Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-06-22
TEXAS-[entitled to 4 votes.l
from the Indiana State Journal.l
TO THE VOTERS OF THE STATE OF
INDIANA.


FELLOW CITIZENS AT late session of
the Indiana State Education Society, held
in this city, May 26, 1913, the following res
elaion was unanimously adopted:
"Resolred, That committee OF five be
appointed to address an appeal 10 the peo-
pie of The State, on The proprIety and lmpor-
lance of voting in favor of Free Schools al
the coming August election"
The undersigned were appointed said
committee, and in behalf Of the Safe 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, TO meet in Convention in Indian
apolis, on the 26lh of May lS47, and accor-
dnglY. a large number of the friends OF
Common Schools convened from different
parts Of the Stale, and continued in session
for several days. Among other things, they
appointed committee 10 draft Common
School law, with special reference 10 The
introduction of system of free con- mon
schools. The bill which was drafted by The
committee, was presented TO the Legisla-
lure 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 ''Acl" submitting the
naked question offree schools, 10 the people
for their decision at The polls in August next.
And ii is for the purpose of securing your
vote in iaV6I OF system OF free common
sc hools, that we now address YOU. To show
The advantages of The free school system,
permit US to state 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 it has not. In Connec.
Icut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts,
where the free school system has been The
longest in operation, the proportion of those
over % years of age, who cannot read and
write is as follows: In Connections in 81; ;
in New Hampshire, ! in $50; in Massachu,
sets, in l30 While in Virginia, where
education has been chiefly left to the volun-
tary action of the parents, fraction over one
sixth of the Tree while population over 20
years of age cannot read and write. In
| North Carolina aud Tennessee in 4 cannot
read and write.
The above facts are suffi :ient to show the
importance OF system OF free common
schools. There are in Indiana upwards of
100000 between the ages OF and 81, and
it cannot be denied that thousands OF those
will remain uneducaed in the absence of a
system Of free common schools Many OF
their parents are too poor TO give them even
a common school education, aud Others are
criminally negligent. OF our adult popula-
ton, there are upwards OF $4,000 who can
not read and write, and it is feared that IN
The absence of a better system of common
school instruction Than we now have, the ra-
ito of the uneducated will increase with fear
full rapidly. Such is the intimate connec-
non OF ignorance with crime, that the educa-
lion of the whole people, is TO the patriot
and christian a 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 10 their re.
ports are Rutland, Westminster, Cumber-
land, aud Middlesex. Rutland has l.school
to every 625 inhabitants, and | criminal
conviction per annum, 10 every 7lS inhabi
lants Westminster has | school 10 every
500 inhabitants, and / criminal conviction
per annum to every 220l inhabitants. Cum
berland has | school TO every 1872 uhabi
tants, and one criminal conviction per an
mum to every llOl inhabitants. Midd!esex
has ! school 10 every TAT inhabilsn!s, and
criminal conviction 10 every 4l5 inhabil-
ants
The four worst instructed counties are
Northampton, Dorset, Somerset and Here
ford. Northampton has school to every
1857 inhabitants, and l criminal conviction
per annum TO every sol inhabitants. Dor
set has | school 10 every l435 inhabitants.
and l criminal conviction per annum to eve
ny 6l0 inhabitants. Somerset has ] school
to every 1927 inhabitants, and | criminal
CO uviction per annum to every 493 inhabt-
ants. Hereford has | school to every 1886
inhabitants, and criminal conviction per
annum to every 500 inhabitants; making in
the four latter counties, criminal conyic-
ZION per annum TO every $50 inhabitants
and in The four former counties, ! crinI-
nal conviction per annum 10 evory HOS in
habitanis Tue educational and criminal
statistics of our own country, coFrobate sub
staniiaIly The foregoing statements, and show
most couclusively that the average amount
OF crime is almost exactly in the inuerSe
ratio OF the average amount OF insIruc-
lion.
A system of free common schools sup
ported by taxation, is certainly the poor
mans friend When schools are supported
by subscription, they usually cost, al the
lowest estimate, So per quarter, for each
scholar, and The average is supposed to be
So; SO that the man who now sends three
children to school Que quarter, pays at least
IS; but under the proposed free school sys-
lem, if lie has no taxable property; he will
lpay 25 cents, the poll tax, and thus save
1913. If he has $500 of taxable property,
he will pay IS cents, as follows: 80 cents
State tax; 80 cents; township tax; and %
ceuis, poll tax; thereby saving S5,l5. II
he has $1,000 taxable property, he will pay
As still saving S4,55. If he has $4,000
taxable property, he will pay $l,20, State
tax; 81 20, township tax, and % cents, poll
tax; making $2,65, and saving $2,35.