Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-03-19


some few the number is not stated. In
those which there is no statement of the
number, there is very emphatic statement
that the law has been complied with, and
that the institution is in flourishing condi-
ton There is at the same time an earnest
entreaty that the present system may not be
! disturbed, or that the salaries may not be
diminished. These remarks are not inten-
ded to reflect directly or indirectly on the
condition of any institution, or to intimate
they are not properly conducted, or in a
fourlshing condition.
The expression of wish by those who
are conductors Of those institutions, that
they should not be- disturbed, unfolds the
secret of the failure of our system. 1t has
been the practice for years, to divide away
the salaries previously given; and under the
effects of such treatment, all the institutions
are unstable and under constant apprehen-
sion as to their situation. This committee
would express a hope that no disturbance
shall be permitted until the State is fully
prepared to mark, bound, establish, and per-
feet complete and permanent system
There is no institution on earth which so
requires permanency as that of education,
and the satisfaction of the salaries from
academies and colleges, and dividing them
among the free schools, is a source of the
destruction of both. 1t does not furnish
adequate means to sustain the free schools,
while it is destruction TO the academies and
colleges to withdraw. the sources of their
Isustenance.
When our free schools were first estab-
Ilished, it was confidently predicted by the
most judicious and experienced, that it
would prove failure, because the salaries
are not sufficiently large to give them sta
bility and independence. 1t would be far
better to give nothing than to give merely
nominal salary, for there are two principles
to be regarded in procuring teachers: either
to have them of high character and scholar
ship, through the means of ample compen-
saton for honest and effective services, or
to place them upon their own resources for
success. The former mode will he found
to be more efectual. lfyou expect to pro-
cure the services of competent instructors
iyou must give such compensation as will
command the highest qualities, and you
must place that compensation on perma-
nent basis 1t is believed five hundred dol
| lars would not be too high salary for any
school in the State, and then it ought to be
so given as to place it beyond the control
of casual and temporary influence. Under
such an organization, men with families IN
tending to devote all their time and abilities
r. 4 al Of {hoIt
profession, would settle in the vicinity Of
every free school, and there remain. AL
though in such case there is SO ample a
compensation, yet the necessity of due ex-
ertion to insure success and appreciation
would be as indispensable as though there
was dependence on mere individual exer-
ton without fixed salary. 1t would have
another effect: that it would elevate the
schools above any improper influence
whether from wealth or other causes and
in reference to the means ofacGuiring know
ledge, the poor would stand upon terms oil
equality with the rich; and, in the general
and equal struggle of mind with mind, the
strongest and most Industrious would win
the race. It's effect would be incalculable
for he who was of moderate pecuniary cir
cumstances would struggle to conquer his
more wealthy competitor, while the latter
through fear of mortified feeling, would
struggle with fearful earnestness to keep the
+ ascendancy. 1t would be a ceaseless fgh
of intellect with intellect, by which truth
and discovery would be constantly evolved
and the means thus ola full education woulC
be brought to every mans door. 1t woult
be productive of general and increasing
morality, because the action of mind con
tinued sufficiently long, would givea direc.
ton and current to the youthful mind tina
would fix the character.
. Nor would this emulous action terminate
at school, but would continue to work on
more and more intellectual light, in proper
ton to the length of time it was continued
! \As our Bill of Rights prescribes equality
Of taxation, so ought education to be per
: fectly equal in its advantages, giving no one
privilege above another. The above con
!, stitutionaI rule is founded on the principles
that every man ought to pay taxes in pro
portion to his property, personal and real
; because the wealthy have greater interes
! to protect; and the dissemination of intel
ligence is the greatest protection to that In
terest; and just as there is perfect equali
t ty in the security of rights, so ought there
1 to be perfect equality in the bestowing o
benefits, whether intellectual or of anothe
: character.