Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-02-21

NSnel0 "oo telu VI SleIIHly without pau
pers, and people where no man was to
be found who could not write his name
and read his laws and his bible. These
were strange things; but far more strange.
passing strange will it be, Kentuckians, i
you shall not come 10 the same conclusion
TO which | was compelled, that liberty. re-
'ilglonaRd education were cause of all these
things, and the true foundation of indivi
dual happiness and national glory. In
1886 Introduced common school bill in.
to the House of Representatives of Ken
-tucky; 1t was lost. InI838 had the plea
sure OF voting for the present common
school law, in common with a majority OF
my compeers. Before 1910, ! was con-
WINGED that universal education in a slave
State was impossibel WhistInow write,
the eight hundred thousand dollars set
aside, from the proceeds Of the sales of the
public lands, br common schools, surrep-
atiousy appropriated to internal improve
fmens, confirm my conclusion. There is
Enot single cent in the great Common
wealth OF Kentucky appropriated to the
education OF her peope c. A. WickIiGe,
in a convention Of teachers in 1910, at
Frankfort, said; 'If slavery and common
schools be Incompatible, | say let slavery
perish" The sentiment met with tremen-
'dous applause. Men Of Kentucky, what
say you! Time has proved that they are
lncompatible-not single slave State has
succeeded, from the beginning, in the gem
'eral education of her citizens. GoVerna
Hammond, Of South Carolina, says in his
message to the Legislature---"The free
school system is faiurc~--ts failure is ow-
ing to the fact that it does not sutourpeo.
pile or our government" Experience and
reason have long since proclaimed the
same unweIcome fact
Whilst Mr. Wicklffe was speculatng 7
was acting, By aid Of the law of 1888, I
hoped ultimately to emancipate the State
from ignorance, poverty and crime. Ken
tucky called upon all her sors, by Al the
glorious memories Of the past, by all the
fond hopes OF the future, to resist those
who, by the repeal Of that law and retro
gade movement, would sink her into the
everduring night and lower deep of per
Petued slavery. The time had at last come,
when was to play the selfish time server
for office and temporary elevation or plant
ing myself upon the eternal principles of
truth, justice and reason, looking to con-
science, to posterity and to G0d. to fall
proudly in their cause. Whattnough ! be
'a fanatic or an enthusiast in holding that.
slavery is contrary 10 the Declaration of
American independence, the Constitution
of the United States, the common law of
our English Inheritance and in violation
OF the IawsJf nature and Of GOd-the ef.
fects OF It are beyond all controversy; the
monumental hand Of time has written them
in charocte of horrible dstnctness turn
ing the dewey heavens into brass, and
scathing the green earth with sterilIly and
decay. The whole South cries out with
anguish against this and that measure of
national injury; impIore5 and denounCes
IN alternate puerity, makes ana unmakes
presidents, enacts and rapcoIs laws with |
petulance and recklossness, more worthy
'oi many Indignation, than thepitiaIIo for
bearance Of theNorth. Yctno relefconcs
10 the sinking patient; her rhypochondrecal
illusions are not dispelled; she cannot she
will notsee thatsIavery, nothing but slave |
ny, in the cause Of her ruin. HPy feIlsre~
lapse into primitive Rtcrity, her popula.
ton WASTES away manufactures rcceda |
from the infected borders trade laneuishcs,
decay ytrencLes upon hermaGgre accumuIa-
tons OF tGsteo utility; gaunt famine stalks
into the shattered portals Of the homcsLcad:
the hearth stone is invaded by o more re-
ientless intruder than the officer of the
law; and the costle that may stand before
the sword, falls by this slow, secret and ",
sistlcss enemy; the blood Of the BODY poll
tic is frozen at the core; Suophy paraIyses
all its ltnts; suIIen despuir begins to dis
play gt6elf upon the Care-w0rn faces of
men, the Heavens aud the earth cry aloud
the eternal laws Of happiness and cXis-
tence have been trampled under foot; and
yet, with a most pitiabe nlatualion, the
South still clngs to slavery.
The competition Of unreuuitted service,
Save labor, doons the tutoring white mil
lions Of these States 60 poverty; poverty
gives them over 10 ignorance, and igno-
rance and poverty are the fast high roads
to crimo and suffering Among the more
aortunate property holders, religion and
'HOlH'l'J ulU otuEBfliIlE huu Nf B.--- luIH-
ness, extraviganCe, unthrillncss, and want
oi energy, Preciptate sluye-hoIders into
1requentand Cnheard of bankruptcies, such
as are unknoWniH free States and well 4
ordered Monarchics. 1he spnitof uncon-
trolIed command vitiatca our tamperaments,
and destroys that cvennessof temper, and /
equRnnIIty Of soul, which are the shce.
anchors oi happiness and safety in world Ii
Of NWl.laineble desire and inexorahIe evil. I
Population Is sparse, and without numbers {
there is neither competition nor division 1
OF labor, and Of necessity, ell mechanic s
among Us. Agriculture drugs q
along It's SOW pace with slovenB, igno- /
rant, reckless labor. Science, literature I
and art are strangers here; poets, histon. /
am, '1Ft,sts and nechnnists, the lovers of !
the IGctl, The great, the beautiful the true Ir
ano @1c Osetulj the untiring scurchers into 4
the hidden treasures OF unwilling nature, q
making the winds, the waters, the pnlpable =
ana tnpIlpcbIgessenees Of things tributary I
TO man. creating qualification t3r the body, Il