The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-07-05
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR,
III she ci!ening Of fbe lafe sessfon ofshe Siafe
LegisIgfure in hrs loryu

LfyfssWuFe EH sn'S to1oH
Gentlemen of the Senate. and
Gentle men oS the House of Representatives.:
feel happy in having it in my power
to inform you. that since the last session
OF the General Assembly, the General
Treasurer has received from the United
States, considerable part oi The claim og
this State against them, for sundry ex-
penses incurred during the late Wal with
Great Britain. As this money will not
be required for the current expences Of
the government, will it not be advisable,
either to appropriate it, with a portion Of
the annual tax, towards extineuishing
the debt Of the State, or vest it in pub
hc stock, ter Tie use Ct Public Schools?
The importanceoi Publick Schools to
the community readily furnish an. excuse
Tor my again drawing the attention Of the
Legislature to that subject. Each town
in this State is now authorised to estat.
lish such number Of Free schools as
the tremeen thereof shall think proper.
And as further inducement to exercise
that privilege, it is submitted to your con-
sideration whether fund may not be
created by small duty on Retailers,
Goods sold at auction, Carriages, Lot
teries, Exchange Brokers and Banks (by
extending the act OF February, 1918, On
their paying an equivalent thereior) to
be appropriated to the use of such towns
as shall establish Free Schools, il pro-
portion to their number OF Inhabitants,
and 10 be by them expended Tor the pur-
poses nf education, and 10 other.
In adopting sy stem that will Sc gen.
orally affect the inhabitants of he State,
IT is to be expected, that some trouble
and inconvenience will be experienced
by them. and especially il that pan of
the country where thin population will
render it necessary to have large Dis
tricts in order to obtain a sufficient mum.
bsr of children to establish School. In
such places Though they are few the
same inconvenience now exists in the
establishment of private Schools, as will
be'felt in carrying into effect the system
now proposed. But it is said, the poor
need food and clothes more than educa-
tion, and that it is sufficient burden fos
those who, 10y their own industry and
economy, have gained a mere compe-
tency to themselves, to supply the indi-
gent with the necessaries of lif without
the additional expense Of education. Ev-
cry days experience proves the truth Of
the remark, that the really poor and nc
cessitous are clothed and fed at the public
expense, and continue system of liter
AIRY monopoly, they must be forever clad
and fed on public charity. But educate
them SO as to place them OF an EQUAL
ground with the community in general,
and you will raise them from their hum
Die sphere, where they are now placed.
and make them industrious, intelligent
and valuable members Of society. and,
in the end, relieves yourselves from the
burden OF. feeding and clothing them.
But this will not operate as Charity
School only. Here all will receive their
first impressions, and be instructed in
The rudiments of their future education.
Here all will equally. participate in the
fund appropriated to education, and have
instilled into their minds the importan.
truth, that morality and intelligence arc
the great supporters of civil and religious
freedom, which our fathers spared neitb-
er life nor fortune to obtain, and secure
to their posferity.
BY the Constitution of the United
States, Congress have power to organize
and arm the Militia. but to the several
States is reserved tho privilege Of sp-
pointing the officers and the authority Of
training them according to the discipline
prescribed by law. 1t is a principle, |
believe, wei! established, that while we
feel attached to rational liberty, we ought
not to neglect its future security, bu, at
all times endeavor to preserve it by plac-
ing ourselves in an attitude Of defence,