The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-09

oi wrong gradually steals into the minds
oil the citizens of the neglected unim.
proved sections. They look upon their
situation as tributary and colonial, and
50 il truly is. Yet the favored sections
are Tar from feeling any gratitude for
the most lavish bounty. Men never
feel any gratitude for an act of folly,
however costly to the donor. We
have abundant examples; one must suf-
fee. In the summer Of lG43, violent
quarrel broke out between the State
agents. and the settlers around one oi
our large westesn reservoirs. The lat.
ter insisted that the formor. were not
sufficiently careful Of the public health,
charge that would seem to demand
pretty strict proof when tn, obsequious.
ness OF pnblls. men to popular inclina-
lions is considered. Be this as it may,
the inhabitants were very tar from wait
ing TO-. the forms OF law, or making an
appeal to the constituted authorities.
They constituted themselves Judges in
!helr own case. they took the law into
their own hands, and assembled in the
capacity of awless mob, and DESTROY
ed the public works. And, O, humility
the public agents proceeded in all meek.
ness, in all lowiness, to reconstruct
them at the public expense. And, o,
degradation! the more numerous branch
Of the General Assembly, at the next
session deliberately y rejected bill 10
provide against the occurrence of future
onlrages of the same kind, and that one
remains unatoned for to this day. How
long will the public taste continue TO
relish a poem which coalains such ep.
isodes?
To make public provision for the ed,
ucation Of youth, would seem to be a
Legitimate exercise ofth taxing power.
Its expediency or nexpediency must
be judged of by the legislator in each
particular instance. Even in this. case,
public agency is attended with great
and signal Inconvenience. No doubt
the prosperous classes could educate
their children more economically and
more efficiently without public agency.
But then, tie children of their worthy
but unfortunate and INDECENT neighbors,
must remain ignorant and uneducated.
This is result which no good and
generous man can bear 10 contemplate.
This reflection silences all murmurs.
and reconciles all hearts to The expense
and Inconvenience of public agency.
But a tax Of this kind is directly and
Immediately auxiliary to the establish.
ment and preservation of social ordet.
Ii is not ioregn 10 the design of the
social compact. "Education," says Ed
mund Burke, ''s the cheap defence al
nations" And this happy apolhegm
has immortalized his name. and shed
ustre over an otherwise mixed and i'm
perfect character. Certain it is, that
we must either pay taxes for the edu-
cation Of youth, or we must pay taxes
to provide jalls, and chains, and dun
geons. This latter idea i, too revolving
to be contemplated. Heaven forbid
that the pen Of this committee should
ever write one word against a " ,lI-con.
Quoted system Of public education.
1t has been seen. in former part OF
this report, that provision for the pub
lie defence against foreign aggression,
is essential to the preservation Of So
cial order. War taxes are, therefore.
right or wrong, expedient or inexpedi.
ent, just as the war itself is right or
wrong, expedient or inexpedient. But
this is a care of the federal government,
and Of course requires brief examina-
tion BY This body. That government
raises its revenues by duties levied up.
on commerce, and must, therefore, de.
eide for itself upon the expediency Of
assisting commerce by clearing ocean
and lake harbors, or the channels OF i'm.
mense natural rivers. This subject has
also been discussed in the report for.
merly alluded to. Such works are man
ifestly out Of the sphere of action OF
commercial and social wealth. But
when such works are undertaken bv
the federal government, they ought, as
far as possible, II be executed by the
immediate servants Of that government,
avoiding jobbing and contracting with
individuals as far as practicable. No
doubt, abuses would still exist, for they
are inseparable from the management,
Of public works carried on by govern
ment. But the officers concerned would
get nothing but their regular salaries,
and would be deprived the opportu'
nifty Of making sudden andilgotten for.
tunes out Of the public treasury. Jean
BaptistsSay, in his great and immortal
work on political economy, lays j,
down as almost an axiom, that govern.
men,s are always cheated in their deal.
ings with individuals. His eye was di.
.-.als A.. III Il