Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-11-08


= 10 pcdler's licenses (censes from 80 to S25,
q and IL was ordered 20 third reading.
e Engrossed Bills. In addition to chap. n
j. Il. s. (reducing bounty on silk so per cent;
|, in amendment Of chap. r. s. OF the quali6
cation Of voters; 10 alter terms oil Windsor Co
Courts TO Sd Tuesday in March and LIST in No
vember; in amendment Of act to encourage AM
G promote agriculture, in relation TO the militia
T relating TO divorce; in addition 10 act relating
|, to the grand list; Senate bill relating to tn
state prison--severally passed
The amendments OF the Senate TO the bill TO
, the relief Of the insane poor and the resolution
for reduction Of postage, &C., were concurret
, in.
: Mr. Dodge called up the bill incorporating
, the Londonderry north village cotton AND
: wooden manufacturing company, and 1t was
! passed.
/, The House rcceded from its disagreement Ia
! the bill aunexing part Of Dummerston to Put
ney, and concurred.
Geological Survey. The Senate bill for a
; geological survey was ordered TO Sd reading,
96 to SO, and passed. Adjourned.
i MONDAY, O'Clock, P. M.
| SENATE. From the tGble.--To amend
sect Ia, chap. 1, of X. S., so that town repre-
sentatves may be elected by a plurality Of
votes, on the 81 ballot, with the amendment
that the officer shall forthwith close the polls,
ir there is no plurality upon said third ballot.
Mr. Reed and Mr. Camp opposed the amend
ment, and il was lost. Mr. Cahoon moved 10
amend by providing that if there be no plura-
~ upon the third ballot, the freemen may vote
till such plurality is obtained; carried, and the
1 bill was passed.
The bill relative to common schools was
called up by Mr. Camp. Amendments propos-
ed-by Mr. j. Barrett, to provide that the ape
pointment oil the town superintendent be by
ballot; carried. BY Mr. Camp to fix the max
imum of the State Superintendent's compensa-
iion at 500 dollars per annum; carried. BY
Mr. Read, 10 strike out the clause limiting the
maximum of compensation TO county supern-
tendents carried. BY Mr. Camp, 10 FIX their
allowance at two dollars doy including expen-
SEES; carried. BY Mr. Noyes, 10 empower the
towns OF any county to dispense with the pro-
visions Of the act: lost. BY Mr. Rich, that the
bill take effect from its passage; carried. BY
Mr. Briggs, that the Secretary of State be State
Superintendent instead Of the Governor; lost.
Upon the question whether the bill should
be ordered TO third reading, Mr. Briggs did
not know but that il might be somewhat I'M
popular to oppose this bill, but a sense of duty
prompted him 10 do so He believed that the
time had not come in Vermont Tor the adop-
ton Of such a system. A bill somewhat SINH
lar in IFS provisions had formerly passed, and
proved failure. There are many towns with
poor and sparse population, who would be
unable TO comply with the requisiions of the
bill. They can support their schools in their
own feeble way, and in no other. The pro-
visions of the bill are inadequate to secure the
ends proposed. Our superintendent cannot
coerce; they can only advise; and he did not
believe that their advce, good as il might be
in itself, would be productive of actual benefit.
The disuOeifion md hahifc Of Tho
such as TO preclude the idea. The proposed
plan, then, he regarded as futile, and he could
not give il his support
Mr. Sabin said, that this plan was radically
different from the plan which was once unsuc-
cessfully adopted. That required that all du-
ties, provided for, should be performed gratui-
tously; this awards reasonable compensation.
That fact alone would cause a vast difference
in the comparative efficacy of the two systems.
The measure, if carried into effect, could not
but awaken great interest on the subject Of
education, which is now far too much neglect
ed. The sums expended upon our common
schools exceed in amount all the other public
OUTLAWS combined. Yet the mode in which the
money is applied excites far less care and con-
Germ than any other kind of expenditure what
ever. Go to many Of our elementary seats Of
learning, and what spectacle do they present.
Situated in the most barren, uninviting spot in
the whole region, you find miserable rack of
logs, with the pannels kicked out of the door,
with windows broken, and children's hats in
serted as substitutes, with a stove pipe emit
ting smoke at every joint, with writing desks
resting upon a stone at one end and a barrel at
the other, with floor as thick with dirt as the
Augene stable, and with roof and sides thro'
which old Boreas can wreak his utmost malice
upon the poor woe-begone victims Of science
within. This he hoped would not be consid-
ore ne m pic IL hat h..
himself had seen, and in districts able il neces-
sary, to build good school house every year.
How did this comport with the character of
free, enlightened, liberal-minded state? The
subject Of education was the grand paramount
interest of Vermont, which ought to be con-
suited first of all others. The present system,
none would deny, is greatly defective. People
generally were so sensible Of its faults, that
where practicable, they were sure to establish
cessfully impaired. This aggravated the bad
condition Of common schools. All heathful
influence was withdrawn, and the management
of the schools was left in the hands OF those
whose solicitude was not, how good, but how
cheap instruction they can procure. The
measure proposed, he was confident, would go
far TO remedy all defects. II was plant, FEAST
BILE, and efficient II had been tried in other
states, and with eminent success. Even if it
Wouiu eItvate the Character oi our common
schools only one per cent, il would amply re-
pay us for all the expense il would involve. He
concluded by expressing his deep conviction
that the interests Of the state imperatively de-
manded the passage of the bill, and his inabili-
~, without absolute constraint, TO abandon the
belief that so wise and necessary a measure
would receive the sanction and support of all.
Barely relieve the people of the senseless duty
Of perambulating the streets yearly with rusty
firelocks on their shoulders, and enough would
soon be saved 10 The Slnte 10 carr., ont liz. a.s