American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-03-05

il would, in order TO provide for the expense OF ed
ucating all the white children in the state, be ne.
lcessary to lay tax OF at least S80,o00-a larger
sum than the aggregate of the County rates and
levles, poor, and road taxes raised In the state.
This would be almost exclusively paid by the hold
ers of real property, who, being saddled with SO
enormous tax in addition to their present unequal
burdens, would be previously oppressed. The
owners of real property, it will be remembered al
so, hold more personal property liable to assessment
Xor instance, plate, negroes, and every kind oil
live stock) than those who possess such property
without being freeholders. This description of
taxabes (tenants) would in great measure be ex
empted while many others holding Bonds, Notes
and other invisible property, together with profes-
sonal men, civil officers, millers, manufacturers,
mechanics, SC, would in their distinctive charac-
tiers escape without paying any thing, except the
trfe that would be laid on their capitation
ment. Not only is real property disproportionate-
ly taxed, but what adds greatly to the difficulty oil
the case, real property is itself very unequally di-
Sided. a law then, imposing tax OF this kind,
would be peculiarly obnoxious 10 the proprietors
of great freehold estates, who might be expected
to make war on it Immediately on its passage, and
to exert their utmost influence to get it repealed.
1t may be said that the expense Of supporting
schools throughout the state, as at present conduc-
ted is perhaps little if any, short of 100000 dollars
and that this is paid, not by the whole, but part
Ionly, ofhe axables, to wit the parents and friends
lot children. 1t ought however, to be borne in mind
that school tax, though 10 be divided among all
the taxables, instead OF part OF them, would be dis
Itinguished by two important differences; one that
the contributions of the taxabes would be invoun-
Itary; the other, that no dscontnuance would take
Iplace IN respect 10 individuals does in regard to
the parents and friends Of children An involuntary
burden, from which you are never to be relieved
q N nj Ti obt hng
pressure is heavier, but has obtained the Of
those who have to submit to it, and has some limit
prescribed to its duration. This shows how neces
sary it would be, in determining on any mode OF
Taxation for the support of Schools that it should be
free from every Ingredient which would tend to
create dissatisfaction. But what would be more
calculated TO produce this effect than where its
operation would be unequal which any school tax
must be, land excessively so too it has been shown
that should be levied on the present assessment?
Should it be alleged still, that the interest OF the
school fund, with the proceeds OF marriage and tav.
ern licenses aided by small direct tax, and the
whole united with the voluntary subscriptions ofthe
citizens, is an alternative that might be resorted to
for the improvement and support Of schools 10 do
away the force Of the suggestion is necessary only
that the House should 6c reminded of the crippled,
enteebled state OF the school fund at this time in
consequence Of diversion Of tho greater part of its
to its institution but to be applied to which the faith
Oft the state has been soemnly pledged. And as ii
respects tax for the support of Schools to be laid
at this time, when it 10 considered that for reasons
which satisfied the orities in both Houses Of the
General Assembly, a resolution has been passed BY
them TO provide for the exigences of the Govern
meht, by oan instead of state tax and when the
objections before urged recoected the idea is
forbidden, and ough to be abandoned.
IL. 1T. - 1
fund being the only resource ON which a reliance
can be placed for founding new schools and meliora.
ting the condition Of those established, it ought
to be kindly and carefully fosered. Ifso fostered
and suffered to remain untouched, and if the pre-
ceding calculations be not erroneous, belief ma
be confidently INDUCED, that in years from this
time (the period before computed) it may be put
into active and useful operation. The Committee
aware OF the opinion entertained by many OF our
citizens, that immediate and etctua aid 10 the pub
lie schools, might be derived from this source have
thought proper to go into minute detail on this
point as could be done, without giving the report
too much proxity. They Judged it equally reces.
sary to submit such an exposition of their views
respecting school tax as might tend to convince
all who have been dreaming OF succor to the schools
from that quarter, OF the utter faIacy of their ex-
pectations and hopes. That the public mind might
at the same time, have something in relation thereto
~ tepose oH' they ueeueu II important also, TO give
the outline Of system to be hereafter carried into
operation, and TO designate time, when, in their
view, it might be commenced to secure the object
contemplated.
The committee cannot stand acquitted in their
own eyes of having fully discharged the important
duty Entrusted to them, without calling the attention
OF the House to the money belonging to Delaware
College, which was paid into the treasury early in
1921, and has as yet received no investment. They
nj hat eb,
some kind OF productive stock and would suggest
the expediency Of authorizing the State Treasurer
to purchase Herewith, the best terms that can be
Lprocured, part Of the funded debt of the limited