Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-15

hazard nOti3nH IN saying, that under q
we'll regulated school system, and BY a
prudent and economical administration Of
the school laws, the permanent school fund
Of Iowa will ultimately be 1000, GOO. 90.
But admitting that it may never be more
than the first estimate, the annual inter
est on this amount, at len per cent per
annun, would b. $l8i 800 ,OO. to be dis
tributed annually tor The instruction OF
children. Surprising the tuition Of each
child to be $1,000 per annum, this would
annually sfsrd l5,OO8 children the bene
fits Of instruction, tree Of charge. But a
large portion Of them Cannot attend school
more Than three mouths in the year. Al
this rate j6O, 498 could avail themselves OF
this privilege, without the aid Of psren q
But must not dwell upon this porlion o,
my subject. This brief state aent exL,b-
liz to some extent the absolute necessity
and Importance OF prompt and immediate
acii"i. m reference 10 the permanent es
tablshlnent Of our School system. The
labor is vast, and nothing but continued
vigilance and perseverance, will accom-
pli>h it.
Ii is true that the whole Of this liberal
fund cannon be made Immediately available;
but this deficiency, under the existing
law, is supplied BY tax Of not less than
one hall nor mere than one mil on the dol
lar, on the assessed vaIus Ut al real and
personal property within each county, the
whele OF which IS to be distributed annu-
ally au.ong the several townships Of the
particular county in which it is raised,
according to the number OF persons ia
each between the ages olive and twenty
one years. And am happy to say, that
sach is the. interest felt t.y those upon
whom fortune has bestowed her favols
with liberal hand, and placed withint their
reach tine means OF ronferr,ng upon their
own children liberal education, in the
general dissemination Of knuwl, dye, that,
while they may complain cf otter taxes as
oppressive, have not heard mnr,nur
against this. This speaks well Tor our
prop!e, and it angufs isvorably for the fu .
ture prosperity and success OF our com
mon school organization.
Another interesting feature Of this sys-
TEN is, that it does not contemplate The
mere pitianee Of charity bestowed by the
rich upon the poor, but is philanthropic
scheme, upon the mos, liberal and exltn.
sive scale, for the developemer,t OF the vast
resources Of the human miid, to which
we all contribute according to our ability.
and the blessings Of which we all share
alike The high and the low, the rich and
the poor. And ! would here rem rk, that
some OF the brish,ets ornaments u the in
telec'ual world, aud the noble.t specimens
Of genius and moral worth, whose history
has been Transmitted to us by our ances-
tors, have risen, against the tide OF adver-
shy, from the hulnblest and most obscure
walks fife. And it is delightful and
MT cheering r.lsc ion t, every in
iisiduai who desires To promote the hap
piness OF mankind, that the grand object
| III a system oi common schools is 10 renov e
| he ,,npedments that have heretofore ex-
| listed, and to place in the hands of every
child, though peDury and want may frown
upon him, The key with which he may UNI
lock the exhaustless stores Of science and
literature.
From this brief summary we may infer,
to some extent, the magnitude Of the duties
Of Superintendent OF Public Instruction.
The Legislative department OF the State
has its duty to perform, in moulding and
fashioning ont Of these elemen the com
pick machinery of system IL comm N
school instruction, and in hu>bandlng this
vast iund; bnt upon the Superintendent
devolves the important task OF putting it
in successful operation. All efforts OF the
former will prove unavailing. unle.s at
tended by the prompt and efficient action
Of the Litter. It's for this important office
that present myself before you as can
didate. have considered maturely its
arduous and responsible duties land should
you see proper TO elevate me to i, am
prep red to give you the fullest assurance
th.t my portion Of the great work shall
be faithfully and promptly executed.
There is another matter connected with
this subject, to which must refer before
| close The party with whom l am as
s ,ciated, politically, is accused BY my com
petitor Of a combined and malicious effort