Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-20

By MIR. KILBY. That the Comml'ee ~ -
Agriculture and Manufactures be ins'ruc'ee =
enquire into The expediency OF allowing e;,;s.n
able premium, annually, to The indiYiuual .n
oflhs State who shall produce The greaes. M I'd
tity of corn; also, of wheat cats and tonacco'
a nronortionaie premium for tie second and tniiu
greatest quantities OF said articles; WIN Wv"
report by bill or Otherwise. ;,,se on
By Mr. BOCOCK. That the Commune ,bs
Agriculture and Manufactures enquire nv ga an =
expedicncy OF so modifying the acl enlllleu ,hs
Act esa blshing an inspection OF topaeco 80 ~"
lands of Edward W. Sims in The tow n n' go,
in The county OF Cumberland" passed + eOiuaaJ
2O;h. Isa5. as to authorize the said Sims 70 es'a
bish the said inspection on his LANDS, nsa' -,
instead of in The said Town, in house sulis
10 keep safely any and all tobacco soIe9 ,ne 4
instead OF re-proot houses, as reqliiieu y
act.
BILLS PRESENTED. -,,
Changing The time OF holding lne
Courts of the County Of Carroll. pohar
Concerning the securities OF Jerfnan o'Ae
EDUCATION.
The report of the Committee on oc rs., Gnu
Colleges upon the memorial from Inc E" ni. No.
Convention, held in Richmond on inc 'V' w.
cemher last. was taken up end read as ioiioMs.
The Committee on Schools and Co"rses l,a
considered the memorial fiom Inc EH n. ~.
Convention, held in Richmond on me io'I 80
ccmber last, with the accompanying i ~, :.
on The subject OF Popular Education, referred -, -
the said Committee; and they have come y 'ne
following resolutions lhereupon: ~. Tho,
Rcsolued, in Meopi,,i0n Of this Con'nl,aee, na
il is inexredient 10 adopt the district schooi sys'
TEN rec, mmeded By The Education Convention ""
Resolred, that in the opinion Of has Cemmtoee'
The present system for the education Q, ine M
digent should be preserved and amenoeo; anu
that any county or corporation shali NC e"Po".
cred 10 ADOPT such system OF primary schools d
a majority Of The voters OF such county OF o,Po
ration may elect; and that any Tax imposed OF
levy laid. for carrying into operation such system
nf primary schools in addition 10 the quota Of The
literary Fund 10 which such county oT corpora
lion NAV be entitled, should he made legally OBJ
Iiostory uron the same: Provided, that tie com
rensaton OF those who may lie employed IN teach
ing INDECENT children shall, under any system O.
urinary schools, depend upon The actual daily
attendance al school OF each poor child.
MIR. SOUTHALL said that he did mol design
entering al this time upon The dir cussiun o! me
general question as 10 the best system OF popular
Education. but lie would merely state The reasons
thai had influenced the Committee in adopting
thei, report.
MIR. YERBY requested Mr.. SOUTHALL 10
Weld The floor The whole suLccl Of education
was before the House, and his resolution, (pro
viding for The annual appropriation OF 500 0oU
in addition 10 he Literary FUND.- should lie lis'
considered. His proposition must form The basis
OF any system that might be adopted. II required
less expenditure than any other plan that had
been proposed, and would provide the ways and
means which should properly piecede Inc adop'
lion Of any system. He moved that his resolu-
ton be taken up and considefed-lhe order OF HE
dav being passed BY for that purposed.
Mr. SOUTHALL had no preference as TO The
order OF proceedings. The consideration oil Inc
reasons that had influenced the committee mus
take place al some future time.
Mr. McRAE preferred taking up the report OF
The committee. They should first decide upon
The system, and then provide the ways and means
Mr.. YERBY regarded his resolution as an in
dependent proposition. We should determine al
once what amour, was 10 be appropriated loI
the purpose OF education. Every architect con-
siders The sum 10 he invested in The buildings be-
fore he decides upon The design, the size and nun
Der Of the halls.
Mr.. LEE thought i, more udicious first 10 de-
teImne upon the plan. Various plans had been
proposed, and for many Of these he would be m
willing 10 appropriate single dollar.
The House refused 10 pass by The order OF The
day for the purpose indicated.
Mr.. SOUTEIALL would explain the views
OF The Committee on Schools and Colleges. Va
riou> plans had been submitted 10 the committee:
the existing system OF primary schools. proJel
from The Education Convention and others pre-
scented BY individuals. Some OF these appeared
10 be practicable, others visionary in the extreme
The committee did not conceive il 10 be polite,
IN adopt entirely any system that was proposed
Different sections 1.-THE country would require diff
icrent systems adapted 10 their peculiar ciGcum-
stances The Committee then decided in favor
Of The present as the best general system; each
county being empowered 10 adopt such system oi
primary schools as a majority Of Us voters might
elect The people Of each county would best
know their own situation and wants, ard The sys.
lem that would be most beneficial. They would
make The selection, and The Legislature would
give 10 it the sanction of law. he Ola MOI
concur with The Convention as 10 The proprle-
ty OF permitting The majority in each county
10 TAX the minority. This plan would not sue
coed. Ii should require al least two-thlrds OF Inc
qualified voters of a County 10 adopt any Plan
with the prospect OF success. He wished 10 hear
The views of gentlemen with respect 10 the yari-
Gus systems proposed
Mr. EDGINGTON regretted that indisposi-
lion prevented him from doing justice 10 the attl-
lude IN which he was placed. lie was The advo-
cate of the plan proposed by the Education Con
vention. For some lime past The public mind had
been deeply interested in The all important subject
Of education Ii had been discussed in the pub
lie prints and in primary assemblies. con-
vention was at length assembled in this city
composed OF most distinguished individuals IRON
every portion oil the Commonwealth, for The
purpose OF devising better system than The one
now in operation. The subject was discussed in
rN1a ar s
were considered by the Convention, and the re-
Legislature. II any subject ever had been fully
discussed. il was the system of general education
and primary schools. The results Of The present
system, as exhibited in the lest census were dis
graceful 10 The State. Whatever The present
system might be in theory, in practice il had NJ
erly failed In order 10 compromise The dineiine
opinions on this subject, The Convention mad pro-
posed The introduction OF system that would mol
initiate against the one at present in operation
I'm lS43. The Board OF the Literary Fund had
been called upon by the Legislature 10 report a
plan OF general education, and there was no es.
sential difference in principle between Inc board
and the Convention in their respective reports.
The Convention proposed that The district sys'
tenn and the old system IS al present exist'ns, or
as amended. be submitted 10 The qualihed voters
Oh edCD county d. uIp'oaN 30
lions. He would not discuss The question as to
the propriely Of The distinction at present e1,s'ihg
between the rich and The poor Many had been
deprived Of the benefits of the present system by
false pride. Il was not proposed 10 take from The
Treasury more than was al present appropriated
from The Literary Fund, but 10 authorize each
county 10 add 10 This amount what they
might think proper Could il be expected that
any system would meet with The appreciation Of
every voer, Objections bad not teen stated to
The details. but 10 the introduction OF The system
The Convention had been censnred, as designing
10 dictate 10 The Legislature. Their report was
merely in The form of recommendation. II
had been said that eight or nine hundred thou
sand dollars would b. required for The proposed
system. The school quotas support The present
system. and he could show that This plan would
REQUIRE less amount. It was proposed by a
Convention composed OF practical men, OF teach
ers. and it was presented alone upon its merits /
was al war with no other system, and only re.
onired the sanction Of law 10 give it The neces
sary validity and TO authorize The erection 0
school houses. and the employment OF teachers
Let the gentleman from Albemarle present his
own plan, and he would promise 10 give il all due
consideration. He moved TO amend The frst reso
luton Of the Committee, By substituting The tern
texpedenl." in lieu OF the word "inexpedent."
N hn