Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-01-08

IJUNtlN
, vard;ny prnise 70 noble deeds, Of which
none are more capable than our neIgIbors
across the river.
rotrrGys IN LouIsIANA.-In summing up
the proceedings Of the state legislature last
week, we Intentionally passed over the follow
ing resolution, offered in the House oy MT.
Conrad of this parish. A resolution to winch
this il the corollary, was introduced by the
.,,,o ,optlcu,ap, with the view of diminishing
the large sum annually appropriated by the
state to her various colleges. 1t appears to
he the opinion of our representative, that SAID
colleges, having received, not only q fair out
set by the state, but large additional sums
since they have been in operation should now
be able to support themselves (with a l'ttle
aid) upon their proper income AND as inc
,hc condition Of the state treasury calls Tor
the incest economy on part OF those VINO dis
n,se or IFS funds, no moment more proper than
tho nsesant could be selected for testing the
ability of these institutions to sustain them
selves.
We have no data before us by which to
correct our memory if it errs, but unless we
sadly forget, there has been appropriated to
the colleges Of Jefferson, Franklin and iou'sl-
ana. about Ss2OO,OOO each, since their estab-
lishment by the state; in addition to whlch.
somo Of them have received liberal donations
trom private sources. The annual approprla-
tim to each ofthese, we believe, is Sls.Nto-
y SIM Of itself almost sufficient, we should
suppose, to support respectfully either OF the
small institutions 10 which it is given.
Tho proFcssed advocate of education, we
belieye that money!, let it be either public or
nriva,e property. cannot be better disposed OF
,,h,r II tbis sacred cause; and we should be
tho last to Join Mr.. Conrad IN his motion to
raduce the allowances to these colleges, were
we not decidedly of the opinion that not only
the ccsnmon treasury, but common sense ana
common Justice, require 1t to be done. NO
tbinp could afford us more unaIloyed delight
nothing impress lis with a higher regardfor the
characters of those engaged in the work
than to see men freely dispensing time, mo-
new and personal exertions, in preparing the
minds of the young for the relations and du-
ties of n virtuous life. But in proportion as
VIC enjoy at seeing these things, do we suffer
when the time, money and toll, so hoDly CIV.
en-, fail for want Of proper application thereof
TO accomplish the object of the donor.
It is our candid opinion that the l'bera'ity
of Louisiana in this respeet-and she has IN
deed been liberal-has been like perfumes
wasted son the desert air" But q small por-
ton of the benefits reasonably and justly an
ticipated from the generous appropriations OF
the legislature to the cause OF public educa-
ton, has been realized; and the reson is, that
too little regard has been paid to the appilca-
tion Of the means to the ends. The sums
Granted to the three colleges named above,
woula, collectively, establish and furnish with
complete apparatus and library, a university
worthy of the state, and amply adequate to all
the exigencics of her present population the
three, taken together, as they now are, would
form little more than a respectable lnltlatory
academy, where youths are prepared to enter
atthe universities
p Such a result, is not only notifying to the
state nride of our citizens, but must tend to
discourage in future, efforts to build up any
.important institution in Louisiana deserving
the name OF a college.
We are opposed to that civiIlzat'on-to
those improvcments--to that system OF cdu-
cation, which commences at the top OF the
ladder Let US go to the foundation of mat
tiers at once and, before expendtng so much
for g bevy of miscalled colleges, all controlled
by different interests because they have DIFF
fercnt officers, land which have no other lnte-
rests than those of their o~ficers), let us es-
tahlish rood common schools, regulate them
on plans Of tried value, and appoint officers OF
intelligence and energy competent to the
task, who shall see these plans executed with
promptitude and effect.
Our talking politicians of both parties have
said a great deal within a year, about changes
necessary in the state constitution, and the
blessings to result thercirem; but not a word
is said by them about the cheapest and most
efect6c mode of educating those who must,
ere long, assume our places in life, so that the
constitution, altered or unaitered, will be uni
versally understood. Our present system OF
ciucation is the most expensive, the least et-
tectual and the least reasonable that could be
devised. Money is thrown out, to be eXpend-
cd, heaven ,alovfs how or by whom. All we
know is, that it is voted and paid-there Is
usually some talk in the legislature about
education when the vote comes up but there
the matter stops. Whether those funds are
scattered too literally in one part and teo
s2aringly in otAer-whether expended on the
most juuicious, oDthe most extravagant scale
are questions rarely thought OF and more
rarely asked.
Let las glance for a moment at the sltua-
ton of one Of the colleges already mentioned;
that Of Jefferson, for instance, and see If there
be no monies awarded there which might be
more wisely applied.
The income OF Jefferson College, from stu
dents alone, is set down annually at $4,000;
the sum allowed by the State is SlS,0oa,
making S69,G0O, total. The cost of boarding
two hundred scholars, is literally estimated
at S26,01O-Sl30 per head-leaving S42,-
GOO to be distributed TO the president, prof s.
sors, and for contingent expenses. Now al
loving the president Sl.000-six professors,
each S2,00t, and $4,000 for the purchase of
apparatus, books and the discharge of contin-
gent expenses, and we take from forty-two,
twenty six-ieaving a balance Of $4,000 to
49, ~ i 49,