Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-03

monwealth lwho, in few years, are 10 be the
men OF the Commonwealth is concerned, these
justices become all sufficient, and may be safely
trusted with power which the wisest statesman
would accept with fear and trembling.
The County Court magistrates are not elected
by the people, nor are they appointed either d.
reclly or indirectly by the people The inter-
position OF the Governor in signing their COM
missions, is mere form. He invariably appoints
whomsoever the County Courts recommend
Give these magistrates the power 10 regulate and
control all the primary schools in the country.
and no matter how distasieful their action might be
no mailer now contrary 10 The settled and sober
Judgment oil the people, they would have TO sub
nit in silence, without any means of redress
Let US suppose any county 10 have adopted The
scheme OF The gentleman from this civ (Mr
Lyons,) and that the County Court had carried
il into operation by establishing schools OF either
the rem Unrest or the rery highest order 50 that
in The one case no competent education could be
Obtained and IN the other unnecessary and ex.
cessive expenses should be incurred vii; he
gentleman Inform me how The people could
Tecliiy either of these improprieiies Under
the bill, the standard OF education in each conn
" would be made 10 conform 10 the wishes and
sentiments, and would be regulated by the pub.
lie spirit OF the county. Under The amendment
The standard would CONFORM to the calibre of tbe
County Cortland what assurance ha We We thu,
these couIls will keep pace with the liberal and
expansive spirit of the agel
But sir, in addition ,o all other objection, 10
the amendment, This one seems 10 me sufficient:
That whilst Under The bill the people OF each
county could mould and fashion its systems so
as 10 meet their own views and sentiments under
The amendment the voice Of public would be
disregarded, unless it happened 10 sui, the views
of the County Court. Should The Court al any
time happen 10 pursue policy that mel the dis
appreciation Of the county, the system would be-
come unpopular, and The people having no re-
medy in their power, settled prejudice might
be thereby created against all systems, and the
ca use of popular Education be brought into dis
repu,e.
The gentleman says thai his scheme has The
advantage oil being tried scheme; thai The levy
ing OF money By The County Courts is familiar
10 The people and has net their appreciation; and
he passed high wrought euogium on The coun-
" CouI, system as al present established in Viz
County Courts. Their integrity do not
intend 10 question but this present Gene
raj Assembly has shown its desire that the
action Of The courts in relation 10 levies
should be subject 10 popular supervision. We
have suholned 10 The lax bill a provision that
sheriffs should make out in separate tickets The
revenue tax and The county levy. For what other
purpose could this have been done, bur 10 sub
lect 10 the observation and scrutiny OF the people
the action OF the County Courts in relation 10
the levy2 The Legislature doubtless thought
that they would be restrained, in some degree, by
the knowledge, that the amount OF their taxation
would be presented in clear view 10 every tax
pa er, and that regard 10 popular opinion
would have some influence on their conduct.
am acquainted with the action OF many
County Courts, and those with which am ac-
qua:nled are as upright and as intelligent as any
in the State. 1t has never occurred 10 me- how
ever, that there was any Thing superior in the
management OF these courts. Taking all the
counties in the Commonwealth, The taxes paid |
for county leves assessed by these courle, are
greater than the revenue and in some OF the |
Eastern counties, | understand, these tribunals |
are far from being favori,es with the people
The principle of body supplying the vacancies
amongst lis own MEMBERSHIP Partially too fire.
quenlly manifested in appointing friends and
connexions 10 supply these vacancies, and 10 I'LL |
the impor,an, Offices in their gilt: such as clerk
ships, commissioners oflhe revenue, &c, together |
with other objections arising from the inherent
defects OF the system, have rendered them obnox
ious TO public Interpretation, and is one OF the
principal reasons why some OF the Eastern dele |
CATION have beer found. al this session. voting for
a mixed basis Convention
The difference however, is papable between |
The county levy and The levies now proposed |
The former is a matter Of absolute necessity
The ordinary expenses Of the county must be
borne, and no possible plan can be devised 10 |
avoid them, however much they may be lessened |
by jndicious management. The levy now pro- |
posed for The support of Free Schools is not
matter Of Indispensable necessity. Ii may be |
a voded-and unless the scheme be popular, the
people will avoid il by the il votes. Which then
is most likely lo'mecl The public appreciation taxa
ion imposed by an irresponsible court, or taxation |
imposed by commissioners whom the people elect, |
and whom they can remove by their votes ] |
10 no, intend 10 be understood as wishing 10 over
brow the county courts; nor am of hat num-
Der who think, that because The people have COM
nued certain municipal concerns of their county
o the justices, lhey would he willing 10 entrusl |
hem with unlimited power over their purse and
property and with unreslrained discretion in the
education Of their offspring. lnhese momentous
concerns, the people would surely desire 10 have
some voice Of their own.
Again-Il is said, that this is only an alternate
plan, and if The people do not choose il, they have
The power 10 reject il That may be So But why
present three or four different plans at The same
iimef II is already provided. that any county
nav adopt the plan contained in The bill, or that
by The gentleman from Lancaster, or The
old system as revised this session, or the Norfolk
school system, or any other that peases. What
can be The effect o presenting so many various
propositions, but 10 distract the public judgment,
divide the votes. and defeat every schemr1
Besides, 90 not think We onght 10 subject the
people 10 be taxed By The county courts any far
her Than is already provided by law. Al! history
and experience show that II is dangerous 10 place
the taxing power beyoD.. The taxpayers co1;.0l;
and whilst entertain lie utmost Confidence IN
the wisdom and virtue Of the people, and believe
the great body 81 them generally in The right,
must say that AIN not willing 10 trust the dear
est rights Of The ci:iZsn-rghls which embrace
his property and his chiidren--io the caprice Of
any accidental local majority which his amend
ment might obtain in some county or neishbor-
hood in The Commonwealth; and that when The
people adopting il would be denied The right 81
correcting the errors into which they nigh; he
molnenlariy betrayed. | trust the body Of The
people; 10 little precinc, malorilies neither law
nor reason requires me TO yield.
am Zcaously devoted 10 The cause Of gene
raj education, and nothing would rejoice my heart
more than 10 he instrumental in securing TO every
parent struggling with adversi,y-to every wi
bowed woman loiling 10 support her helpless or
phans, reasonable grounds 10 hope that their chill
dren will be enabled By the public aid TO start in the
race OF life with those literary advantages which
have been in some degree, confined 10 the Ia
vores OF fortune. And surely every man of
generous scnsbities must feel his heart thrill
with pleasure, in The bare anticipation OF laying
open The pathways of fortune and fame, 10 the
many brilliant minds that are now bent 10 the
earth BY the hard pressure of poverty and want
My tirsl effort on becoming member Of this
hody FIVE wears ago. was TO urge on The House
The importance Il securing The blessing If good
English education 10 every white child in the
land And every session since have kept the
ball in Motion, being determined 10 do my part in
eleva,ing and enightenins the minds OF our IN.
fortunate tellow-cilizens, on whose birth fortune
had failed 10 smile. Blu: | mnst say, that how
ever much devoted TO the cause Of education,
shall be compelled most reluctantly compelled, TO
vote aeainsllhis scheme, unless the people are al
lowed their own choice in disposing OF their mo.
ney and children.
MR. LONGS PLAN FOR FREE SCHOOLS.
Bill 10 establish a Free School system.
/. Be il enacted by tie General Assembly, That
Il. forf ho