Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-22

FTfnce-EdWdF", to the Finance Bill.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN
| hear the call Of Question. :"
and perceive the ANXIETY OF gentlemen TO
! dispose oithls amendment; but cannot
permit stbiect in winch | think the
dearest Interests OF every citizen of this
commonwealth are involved. 10 pass, unuo-
ticed.
l shall find an additional apology in
addressing the Committee, inthe circum-
stance, That have occupied but little OF
the time OF the House, in debate. during
thlS session: and If my zeal on this oc-
casion should lead me into sea of aryu-
ment, WHICH may wait feather or
drown lily, trust some excuse will be
found in the purity OF The motives which
act,,ate me.
This amendment, If il prevails, IS "a.
tai and decisive blow 10 the faiierny
hopes of The Literary Fund, and the chit
Ing hand parslmonv nips III the bud,
and wlihers and destroys the proposed
system OF General Education.
In examining this subject, shall treat
IL in relation To It's effects, without look
ing to the supporters OF the measure
What are we asked by the gentleman from
Prince Edv ard to do? 70 take from
this valuable, molly and sacred Fund, SOTO.
600, to be applied to icssening the taxes
20 per cent by extingrishng the State
| debt, anu ITS consequent interest.
Sir, II voted for this measure, il is
possible might acquire a little di,ty po-
pularlty, which, like the dew OF ihe
morning, before the meridian Sun. would
vanish and disappear before the light OF
Truth, while would (as ought become
The scOrn, derslon aud contempt of the
good, the wise, the virtuous and patriot
&c.
The main pillar of the members argu-
ment Is, thatwe should he iust before we
are generous. Agreed, Sir; and when
vow look To the Finances of the State, YOU
will find that they were never in a moe
prosperous condition; that with your
present burhenS Won can support your
government, and be FREQ from every spe-
cics Of debtiu 1926.
In the zeal OF the mover of this Subsii-
tute TO lessen the taxes of the people, and
eXtlnsulslI our State debt, he has Qwill
not sly Intentionally turned his back on
every other means but the diminution of
this Fund, dedicated, as il is, To the most
noble and generous object
Where Is your Internal Improvement
Fund, worth $500, 600? Does the mem
Der esteem It gilmore Importance TO open
road, cut canal, level mountains and
NIL up valies, thanto improve the morals
and Instruct The inteliects of ON youth -?
On this subject, he stands with his arms
folded, and becomes a non-combatant
protesting, however, the utmost affection
ior thiS Fund, while, in the next moment.
with the deadly effect OF the Upas. he
breatheS upon ii the destroying blast of
thus amendment
IL may be proper the Committee should
advert 20 he weight given this subject bv
the Legislature Of 1910 and IL and /
cannot better express their opinions than
by recurrence TO their own language.
f7e III. $. read tie Protest 0f tie Leeis-
drt@Fe cf 1910 : II, against The diversion of
The Literary Ep'd, 10 aay othey object thaa
ne edrcatiom of the poor genth of tie State
II tins act stood atone, that Legislature
nave erected to themselves monument
vi honorand fame, which will. last as long
as virtue and wisdom shall be respected.
they thought and acted wisely and boldly,
aud looked othe sOrdid desire of sa-
wing the taxes 90 per cent. ] deny that
this Legislature has the power ofapproDri-
atipg any part of this Fund 10 the object
contemplated by this amendment, with
out violating every principle of national
talth and honor-wlthout abandoning tiIe
highest duty they owe their country and
themselves
Seven years have passed away, Sir,
since tie foundation of this noble design
was laid, and six successive Legislatures
have recognized and patronized II; vOnr
late distinguished Chief Magistrate. (and
no state has been blessed with one more
SOL has, III the most emphatic language,
recommended tie subject to thcattcniion
oi ~" last Legislature; the latter respon-
dcd to the Message, BY bcstowing on the
FUND about 81 ,25O,O 00: being the bal
ance of the debt due from the T.. States
to Virginia, ofwhicIlit is proposed 10 tate
bdch $500 ,0OG.
Look, Sir, TO the time when this propo-
SIiion IS made. Aiier mature deibera-
ton, has been recommended by Com
niitee of this House, that the Plan of(ie-
neral Education, FOR which the peOp'e
have been so eagerly hoping, should, du-
rug tic present year, be executed. and
tins House have cOncurred in the recon-
mendaiion. Bills for the purpose nave
been reported, and in part acted on, and
lew. very few, despair of doing all that
could ne wished. Adopt this amend
meni, aud tie Fund has not the revenue
10 support 80 schoo!s.
Sir, The principles Of our government
require, more imperousiy, system of
Public Instruction, than any other now
existing. We are not like those of Flu
rope; We have none OF their gewgaws.
tiiies or distinctions, which may be oh
tanned by patronage or corruption, orac-
CURED by Glance; we have no Struggle
between the governors and governed
ls4 saar. a fasa. Ia.