Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-21

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| oimer, at the opening OF your session, and the
awful lack Of education as shewn by the late GEN.
sus Shall II longer be said that Virginia is incom
petent to devise plan equal to the demand for en-
tightening the minds of her YOUTH How long will
she be tainted and sneerei at by her sisters for her
worse than criminal neglect Of education7 Ihave,
gentsmen, that you may the better understand my
views upon this vital subject, thrown my plan into
the form OF BILL the general features OF which, have
the vanity to hope, would answer the wants Of our
good old Commonwealth. Should its details be de-
fective-at any rate, hope you will give il fair
consideration, and amend alter il rs may seem to
you best; and let US have some act upon the
subject. NELSON.
Here foilo,cs the plan.
AN ACT for the better application Of part Of
the Literary Fund to the object of its ere alton,
and for the organization of a Free School Sys.
TEN IN this Commonwealth.
!. BE 10 enacted BY the General assembly That
II shall be the duty Of the courts of the several
counties, cities and corporate represented in
the General Assembly, and of the Borough Of Nor
folk, IN the month oil September, as soon thereaf
Ter rs may be, to appoint not less than eight nor
more than twelve discreet persons TO be called com.
msioncrs to lay off their respective counties cities
corporated towns. and the Borough of Norfolk in
to convenient school wards, or districts, and shall.
moreover, make an order directing their respective
sherfs or sergean,s to notify such commissioners of
their appointment; and the said commissioners are
required to report to their respective courts as carly
as may he.
2. .ind be IL further enacted, That upon the
coming IN oil the report of said commissioners, the
said courts shall, without delay, direct elections TO
be held al such time and place. in each district 10
DC conducted by the sheriff, one Of his deputies
as shall 10 them seem the convenient for three
persons 10 act rs School Commissioners for their
respective dstricts-for which School Commission
ers, none but those authorized to vote for members
OF the General Assembly shall be allowed TO vote.
The sald School Commissioners so elected for coun-
ties, cities, corporate towns, and the BOROUGH of
Norfolk respectively, or any number OF them not
less than one from each district, shall hold their
meetings NJ the court houses of their respective
counties and corporations on the first day of the
court oil their county or corporation, which shall be
holden annually in the month of December. and
they shall hold such extra meetings at the places
last aforesaid, as they may deem necessary TO be
convened AT any time, on the application Of any
number OF said School Commissioners, not less than
third part OF The whole number, reasonable notice
thereof having been first given by advertisement nt
the door OF the court house, on some court d,v-
One at least, iron, each district, of the said COM
mss'oners shall NJ all times be necessary to form n
board Tor the transaction Of business or 10 adjourn
except from day TO day; but any smaller number
may adjourn from day to day-the Board NAV adj
Journ from time TO time, as they may think proper
The said School Commissioners shall annually an.
point one OF their own body Treasurer who. be-
fore he shall be entitled to receive any money bv
virtue OF his office, shall give bond and good sec,-
r'ty IN the court OF the county, city, corporation
townor borough IN which he may be appointed
payable TO the President and Directors of the Lite,
rary Fund, 10 the penalty of five thousand dollars
conditioned for the faithful application and account
ing Tor all monies which may come to his hands bv
virtue OF his Office which bond shall be filed and re-
corded in the Office Of such court.
3. lind be IL further enacted, That the said Board
oil senooi commissioners shall, as near us can be,
according TO the white population in each district in
their respective countless cities, corporate towns and
Borough OF Norfolk, divide and assign TO each dis
tEict It's equal proportion of the money allotted In
such county, city, town or borough, to be drawn as
hereinafter stated; and It shall be the duty of the
three commissioners for each district as soon as
may be after their organization, TO take subscrin-
ton and collect funds for their respective districts
10 an amount, II possible sufficient 10 employ n
teacher for six months, and pay his board; but in
case they snail not be able to collect much within
one month after their organic ltion thew shall nav
Whist they may have collected if il amount, 10 ~
much as the sum allotted 10 their district out of the
Literary Fund, into the hands of their Treasurer
and take his for the same; and the said com
missoners, having so collected an amount; and paid
II INTO the hands OF the Treasurer, equal to the
amount allotted TO their district, shall have power
and are hereby required. to employ some indiyidu-
al oil good moral Character, well qualified 10 teach
reading, writing, arithmetic and English grammar.
Tor the longest period that such an individual will
agree to teach all the children in such district and
the hands Of their Treasurer, and the amour, AL
lo,ted TO their district OF the Literary Fund
and IN case they are able TO collect more than the
amount allotted from the Literary Fund thew shall
IN like manner employ such teacher for the longest
period their fund will command his services NO,
exceeding ten months in any one year.
). ind be il further enacted, That the said threo
School Commissioners for each district, are hereby
appointed and constituted trustees for their resnec
tive dIstrctS-any two OF whom may employ teach
ers as above stated; and 1t shall be their duty
monthly TO examine the discipline that NAV be oh
served by their teacher, and the progress made bv
the children, and 10 discharge the teacher If he
should tail TO comply with the requisites of this act
or fail TO keep good order in his school-sve him
draft on their Treasurer for what time he NAV have
taught, and employ another in like manner for the
longest period their fund in the hands of their Trea-
surer will command his VICES.
5. IND De 10 ttpiLeT eRdetea, That each ward or
district falling TO pay into the hands of the Treasu-
rer OF their respective counties a sum equal 10 the
sum allotted TO such district out Of the Literary
Fund, shall forever forfeit what was alloted 10 said
district for the year SAID district failed 10 paw into
the hands OF the Treasurer q sum equal 10 that al
lotej 10 sdld district out OF the Literary Fund; and
the fund so forfeited, shall remain in the hands of
the Treasurer as fund TO DC divided the next wear
srnong such districts in that county, city, corporate
town or borough, as comply with the provisions of
this act, in additon TO their yearly quota OF the
Literary Fund.
o. lind be IL fV-iier enacted, That the said Trea-
surer shall! pay all monies which may come TO his
lands 10 virtue OF his Office, the order Of said COM
missionerS, drawn 10 conformity with this act, and
shall annually render an account of his receipts and
supported by proper vouchers, to
the said commissioners, who shall examine the same
and after correcting all errors which may be found
therein, shall return the same 10 tho clerks Of the
courts for their Counties corporate towns, cities and
borouehs respectively and the said clerks shall GER
tiy a copy Of such account to the President and
Directors OF the Literary Funl-for which COPY
and certificate the said clerks respectively shall be
allowed by the sad commissioners such fee, not ex
ceeding three dollars, as they may deem reasonable,
TO be paid by order on said Treasurer; and when.
such Treasurer shall go out Of office he shall,
pay over any balance which may be in his hands
TO his successor ia Ce.cs
7. find be hJlyihsr Enacted, That all schools os.
tabljsbed ny authority and ~ compliance with this
act, shall be free for the education Of all the free
white children who i've within the respective dis
ircts; nd all parents, guardians and masters Of
apprentices earnestly desired 70 fail not 10 send
their Children wards and pprenices 10 said schools
8. All acts and parts Of acts coming within the
purvew Of this act, shall be and the same arc here.
by repealed.
g. This act shall commence and be in force from
and after the passage thereof
To he Editors Of ne Whig.
BrhUSToE, Jan. I4lb 1871.
Gontlemen-In n late number Of your PAPER
cbserved n communication presenting my name 20
the oonsideratloHof the People Of the District com
posed Of the counties Of August, Allegheny, Rock.
bridge Botetourt Roanoke Moniponerv Etovd