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country entered with each other, when they agreed to form 

 themselves into republican communities, in which they were 

 to govern themselves by their elected representatives, that 

 a high standard of education for the entire mass should be 

 adopted and sustained; simply because without it, as is uni- 

 versally conceded, the mode of government contemplated 

 could not and cannot be supported. This view of the ori- 

 ginal compact into which the people entered in their indivi- 

 dual capacities, involves two or three important particulars, 

 which it is necessary to notice. In the first place, there is a 

 positive poUtical obligation resting on every individual, having 

 the proper opportunity, to submit himself to instruction; and 

 the force of this obligation in practice, if submitted to, would 

 carry every child to school under parental care and authority. 

 Without such instruction, there can be no intelligent perform- 

 ance of that high political duty — that solemn part in the pub- 

 lic administration of the government — which every elector is 

 called on to perform. And as every other man has an inte- 

 rest in the manner in which this duty is discharged, as well as 

 the individual performing it, the obligation to submit to in- 

 struction is a perfect one, as to which the community may and 

 is bound to demand satisfactory evidence that it has been faith- 

 fully observed.* Of course, 1 shall not be thought guilty of 

 the absurdity of supposing that any man or child can be forced 

 to receive instruction ; but I would have it understood that I 

 am clear in the opinion, that failure or refusal to meet this obli- 

 gation should involve this certain consequence, that the indi- 

 vidual must rest satisfied with the privileges of an ignorant 

 citizen, which he can always enjoy with safety to the repubn 

 lie, but must not aspire to the higher privileges and immuni- 

 ties of an instructed one. 



There is now another particular to be mentioned, connected 

 with the one just noticed. There is a positive political obliga- 

 tion resting on every individual, not only to submit to instruc- 



evidenceof the due qualification of dec- 



