the youthful mind with ardent desires for like distinctions, and to remove those barriers which poverty may seem to interpose to prevenFtheir progress; and especially as very few, if any, of the above named individuals enjoyed the facilities offered the student by the manual labor system.The farmers of the surrounding country will derive a very considerable benefit from the system in another particular. They will not only learn the best mode of cultivation ; but as the college farm will be furnished with the best breed of horses, cattle.pense of their board to a mere trifle.In rnosl of the labor institutions, the price of board is from one dollar to one dollar and a half per week, when taken with the families of the department ; but when students club together in a room furnish it themselves, and prepare their own food, the price of their board has been reduced, in some instances to fifty cents a week, and sometimes even lower. At present, several students in this college find employment enough with the mechanics in the village to pay lor their board, aud a number more can be accommodated in the samewhv.i ija svstem above all nlhufs should be encoUf-ident ofthe Convention.On motion of George r Forquer Esq., II Fellows, w’as appointed Secretary. iJ.T. Stuart, Esq. offered the following res-1 olution, to wit.Resolved, That a select committee, of seven members be appointed, to take into con- ! sideration what measure shall be adopted by j this convention, in relation to the law provi- ! ding for the permanent location of tho seat of Government ofthe state, in order to secure bartnony and concert of action amongage.), because ii ia m conuHetely adapted to Hie I oureehes and that they report lo this convert-wants, genius, and institutions of our country.— fi°n FY resolution or Otherwise.The safety of our republic is admitted lo depend upon the general erudition of the people, anil no system heretofore extant has offered such facilities for the purpose, as this. The old systems confine ilse advantages and consequent influence of education to the wealthy, which tend strongly toward aristocracy. But this system opens the door to science oiid its consequent influence, to every member of the community whose taste and industry are sufficient for its acquisition. And what isremarkable, and at the same time encouraging tothe manual labor student, is the fact, that men whoaobtain their education in this way roust have genius and enterprise; and these are so disciplined and matured, and habits of industry so formed at the fine, and from the manner in which they receivee. and the best kinds of seed, and an ex- , their instruction, that they have in many instances tensive nursery of the best kind of fruit j become the most eminent in their professions,and, they may be supplied with facilities dle most successful and useful in their business, ractical as well theoretical improve- 1‘erhaps some of our farmers and mechanicsmay object that they do not wieh to make lawyers,treesfor practicalmeat.Mr. Worthington moved to amend the resolution, by striking out the words “in relation to” and insert in the lieu thereof the words ,4in order to obtain A repeal of the /a?c,”and to insert the words, “Such other measures as they may think expedientbefore the words “to secure harmony.”Whereupon Mr. Worthington moved tb lay the resolution and amendment on the ta-„ ble, which was decided in the negative.The vote being then taken on the amendment it was rejected.The vote was then taken on the passage of the origins) resolution and decided in the affirmative.Whereupon the following natued personsj were appointed upon the committee, to wit : Messrs. Stuart of Sangamon, Langwor-I thy of Peoria, Pierce of Adams Galland oft In contemplating the advantages the |lav'e no Interest in tire institution In a literary i Hancock, Chapman of McDonough, Wot-]• v n f pm ■ .11 J . /* * l * a • . V. il.f a. _ _ .. X? 4. * _ 1_ _ 1 ill r m v icountry will derive from this system, we must not Jose sight of the mechanical department. 'The most casual observer must see that, as improvements in mechanism are made, and the facilities of business increase, the price of manufactured articles decrease, and at the same time the profits of business regularly advance. In proof of this we need only look at the domestic goods and wares offered to us by our enterprising merchants. Cloths can be bad for but little more than the cost of (lie raw material. Howisthisl Why the improvements in labor-saving machinery which science has discovered and brought into operation, have produced this astonishing eficct. The same may be said of almost every article of consumption and convenience now in use. Axes, hoes, rakes, scythes, ploughs, tubs, pails, churns, c. are now to be had much cheaper and of better quality than they could a few years since. This principle will apply to all kinds of mechanism, and in the same proportion in which it applies .the farmer and other consuming citizens are benefited by it.Another advantage which may be derived from the system under consideration— which, too, is of the highest importance to the community—is the facility with which the citizens of the surrounding country may have their sons educated, and the ad-vantantages to be derived from their education. By affording an opportunity for students to labor, they not only preserve their health and morals, but they earn something by which to defray a part or the whole of the expenses of theii* education.In the Maine Wesleyan Seminary “the students generally pay their board by their labor—some pay all their expenses, and some even do more than this.” In the O-neida Institute “the students pay tbeir board bv their labor. Some do much more.” In the third annual report of the Cincinnati Lane Seminary we have the following statement of facts, which give a clear and practical view of the benefits of the system: “Fifty of the best fanners earned cents per hour each, and worked upon an average 16 hours per week. Average a-mouDt earned, allowing each to have worked during 40 weeks term $35 20Those who worked the regular 18 hours per week earned Several of the above have earned during the vacation, by farming, teaching, or otherwise Twenty-eight of the best mechanics earned upon an average 8^ cts per hour, and worked 16 hours per week. Average amount earned, allowing each to have worked during the 40 weeks term Those who worked the regular 18 hours per week earned Some of the above earned during the vacation Seven regularly trained mechanics earned 12£ cents per hour; average time of labor per week 16 hours; amount earned, allowing each to have worked thopoint of view. . But learning is not, and should not be confined lo those professions. And it is highly improper that it should be so,unless the people xvish to establish an aristocracy, and endanger the stability of our happy republic.’ Learning is power; for the learned man has a greater share of influence than he would have wilhont learning.1— Therefore, to confine learning to those professions is anti-republican. The farmer and mechanicshould be learned. They have particular need ofit in a country like ours, where every man is eligible to office, if qualified for it. If the farmer or mechanic has the advantages of education, he can make the better magistrate, constable, sheriff,commissioner, assemblyman, congressman ; nay he may he fit fur governor, or president of the U. SF These offices often fall into the hands of lawyers, doctors, aud preachers, not because, as men, are any belter than other men, but because their education renders them more competent for tho duties of the office, than others. But let farmers and mechanics edueute their eons, and though they should follow the plough like Cincinnuius, or hammer the leather hke Sherman, or handle the type like I runklm ; yet, being learned, they are qualified for office, and may like the above named worthies be called by the voice of the people from their domestic employments, to wield tho destinies of the nation, or guide the helm of stale.In carrying the system into practical effect, a question naturally arises as lo the best inode of applying the avails of the student’s labor lo his benefit. Some institutions ivs a week’s board forso many hour’s work. But this is found not lobe the better way. It exposes the student to temptation to idleness, and inattention to business, and to while away time to little account, only so the time is spent, and bo neither profitable to himself or his employers. At other institutions the student is required to do a certain amount of work for a given sum, (where the nature of the work will admit of it) which has proved by exprience tothington of Schuyler and Allen of Tazweli.On motion the convention adjourned to 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.Tuesday morning, April 8i’h, the convention met according to adjournment.F resent the same as on yesterday.Mr. Stuart, from the select committee ap* pointed on yesterday to take into consideration what measuse shall be adopted by this convention, in relation to the law providing for the permanent location o! the seat of government of this state* reported the following resolution, viz tResolved, That we recommend to our fellow citizens of the state at large, and more particularly, to that portion of those whom we represent in this Convention : that at the next August election, they Vote for the.txmftof SPRINGFIELD, in the county of.Sangamon, to be the permanent seat of Govern* ment of the State of Illinois,after the expiration of the time prescribed in the Constitution for it to remain at Vandalia*.Col. 'Humphrey moved to strike but Springfield and insert Alton. ■Doct. Langworthy moved to lay the report on the table ; decided in the negative* )sdThe motion of Col. Humphrey was als decided in the negative.Gsn. Maxwell moved to strike out Springfield and insert the Geographical centre, decided in the negative.Mr. McCarver moved to strikeout Springfield and insert Peoria.— Which motion at the suggestion of Doct. Langworthy, was withdrawn.Mr. Allen then moved the previous ques*he the best. The student is thrown upon his own \ tion, which Was sustained. resource9,his ambition is spurred, lie learns to pro- qphe votevide for himself, and is sent into the world not on ly a man of science but a man of business; which is one of the great objects of the system. And when once left to the resources of his own genius and industry, lie may extend his hours of labor so as lo include, ell the time he can spare from his books; and by laboring during vacations, and on other spare days, lie may obtain the means oi de-fraying the whole of his expenses, as the above extract from toe Cincinnati Lano Seminary ubund-was then taken on the passage of Ltho resolution reported by the committee, anddecided in the affirmative.Mr. Marshall offered the following preamble and resolutions, viz :Whereas the permanent location of the seat of government for this state, should be delayed as long as the exigencies of the state will permit, in order that the future population and interest of the state may be aecom-ttiilly proves. . , ,4 ... . ... — , , -....Another, question naturally arises, that is, in ref- j ttiooated, and to secure the question from be-ereneo to the time to be employed in labor. In the I *ng agitated thereafter, and as there will be Maine Wesleyan Seminary the students labor j£re ! three sessions of the legislature before the40 0040 0054 80hours per day* In the Oneida institute, and in the Cincinnati Lano Seminary, they labor three j hours per day. In several instilulions they labor j four hours, and in *ome, where labor is introdu-i ced merely for healthful excrcbe, two hours is a-dopted. But your commute© are of opinion that three hours per day for labor will be tire most appropriate to the greatest proportion ofthe students who may wish lo attend the institution. It is prob-aule that some would be desirous, if not under the. necessity, of laboring enough to' defray all their expenses: but others would not ; it would therefore be most advisable- to establish the hours of laborseat ot Government can be removed fromVan da? in.therefore, resolved by this Convention, That the passage of the law at the last session of the legislature, was premature, and the legislature are respectfully, but earnestly requested to repeal said law.Resolved, That notwithstanding the provisions of said lew are not approved by many, yet as the general election comes on be-61 21fore the next session of the legislature* thisto meet ibe ivibes and interests of lire majority Convention respectfully recommend, to the and to fix upon such portion, or portions of the j citizens of the slate and particularly to that40 00day for if, as will best suit the convenience of the faculty, and the improvemontof the students.it has been thought by some fo be inexpedient to have two c;aeses ot students in the same institution, one to labor and the other not \ lest it should create envious distinctions* and retard the studies of liie laborer by throwing discouragements in hisportion who are represented on this occasion to vote for Springfield in Sangamon county, as the permanent seat of Government for this state.Mr* Stuart, mored an indefinite postponement of the resolution, which was decided in the affirmative.Mr. Worthington, moved that a commit-forty *•**.*» ux inti case iii rue maino vv es-weeks -J - * 80 00! Scm'mt? bas demonstrated that these fcar« tThn«fiidm il. ra . I in i J^.e groundless. Indeed, the present popularity j tee of five, be appointed to draft nn address toboon dm week famed * «, 00 ' f ^alwre-v,tem. lhe people of .Lute in accordance wilhhours per week earned 90 00 * 11.. joung man *-G„ !,»« and etter,„ i,e | lho Vie,, * of thi* C.onvenlenough to work his wav ihrouah a literary irt-rnon.
Newspaper Details
Sangamo Journal
Springfield, Illinois, US
Sat, Apr 19, 1834
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Daniel E.
FL, USA 06 Feb 2020
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