236 HISTORY OF Next in importance to the establisliment of churches for religious worship, and the promotion of a healthy moral tone among all classes of citizens, and nearly allied to it, as an agent in bringing about the most desirable results, is the diffu- sion of education throughout all grades of society. The committee appointed by Grov. Tompkins in 1811, in presenting their report, speaking of the importance of educa- ion, thus refer : ^^The commissioners think it necessary to represent in a stronger point of view, the importance and absolute necessity of education, as connected either with the cause of religion and morality, or with the prosperity and existence of our politi- cal institutions. As the people must receive the advantages of education, the inquiry naturally arises, how is this end to be obtained ? The expedient devised by the legislature, is the establishment of common schools; which being spread through- out the State, and aided by its bounty, will bring intellectual improvement within the reach and power of the humblest citizen. This appears to be the best plan that can be devised to disseminate religion, morality, and learning throughout a whole country. All other methods, heretofore adopted, are partial in their operations, and circumscribed in their effects. Academies and universities, understood in contradistinction to common schools, cannot be considered as operating impar- tially and indiscriminately as regards the country at large. The advantages of the first, are confined to the particular districts in which they are established ; and the second., from causes apparent to every one, are devoted almost exclusively to the rich. In a free government, where political equality is established, and where the road to preferment is open to all, there is a natural stimulus to education, and accord- ingly we find it generally resorted to, unless some great local impediments interfere. In populous cities, and the parts of the country thickly settled, schools are generally established
