EDUCATION. 69 



after the ratification of the treaty of peace, by which our na- 

 tional independence was acknowledged, the Legislature, again 

 in session at Savannah, passed an act, appropriating 40,000 

 acres of land for the endowment of a College or University. 

 This act commences with the remarkable preamble: "Whereas, 

 the encouragement of religion and learning is an object of 

 great importance to any community, and must tend to the 

 prosperity and advantage of the same." 



In 1785, the charter of the University was granted, the 

 preamble to which would do honour to any Legislature, and 

 will stand a monument to the wisdom and patriotism of those 

 who framed, and of those who adopted it. 



" As it is the distinguishing happiness of free governments 

 that civil order should be the result of choice and not neces- 

 sity, and the common wishes of the people become the laws 

 of the land, their public prosperity and even existence very 

 much depend upon suitably forming the minds and morals of 

 their citizens. When the minds of the people in general are 

 viciously disposed and unprincipled, and their conduct disor- 

 derly, a free government will be attended with greater convul- 

 sions, and evils more horrid than the wild uncultivated state 

 of nature. It can only be happy where the public princi- 

 ples and opinions are properly directed and their manners 

 regulated. 



" This is an influence beyond the stretch of laws and pun- 

 ishments, and can be claimed only by religion and education. 

 It should, therefore, be among the first objects of those who 

 wish well to the national prosperity, to encourage and support 

 the principles of religion and morality ; and early to place the 

 youth under the forming hand of society, that, by instruction 

 they may be moulded to the love of virtue and good order. 

 Sending them abroad to other countries for education will not 

 answer the purpose, is too humiliating an acknowledgment 

 of the ignorance or inferiority of our own, and will always 

 be the cause of so great foreign attachments that, upon princi- 

 ples of policy, it is inadmissible." 



In 1792, an act was passed appropriating one thousand 

 pounds for the endowment of an Academy in each county. 



In 1798, a third constitution was adopted. The 13th sec- 



