Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-02-04
Remarks Of MIR. G.. Burton Thompson
On fie Wabash CcEege BM.

Some years ago the Legislature lent TO this College
s. 900 Of the school funds of what is denominated
the Sinking Fund, upon which it 10 pay interest
annually, and TO secure which the College gave
mortgage upon "a acres of land adjoining Crawfords
vile valued at Sl6,500. This winter the College by
It's friends peiitoned the Legislature TO permit it to
pay this debt and interest, amounting now to 600,
in State bonds dollar for dollar. The State bonds
were IN truth worth not more than 33 cents TO
the dollar and for my views of which direct you TO
my remarks below, in the discussion of the bill in the
House of Representatives Several gentlemen having
spoken, the Representative from Perry addressed the
House as follows
regret, Mr.. Speaker, the misguided views which
several gentlemen have taken of this bill. They
seem to assume the position that every gentleman
who opposes its passage is unfrendy to education.
It's absurd and false position. Sir, those who
oppose the passage OF this bill the true friends of
common school education, and they are unwilling
that common schools shall be robbed of any of its
trust unds-means intended to sustain country schools
and thus divert and appropriate these funds sustain
sectarlan Institution. What good reason any
member assign for tie support of this bill. ! have
heard none True, they say they deem the money
unsafe. How. sir, that be- when the mortgaged
premises valued at SIG, 800, since which, spen-
did College has been reared upon the ground and vet
1t Is attempted to humbug by asseveratDg the debt
is unsafehat 1t Is not in fact worth than the
same amount in State bonds; and all admit they are
not worth more than 33 cents to the dollar. Sir,
Will not impugn gentlemens motives, nor can | be
pursuaded they are sincere in this assertion. The
State bonds proposed to be exchanged not the
extent worth more than So 300,-the bond and mort
gage on College lands, $1,000; from which, deduct
the $500, leaves balance of 81, 30O which is
given to the College. Is this right! | repeat, have
had no good reason assigned. wish the College 10
prosper but not at the expense of common schools
and how can 1t be otherwise, if you take that amount
from the common school fund and bestow it upon the
Infrn1 20 ~ L.. 81 n
stock; pltance on the proceeds in the end to be
funded for the support Of common schools; and am
constrained to avow, that the legislature now seem
disposed to lay their unhallowed hands upon fund
set apart exclusively for the noble purpose Of common
school education.
l am aPpretensive many gentlemen in this Hall
DO not correctly estimate the value and advantages of
common school education. They seem not mindful
that the very existence of Our form of government,
and the pepetuity and prosperity of our free nsttu-
tons depend upon the knowledge and education of the
people IN the common walks of life. Educate the
rising generation-enlighten them-enabe them to
understand the principles OF government correctly
which secures to them The natural, religious and civil
rights OF man. The mass Of the people is our
strength-the very bone and sinews of free gov
eminent; and upon their correct understanding of it
rests Its existence. Sir, had the cover and means
would have inculcated common school education
into every child In the State. The children of the
poorest and most humble men In the State should
have alike equal chances with the children of the
rc and let me say to you that many of the greatest
men IN our nation the offspring of the poorest
parents. They, by some chance or other obtained an
education and knowledge which enabled them burst
the shackes of poverty and ignorance, and rise
to eminence, and power and wealth, an ornament
and credit to our country, and the pride of their
friends. Yes, Sir, | repeat, the very existence of
our free institutions depends upon the intelligence of
the mass delight in trying to every hinder
mr. ~ h. i.
and tattered little children among u.s. 1t delights my
very soul to see preceptor teaching their young and
tender thoughts how 10 shoot; and witness the de-
velopmen and expansion of their reasoning faculties
Education is power, and 1t gives man great and
decided advantage over his unearned, yet clever
neighbor 1t is the only way by which the poor can
be placed upon an equality with the rich, in
Government
Sir, know many poor little urchins in my section,
who have scarcely been of sight of the smoke
OF the humble parental cabin, if educated would rise
and figure and might become as powerful and as val
liable as legions commanded by Zach Taylor in de-
fence OF civil liberty, or figure in the councils of the
nation. Who does not know how essential it is to
teach our children for their own advantage and re-
spectabillty, well to strengthen our Government
and who does not know that they cannot be taught
without common schools and who does not know that
common schools cannot be supported without money
This Is conceded. Well, then, is it not enough to
make US stare TO see attempts made to rob and fitch
from the school fund $780, to bestow it upon the
Wabash College! Indeed it is passing strange some
men are snguary organized and seem to be creatures
OF impulse, and act frequently without rejecting up
on The consequence of their misguided ZEAL | can
point to such within this hall now | contemn such
zeal, and could pray that darkness might no longer
bedim and enshroud their faculties that they might
see the error OF their ways and cease from plumber
ing the common school fund TO bestow upon colleges.
Colleges should be sustained, but not at the expense
of common schools. The rich only can 90 to college
common poor people have to educate their children at
country schoos,-and they viii not submit to your
plundering the common school fund TO support your
colleges. But say the friends of this Wabash Col
ege BILL why, 1t is the interest of the common schools
to give this $1,000 TO the Wabash College; for, say
they, the college by the bill is educate permit
100 youths to attend their college free of tuition fees
and that these 100 young men will, when educated,
scatter over our State and teach schools
What falacious arguments if arguments they can be
called. How supremacy ridiculous In the first place
they will be no advantage to the of the people,
because the item of tuition in sending TO college is
very small part of the expense The clothing and
boarding at such institution is than the son
of poor man can bear; hence he is shut out, and
the of the rich 90 and get their tuition free
rather, the school fund is taken from the
poor and given to the college to pay the tuition fees of
the sons of the rich. In plain English it Is nothing
more nor less than that Again, they say these 100
young educated men would scatter the State and
teach school, This is another wild calculation.
Why, sir, not one in ten would teach school, no
sir, most would study law, medicine divinity, or
join the army.-they would be above your common
schools and if they willing teach, you will
have no means to employ them if you squander the
school funds to colleges &c. But if we will take |
in finding competent men to teach district schools, /
whom fhovs we hava The Sh IN nav fbon, 7