  In the census, 550,000 is the number of those who have confessed their inability to read and write. That many have claimed to be able to read and write, who are not, is thus established. In Virginia, every man, on applying for marriage license, must sign his name or make his mark. An examination was made in ninety-three out of 123, the whole number of the county courts giving license, and one quarter, and in many cases one third, of the applicants could not write their names. Their wives could not be any better educated. This indicates that certainly as many as one quarter of the white adults in the state cannot sign their names. One quarter of 329,959, which is the adult population of Virginia, is 82,489. But the census, instead of that number, gives only 58,789 who cannot read and write, a difference of forty per cent. Take, then, the 550,000 who have confessed their ignorance, and add forty per cent. for inaccuracy, and the number is 770,000. To these, add the increase since the census was taken, and those also who, by neglect, have lost all ability to read and write, and one million is a very moderate calculation for adult ignorance in this nation. Of these, at least 175,000 are voters. General Harrison’s majority, in 1840, was 146,000, or 24,000 less than the number of voters who cannot read and write.—(See Mr. Mann’s 4th of July Oration.) The census also records more children as attending school than is the truth. Thus, in Massachusetts, the state records, presented to the Legislature, are very accurate, and these make the number several thousands less than the census. In 1840, our population was fourteen millions. One fourth of these are between four and sixteen, making 3,645,388 of an age to go to school. But the census, although exaggerating the number, shows only 1,845,244 as attending schools. This, deducted from the number of those of age to go to school, leaves 1,800,144, or nearly one half, who do not attend school. To these, add the increase since the census, and more than half the children of this nation are without schools! The census also shows 4750 in penitentiaries, and their average time of confinement is four years. An equal number were in jails for crime, and their average time of imprisonment is six months. Supposing them to live, on an average, eight years after their release, and we have 85,500 criminals as voters. In 1836, Mr. Van Buren’s majority was 25,000. Thus it is shown, that the majority which elects our President is far outnumbered by the criminals who are allowed to vote. |
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