North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-25
REMARKS OF Mr.. ". MCNEIL


OF ROBEGOE,
Delivered in Ihe House of Cossmoas. o., F.,
open the Report OF The COMMITTEE Of, p ay ast,
on the IS Bill for the better zppIiczron r 0cston
mon School Fund e Con.
Ma. SPEAKER: NOT having an.icits,ed
Report from the intelligent committee TO saiTe
statistical information as might drsire. and such
obtain, TO assist IN convincing Ibis Hons you'd
Common School system in this Stale is Tadi a' e
fecive in many particulars, and HAT il does ny Oe.
sweT the ends and purposes for which il waS ~ d.
aIy intended and trust. SIf, that Tie ,ie, Sln
Mr. WIIey.) the negative Report Of the ccr"!q,
upon The bill Of my friend from Perou,,sna @se
Wiison.) and The negative Report Of The connl n'
upon this bin viii not be regarded as an aruna 'e
this House in favor of the PeTfectability Of ib
mon School system. UOIa'
i knog, Sir. tina: the IS odds - are grea,v
me, when attempt 10 convince This Houss sns'
improperly Of IIe Report of the Commits. "e
still more convinced Of this fact when reA, d am
there are geeilemen composing that conm,, r
whose opinions upon all subjects entertain 'of
est regard and indeed, Sir, may say that tsn'
despair of success, when II is my misfortune -, T
fer in opinion with them upon any subject: and S
freely confess that If / could for a uonen, L,i'
that this bill had received their hands thai
Grafton which in my humble opinion it is ins,i u'
titled 10, l would be the last man in This Him.. eli
raj e the voice of disafection at this report. 10
But, sir. can well conceive many reasons III,
1hEuk,
This bill, Sir. proposes radical change in ibe '
plicaiion of the Common School Fund and Hop aP
us who participate in efecting this chance mu., -"
cessanly bear ProPoriIODaie degree of the ,esnos
sibility. Knowing this TO be the case, the commi,a
did not think proper to recommend this chance nj
out mature elaboration and reflection YoT k
Sir, and know that the present agitating and exoi
ing subjects of Southern rights, State Reform ~
now under discussion in both branches of ibis A.
sembly, eagross almost the entire time and ai,a,;
of he,r her knS II
become s. the common centre, around which all on
affections play, and the circle in which all O
thoughts reyoIye." Questions, which at other tnoo
would be regarded Of momenous interest to the Stat,
now passed by as of minor importance
Sir, IL might not be improper, while upon subio.
of this nature. for to go into general disseraio
upon the moralIzing and outstanding effects of 5
cation upon society, but will foTbear 10 consume
the time of this House in an argument TO prove that
which has been fully demonstrated by the experenoa
of every age and country. Sir, look TO the varnu
Statutes establishing and modifying the CommoD
School system the proudest acis in the leuisl,i
history of State; and regret 10 say thai aboub
The system was founded In wisdom, and has bpss
modified by experience. YET this day il is extreme
ly defective. But let not despair let US outline
io experiment; by The experience Of the yasl lhpr
Is undoubtedly right way, and sooner later it ,rl
il must be discovered.
This bill. Sir. provides that the money now dis
trbuted for educational purposes, be applied specially
10 the education of those unfortunate youths who
are among Us, unable either by their own eSer
lions or by the assistance of their parens 10 obtain
an education Sir, do not feel that there is either
civil moral responsibility resting upon me eilb
in my individual representative capacity 10 Do
vide and appropriate money for the education of those
who need assistance, and further, who ask no as
sisianee. But, Sir. do feel that there is respOp
sibIlity, (and with which will cheerfuIiy COM
piy) resting npOn 10 provide and appropriate mo-
ney for the education of those who are so unfortunate
Is TO need assistance.
This, in my humble opinion, is all that State is
pound do is in fact all she should do Sir let
his principle be adopted, and the voice of dssalis
action. SO often heard upon this foor-the CRY Of
humbug" will be heard more. No longer will
'ou see this sectional jealousy between the western
md eastern portions of State relative TO the dis.
rbuton of the fund. The west conIending for more.
N the ground that the received by her is so
mail that il be divided among her nuner.
'us population 10 produce any good effect; and
he east replying that she is exactly in the same con-
tIon consequently cannot surrender any of the fund
he is now entitled 10.
Really, Nj. Speaker, we are in IamentabIe CON-
iion. Notwithstanding the enormous expenditure OF
'l5O, 900 annually, within borders for Common
'chool purposes. yet people are dissatisfied am
heir representatives from all parts of the State DE-
iaTe upon this floor, that they would he in6niIeF
eiter off without it. There is remarkable fact co.,
ected with our Common School system, that will
urprise many of our wisest and best citizens "Ne
nnua!iy expend larger amount for school purp,ses
idh We coect lIoh Ine people 10 defrdy the
expenses of State government" vet none IF Us
ill venture to say that citizens derive thing
he proportIonate benefit TO the amount of money
Expended. So far as my experience goes cannot
that education has made any perceivabIe advance
tn by the assistance of this fund.- than il would
therwise have done. Neither has the moral charac-
OF the State been improved in proportion to the ex
endIture- OF has II strengthened The lies of friend
nip between neighbor and neighbor And why ISL
IT! SimPiy because the State in her extreme anxi-
" to enghten and improve the condition of all her
tizens, has attempted more than she is pecuniarIy
Die TO accomplish and consequently in her eodea;.
rs 10 benefit all, she benefits nome saw again sir
lat we are IN lamentable condition it is pain
II 10 reflect upon such enormous expenditure IT,
lrning so little real substantial benefit
have been told sir, in private conversation with
etnbers upon this subject, that the discrimination
Toposed to be made by this bill, would be suicidal
the whole system that il bears within its.f the
,eds of its own destruction THAT those INTENDED 10
benefited would scorn the discrimination and pre-
10 nope Their way through darkness and Ignorance
an to receive light and knowledge freely and liner
ly offered by the public-ihat parents whose chill
Ten It intends 10 benefit would be too proud to con-
mt for their children exclusively to be educated by
e public.
Sir. entertain an entirely different opinion The
scrmnation made in this bill, does not differ nateri-
ly from the distinctions drawn in all the practical op-
aiions of lie between the various classes of society
II, have too much confidence in the INTELLIGENCE and
,erality OF those who intended to be benefited,
believe that the idea Of discrimination will ever
tier their minds. II seems to me 10 be sf,tded far
Iched. unnatural prejudice; and it is impossible for
TO meet with any degree of favor. Sir, deemed
to be my duly to make these few remarks by way
justification of the motion I now make, to lay that
II upon the table, and that it be printed.
For the STANDARD.
Ma EDIToR: Your structures upon an article ap-
airing IN the Salisbury Waterman entitled " | have