The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-06-15
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE Is.
from the Indiana State Journall
TO THE VOTERS OF THE STATE OF
INDIANA.

Fellow CITIZENS AT a late session of
the Indiana State Education Society, held
in this city, May 26, lS4S, the following res
eluiion was unanimously adopted:
"Resolred, That a committee OF five be
appointed to address an appeal TO the peo-
pie of the State, on the Propriety and impor-
lance fvoiDg in favor OF Free Schools al
The coming August election"
g The undersigned were appointed said
committee, and in behalf Of the State Edu-
cation Society, issue this address.
The State Legislature, at its session in
1857, passed joint resolution inviting
the friends Of Common Schools throughout
the State, 10 meet in Convention in Indian
apolis, on the 26lh of May lS47, and accor-
dinghy, large number of The friends OF
Common Schools convened from different
parts oil the State, and continued in session
for several days. Among other things, they
appointed a committee TO draft Common
School law, with special reference to the
introduction of system of free common
schools. The bill which was draitedaby The
committee, was presented 10 the Legisla-
tuTe at its last session, and after some amend
ment, passed the House OF Representatives,
but failed in the Senate, for want of time for
its proper consideration. The Legislature
did, however, pass an "Act" submitting the
naked question of lree schools, TO the people
for their decision at the polls in August nexi.
And il is for the purpose OF securing your
vote in favor oil system of free common
schools, that we now address you. To show
the advantages Of the free school system,
permit Us 10 state a few facts illustrating The
difference in the number of The educated
and uneducated in those States where the
free school system has prevailed, and in
those States where il has not. In Connec.
ticui, New Hampshire, aud Massachusetts,
where the free school system has been the
longest in operation, the proportion Of those
over 30 years of age, who cannot read and
write is as follows: la Connecticut in 81;
in New Hampshire, in $50; in Massachu-
sets, in I30. While in Virginia, where
education has been chiefly Left to the volun.
tary action OF the parents, a fraction over one
SIKH Of the Tree white population over 20
years of age cannot read and write. In
North Carolina aud Tennessee | in 4 Cannol
read and write.
The above facts are suffi ;ienl to show the
importance Of system of free cummon
schools. There are in Indiana upwards of
10000 between the ages Of aud 2 and
il cannot be denied that thousands of those
vill remain uneducaled in the absence of
system Of free common schools. Many OF
their parents are too poor 10 give them even
common school education, aud others are
cIimiually negligent. OF our adult popula.
ton, there are upwards Of $4,000 who can
not read and write, and IL Is feared that in
the absence of a better system Of Common
school instruction than we now have, The IA
ito of the uneducaIed will increase with fear
ful rapidily. Such is the Intimate connec
ton Of ignorance with crime, that the educa.
tonof the whole people, is 10 The palrio
aud christian question Of the first impor
lance. The following statistics are taken
from two able reports; one by Joseph Bent
ley Esq, of England, aud the other by q
r. Porter Esq. The four best INSTRUCTED
counties in England, according to their re
ports are Rutland, Westminster, Cumber
land, and Middlesex. Rutland has schoo
to every 625 inhabitants, and crimina
tsnts. Westminster has school 10 ever,
696 inhabitants, and l criminal conviction
per annum to every 220l inhabitants. Cum
beriand has school to every 1872 inhabi
tsnis, aud one criminal conviction per an
mum 10 every ll0l inhabitants. Middlese,
has school to every TAT inhabitants, and
criminal conviction TO every AIS inhabil
ants.
The four wors instructed counties ar
Northampton, Dorset, Somerset and Here
ford. Northampton has school 10 ever
l757 inhabitants, and lcriminal convicto
: per annum TO every COL inhabitants. Dol
sci has school TO every l435 inhabiiani:
and criminal conviction per annum to eve
nv 6I0 inhabitants. Somerset has schoe
10 every 1927 inhabitants, and crmina
conviction per annum 10 every 493 inhsbi
ants. Hereford has school TO every l3S,
inhabitants, and criminal conviction pc
-,annum to every 596 inhabitants; making
the four latter counties, criminal convi'
ton per annum to every $50 nhabiiant.
and in the four former Counties, Grim
nal conviction per annum 10 every HOS il
habitants. Tue educational and crimins
statistics Of our own country, couobale sui
sta niislly the foregoing statements, and sho
mos, couclusively that the average amour
of crime is almost exactly in The inrer.
ratio OF the average amoun, OF inslIu
ton. cess
A system Of free common schools SUI
ported by taxation, is certainly the po
mans friend. When schools are supporle
by subscription, they usually cost, at Il
lowest estimate, 50 per quarter, for eac
scholar, and the average is supposed to
"a. 40 that the man who now sends thrt
l 4 lo a