New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-03
The Free school Issue.

u
into effect the noble idea of having Libra
~ of cheap and choice Books connec'ea
with each School House, so that the chill
dren of Poverty and Ignorance, having once
learned 10 read, shall have the means always
at hand of improving every leisure hour out
Of school in the pleasing acquisition oil use
full knowledge. Thousands who cannot De
snared from work during school-hours VIII
find in these Libraries unfailing sources OF
Information and true Enjoyment-the means
Of SelfCulture and the solace Of exhausting
Toll Now let us confirm in addition the
Right of every Child to Education, prospect
i've of his parents providence or means, and
we have laid a broad foundation for the
training Of the great mass Of the generations
to come after us in the ways of knowledge
and virtue. A defeat of the Free School
law now would be Disaster humiliation
"a relapse toward barbarism. But no
there must be no defeat-there can be none.
An increased majority is desirable, and the
friends of Free Schools can secure it if they
will try.
The District School Journal thus clearly
states the issue to be decided at the Noyem-
| Der Election:
We have to deal with law, the specific details
of which we cannot, in many respects, justify ahd
the only plea have to offer in this respects tnal
| il was the best which the combined wisdom oil me
thaff nj "a ma
| that its provisions were fully and fairly communl.
Gated to the electors that after full discussion and
deliberation they were sanctioned by an over
widening majority of the people; and that every
| thing obnoxious in them might easily nave been
| amended modified and corrected by any succeed
| inc Legislature. We shall not, however, be di-
yerted from the maintenance Of the principle In.
voved in the first section Of this bill by any COLA
teral issue raised by its opponents on its several
subsequent provisions.
We shall contend that the law which it is pro-
posed by the act recently passed TO repeal has not
had an opportunity of being fairly tried. In more
than half of the Counties OF the State, the Board OF
Supervisors had adjourned before the law took
effect and consequently no provision was made Tor
raising the additional amount prescribed py its
provisions. A heavy and often unequal burden Oh
taxation was thus imposed upon the several Dis
tricts which could not again occur. This excessive
pressure of taxation created q widespread opposi'
ton to the law, and Immediately arrayed the tax
paving portion of the community against the nom
tax-paying and against the schools The result
was that In large portion of the Districts the
term of school was voted down to four months, the
lowest period permitted by law; and every con,
cevable obstacle was thrown against the Efforts Oh
the Trustees to discharge their duty.
We shall further contend that the law, however
defective, recognizes a great principle, which, II
now abandoned, can, in all human probability,
never again be engrafted upon our statute.book
for if the people after having by upwards OF one
hundred and fifty thousand majority, asserted and
sustained that principle, shall now, by solemn
and deliberate vote, renounce II, no succeeding
Legislature will ever venture to reassert It. The
defects in the present bill may and VIII be re-
NEEDED. 1t was the duty of the Legislature to
| have amended the bill it was within their power
| 10 have done so and had the representatives OF
| the people bestowed one half the time and pains
| upon this important subject, which were bestowed
upon matters of infinitely inferior interest," the sub
iect might and would have been satisfactorily ac-
complished. But although their attention was
daily directed TO it, by petitions from all parts OF
| the State, from the very commencement oil the
session no effective action was had until near its
close; and them at midnight of the last day oil the
session, a bill was hurried through, acithom eren
The formally of reading in The midst Of a scene Of
confusion, uproar and turmoil, which defes all
attempts at descrption,-by bare majorty,-a
bill not asked for, so far as our means OF lnforma'
ton extend, by solitary petitioner-ab bill known
to be repugnant to the wishes and the Judgment Of
n large majority of the members, and unsought
and unsolicited by any considerable portion Of the
people in any section of the State Many members
of both branches Of the Legislature, including the
Committees to which the subject was from time tc
time referred, faithfully and diligently exertec
themselves to prevent this disposition OF the mat
ter and to carry out the evident will and wishes
of their constituents; but, for reasons upon which
we shall feel it duty more fully to enlarge here
AFTER other counsels were destined to prevail
Under these circumstances, We believe the prop
err course is Indignantly to vote down the PROPOSE
ton for a repeal of the Free School Act TO repe
the unworthy and dishonoring suppostion that thu
ere at measure was ignoraHtly adopted by $50, OO
of the intelligent electors of this State to reasseri
in thunder tones, the broad PRINCIPLE OF UNI
VERSAL EDUCATION and FREE SCHOOLS
and simultaneously to ELECT REPRESENTATIVE
WHO WILL FAITHFULLY CARRY OUT THE SPIRIT
{ OF THE LAW. by amending its details as
make them acceptable TO all. Let those, then
, who think with US in this respect, proclaim thei
. sentiments and opinions, through the medium 9
the local press, and wherever practicable throug
public meetings, conventions and gatherings OF th
|. people. The 100000 electors who, in Novenbe
last recorded their votes in favor of Free SCHOOL,
have not yet spoken in tones sufficiently audible
satisfy the nice ears OF their representatives
Albany. Their recorded wishes have been ovei
N borne by the clamor OF some 10000 or $4,000 onl
:, out of the 90 600 opponents Of the bill and II the
!, = would save the Free School system-f they woul
secure for their children and their childrens chi
dren the priceless inheritance Of sound and fire.
edueation-if they would vindicite the characts
, and the reputation Of the Empire State, and saw
il from the indehble disgrace Of first adopting b
3 an overwhelming expression Of popular sentimen
o and then deliberately abandoning, in one sho
l. wear thereafter the noble and glorious principle
u UNIVERSAL EDUCATION, they must Actin sc
Or son and out Of season-early and late. The &
ID umns of the JOURNAL, enlarged and extended. a
at their service; and we earnestly invoke the
Efficient cooperation and aid in enabling US
reach every family every HOMESTEAD in the Stat
with such arguments and reasons in support OF q
great principles we advocate as may ss Says &C