SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
U6 
THE EDUCATIONAL WANTS OF GEOKGIA. 
No. 4. 
To correct a typographical error, and develop one or 
two thoughts hinted at therein, we reproduce a short para- 
graph from our last article on the educational wants of 
Georgia ; 
The agricultural industry of the South should stand 
before the world in a more favorable light. Our leading 
policy, should embrace more than one idea. All that is 
necessary to attain substantial progress, general know- 
ledge, difiased, not concentrated wealth, and State inde- 
pendence, ought to be secured at once and forever.” 
The word onr in the above is printed one, which makes 
nonesense, or an idle truism of the sentence. 
The Southern States have nearly two thousand million 
dollars in slave property, which is augmenting so rapidly 
as to make its security the “leading policy” above referred 
to. The “one idea” in this connection, to which allusion 
is made, is the spreading of slave labor over the greatest 
possible territory with a view to strengthen the institution. 
In the calm and unbiased opinion of the writer, this popu- 
lar notion of “Expansion” is carried quite too far for the 
attainment of the object sought. It is an axiom in politi- 
cal and social economy that the more productive you ren- 
der human industry the more valuable the laborer becomes 
as a wealth-creating power. Make the labor of all slaves 
twice as productive as it now is, and you will more than 
double their aggregate value — for their necessary consump- 
tion will not increase with the increase of production. 
Wealth called into existence, and wealth consumed by 
the producer, would then stand in the relation of three or 
four to one as compared to what is now witnessed. The 
point which we now make is this : Give to all over.-^eers 
on plantations, and to all who own slaves, that thorough 
mental and moral culture, by adopting a wise and efficient 
system of popular education, which will enable those who 
direct the labor of colored people to discharge that import- 
ant duty far better, and more successful than they now 
do. In the management of slaves, almost everything de- 
pends on the character and skill of the proprietor and his 
overseer, If there be a sad want of intelligence, or if 
sound morality be absent, not only bad results will be at- 
tained in a pecuniary point of view, by idleness and de- 
moralization, but indirectly, all slave property is depreci- 
ated by the discredit that follows. Inasmuch as there are 
over six hundred million acres of land in the present slave 
States, and sufficient for the profitable agricultural employ- 
ment of more than thirty million slaves, we contend that 
instead of grasping at more territory in distant parts, this 
“one idea” should be checked, and that of cultivating the 
popular understanding, and improving the soil we now 
have, receive more attention from Southern Statesmen 
It is impossible to respect the selfish, narrow-minded office- 
seeking which sometimes passes for political wisdom, In- 
stead of adding to the security of slave property or of any 
other property, it multiplies the dangers of society, and 
the vices of government. Our most vital interests are 
floating down stream like drift wood, ^ to land nobody 
knows where. In theory, our government is republican; 
the power of party majorities being restrained by written 
Constitutions. But in practice, no despotism in the Old 
World much exceeds that of an irresponsi^ de majority in 
this country. From King Numbers, or King Democracy 
there is no appeal. Hence, the moral and intellectual 
culture of the masses are matters second to no other in 
importance, viewed strictly with reference to security for 
life and property. California is not the only State where 
“safety committees” usurp all civil power : nor the only 
one where it frequently appears to be the only relief from 
impending anarchy and bloodshed. Domestic feuds are 
best prevented; and to prevent them, the property 
holders of a State should be liberal in the support of all in- 
stitutions for the education of the people at large. 
We do not feel called upon to suggest a system of com- 
mon schools in Georgia. Our object is not to assume any- 
thing like a leading part, or leadership in this great enter- 
prise Others, and older citizens will discharge that duty 
far better than we could hope to. As an huiuble laborer 
in the ranks, they will please accept our best services. ^ 
The excellent system of Common School and common 
school libraries in New York is the workmanship of men 
of our time. In bringing up and maturing pu'olic opinion 
through the agency of the press, to create a generous Fund 
for educational purposes, and to vote liberal annual ap- 
propriations, the writer has done his share. Objections, 
and objectors abound everywhere; but a fair trial of pub- 
lic schools has clearly demonstrated their utility and 
economy. Let a trial be made in Georgia, and such is 
the good sense of its citizens that they will soon discover 
any little defects there may be in the system, which a sub- 
sequent Legislature will remedy. They will never aban- 
don the obiect aimed at, but try again and again, if need 
be, to find and command the right plan of operations. One 
good public school in each county would be much better 
than none. It would promote a taste and a desire for 
school instruction. This is greatly needed before even 
private schools will be properly patronized. Do nothing 
in the way of arousing the people to this momentous in- 
terest, and the few schools they now have will dwindle 
in size and importance, until the number who can neither 
read nor write will become the by-vrord of all civilized 
nations. 
It is often said that the people of Georgia do not wish 
for more or better schools than they already possess, if 
they did they would soon get them. There is some truth 
in the remark; but the plain answer is, that the people 
have hitherto had no opportunity of learning the worth of 
a vood system of universal education. They nominally 
do not call for it, simply because they know not its value. 
Visit communities and States where the masses enjoy all 
the advantages of the best kind of free schools, and ask 
them what they would consider a fair equivalent for the 
same, and give them up 1 No money could hire parents 
to do so great a wrong to their children. In one sense, 
human wants are very few, whether physical, social, moral 
qr intellectual. Savages are nearest this condition. If 
I the argument that manj^ do not want schools is sound, 
i and, therefore, nothing more should be done’ to increase 
