Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-09-22
STATES CHooL FUND.

on the people to swell this fund. And here we
wish for misrepresentation or mistake, we say
a direct tax, for the government has always been
supported by direct tax, and " the fragments Of
the old VI State Bank, the tax on banks and the
money raised for licenses Tor Pedlers, had flowed
into the State Treasury, instead of being diverted
to this visionary fund, II would have been the
case from the commencement of the fund We
say, that the friends of this fund in favor Of i'm
posing and continuing upon the ffeemen Of Yer
mont direct tax, in which they would collect
$4,000 for every $4,000 which will be handed
over 10 the Commissioner Of the fund and out Of
this $4,000 is to be deducted the expense Of man
aging and the losses by bad securities and Of inter
est, when per cent cannot be realized they are
also in favor Of raising by direct tax the Of
$l62,0l6,35 to pay the debt due the fund, BY the
State, thus sinking $l0,5992 "a in the mere expense
Of collecting and when this is done they wish still
TO continue this system Of taxation SO or "a years
longer, that thus they may asien upon our descen-
dants, debt due TO the State or fund Of 81 600 Co.,
that thence forward as long as the fund shall last
schools may be supported by the poor while the
rich shall be exempted from all school for the
support OF schools ten months in the year.
The friends of the fund are willing 10 chain down
our descendants, 10 that inevitable perjury and de-
pcndencc, which the fund, If accumulated, will ne
cessarily induce they willing subject them
to the grinding operation of State Executions 20
wrench from them their last cent 10 pay rents and
interest willing to leopard free institutions 10
try the experiment of this fund willing TO put the
fund afoat the current of time in the vain hope,
that. may reach generation, which will need II
more than the present; with reasonable pros-
pect that it viii attain the object contemplated
in the act, and with the experience Of ali CONVEX
SAINT with the subject, that such fund If collected,
would be neither necessary nor desirable, but would
prove adverse to the best interests of education-
The friends Of this fund willing totax the peo-
pie for 50 more years to come, TO accumulate the
fund in despite Of all such and other grave conside-
rations, which might be fairly urged against it,
Aud here let il be asked, who these friends of
the people Those who, would freely tax the
men Of the present times those who have borne the
burden and heat of the day, in clearing the wilder
ness, founding all the institutions Of society build
ing the State House, and all other public buildings
down 10 the humblest school house the State be-
sides educating themselves We should hardly
think they could belong 10 any reasonable beings Of
the present day they cannot be TO be born
so years hence, for many curious reasons, one Of
which is that they would be ashamed to ask il nj
our hands. Ii then these writers not men of
generation TO be born fifty years hence and do
belong 10 any reasonable beings Of the present day
again ask who they That is more than we
can tell; but one thing is apparent; if they were
not ashamed Of their arguments, they would be-
come responsible for them by giving their names
We say the question TO be settled involves "a 600,
900 in the fund and the question OF saving that
and 100000 in its collection and management
And need a man, honest man We mean be
ashamed 10 add his name TO any communication,
which he might offer In the public a subject of
such pecuniary importance But the pecunisry
consideration is perhaps Of the least importance
involved IN the question. The fund.- long II
lasts, will be u temptation to pecuation, TO fraud
and political dishonesty. Ii will abstract, Just as
much is accumulated in it, from the cause
OF education for than fifty years to come, aud
a much longer period, If the debt due the fund is
not paid. There is reason, then why any man
should not have his reasons for against said fund
such he is willing publicly 10 vindcate and
maintain. But have looked IN vain for any at
tempt TO answer the reasons, which we have urged,
why this fun unwise. improvident, expedi-
emf and ought 10 be abolished. We hear much
about fraud, and falsehood, and whiggery, and
coons and arstocrats, and poor men s fund, and
/ travagance, and State debt, &c. &c. But no man
in favor Of continuing the fund has the eandor 10
come out and admit what cannot be denied, via
that the State debt be attributed 10 the foolish
atiempt 10 collect this fund And yet such is the
fact and were this fund turned into the State Trea
surv where il belongs, by every consideration Of
financial policy, the State Treasury would not owe
a dollar beyond It's power TO liquidaie at sight But
we will advert 10 some Of the writers IN the Age
adverse to the abolition of the fund
In the No Of the Age foI August 18th writer
over for a signature, has spun out almost two
columns Of remarks, about things IN general, with
out attempting 10 answer our reasons Tor aboIshInG
the fund Nor have we vet discovered the frs
writer who has attempted it, This is virtually ar
admission by those writers, that the ground W.
have taken is impregnable. This writer has giver
a homily on political institutions PUwrTs Of gov
eminent derived from the people people capable
of self government; that majorities must rule
obedience necessary common schools good thing
and finally TO n conclusion, that the fund vii
6 be abolished unless there is change Of agents.
Not one word on the merits OF the question tn,
, public rood may imperiousiy demand its abolition
and vet this writer is satisfied to say, its abolition
E cannot be arrested but by change OF rulers. IL
the same paper is extract from the St Alban
Republican, which says, "The public money nov
drawn BY every school district in the State is tn
= main dependence OF our common schools, ant
goes on to comment the enOrmIty OF diveTtinl
this fund from common schools. Poor man h
either knew or did not know, that lot dollar O
I the school fund, of which we write, was ever mp
Piled or could be applied 10 schools for more thai
30 wears 20 come AT any rate such is the fact, an
= if the writer did not know il, he is 10 be pted
he did know il he 10 be desplsed for his dshones
r ~ but commended for his prudence in following
lie examine of other writer's in favor of the fund
by concealing his name
In No. signed Zeno, in the Age OF August 3D.
the writer goes back TO the report Of the Auditor
the Legislature of 1912, in which IT was said tina
4 the accumulation 'has continued TO he dependen
on direct taxation" Zeno says ''there is anothe
: base attempt at decepton-not solitary dollar ha
! ever been paid into the school fund, from the am
of annual State tax" We have never said tina
anv mari of the State tax actually paid into ia
q fund We said il was dependent on direct taxation
9 Again we say let this be plainly understood. w
raise direct tax yearly to support government.
the money paid into the school fund had been pal
t, into the Treasury, il would have saved raising u
that amount in direct taxes and yet Zeno would IL
duce his readers TO believe that the accumulatin
:, Of that fund had effect our direct taxes. w
= leave our readers 10 decide, who is chargeabe wit
d "Lase attempt at deception" This same Zeno a
n SO asks why did not they (the whgs) sat an e'
Z pense of few thousand dollars repair the old Stat
House, instead Of squande.ing 100000" 10 bull
the new State House! The reason is at hand
= Gov Palmer, Lieut.. Gov Edgerton, and Gen. Fur
l. were then in the ascendant-a trio of locos Of
d pure water as can be found in the State OF We
Al mont These were the men at the head Of affair
n ,,han che State Honse was in budinO Mr. Edge