Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-12
From the Richmond Enquirer, February 8
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

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for lieh,-house-that they had passed, with a.
mendments, the bills concerning II l.. Mosoy
-Concerning the county court commissioners
in chancery-In these amendments the House
conquered. That they lad rejected the bills on
the subject of suing out writs Of scire facias-
| to repeal letters patent-and authorising the
| Executive TO purchase certain copies OF the Re-
vised Code. The Senate also agreed TO the res
| olution for the election of Members OF the Board
of p. Works, with an amendment, proposing TO
90 into the election on Saturday; in which The
House concurred-and that they agree to elect
a Governor on that day.
On Mr. Eppes' motion the report OF the ar
mory committee, presented by Mr. Morgan on
the day before, was taken up and read; on Mr..
Morgan's motion, the committee was then IN
| structed to bring in bill in conformity with
the principles Of the report.
The report of the CommiI,ee OF Schools and
Colleges on the subject of primary education,
was taken up and read.
| Mr.. Witcher offered the following, by way OF
substitute TO the report and resolutions:
| Resolved, That il is expedient to abolish the
Literary Fund, and that the ronies thereof be-
longing be deposited in the Treasury Of this
commonwealth
| Resolved, That il is expedient to provide by
law for the annual appropriation OF $4,000 to
the University.
| t.e thought there was too much government
al mac hinery among us. Money for the purpo-
ses Of educ alton had to be drawn from the peo
pie, and after passing through so many hands
| it was returned TO them in the way Of education,
greatly diminished BY commissions, expenses,
losses, *, He maintained that the people were
their own guardians. They knew how to man
age their own affairs, and did not need the aid
OF government, and especially on the subject OF
educating their children. They had been taxed
to raise the greater part Of the Literary Fund;
and they now paid in the way OF interest the
mos, Of the income Of the fund. He commended,
tina, from the spare population in many parts
Of the state, there would be none, or very lew
children 10 be educa ,ed in the district 10 be laid
| off He maintained that the system OF district
schools was no, equitable; it was equal; because
some neiehborhoods paid more and some less,
according to their wealth and population.
Mr. Mayo eoncurred in the measure propo.
sed by Mr. w and to give gentlemen time TO
look more fully into the subject, he moved to
lay the report, sc. on the table.
Gen. Taylor opposed the motion TO lay on
the table. He thought no good could result
from the motion The argument in favor OF
the abolition of the Literary Fund, and The pre-
servation of The appropriation of the Universe
", amounted to this, that the education OF The
rich was to be provided for, and that OF the
poor and middling classes, was TO be wholly
neglected.
The House refused 10 lay the report on the
table Gen. Taylor, then replied 10 the views
Of Mr.. w. The machinery TO which objection
| had been made was 10 The machinery OF the
people The people in each district would
NEE. and form the site OF thei' schools they
would have the control and management OF
those schools; thus forming throughout the
state numerous little republics Tor the promo
ton Of education Ifthere were parts Of the
State in which the system could not be carried
into effect, it was no argument that those paris
in which it could, should be neglected AS TO
tax or contribution, he said, i, would only
operate on those who derived benefit from the
| plan, rs would be manifest when the details
should ne presented
| Mr. Vic ner said II had been the pleasure of
| former Legislatures 10 establish an University,
al grea, expense Professors had been even
sen, for to Europe, and the faith of the Stale
was pledged TO pay them certain salaries This
pledge he was prepared 10 redeem, until the u
University could go on OF itself He again OBJ
jec,ed to The maintenance of schools in dis
triots, by levles OF assessments upon the peo-
pie. There must be some mode by which
these levies are to be collected; and no mode
could be derived which would not BE- expensive
and Objectionable.
Mr.. Eppes had on d former occasion, and
should now endeavor TO Ci,encumber the State
from meritr,oious connection with CO. pora-
tons. Gentlemen he said would recollect, that
the appropriation to the University was COM
promise; it was voted upon the express condi-
ton that S45,o 900 should be annually applied
to the educ alton OF the poor. The report now
proposed to give the $4,000 different appro-
priation. He said he should vote for Mr. WIS
proposition. He had always thong h. mat gov
ernment had nothing 10 do with etu@ation.-
The foundation ofihe Literary Fo"d ; thought
insecure il consisted in stocks Il a0-r,an or
ideal value The connection Of - ra,e with
he banks through this fund, Va opinion
highly Objectionable. He wis as tnnd
placed on the treasury books, e. ..ca form
that members could always knon .'ae aud
its income. A portion Of TIT fuar "s4 James
River Stoek-could any man saJ, VIII was the
value of that stock?
The substitute was then rejected,
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