The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-05-04

be considered opposed to free schools, the
greatest blessing to a community, the sur
est safeguard OF Republican liberty and It
wall be a long time before we can get such
system. If the system is imperfect, as
all the results of human labCrs are, adopt
it and hereafter alter and amend it.
1t is objected to this bill that it taxes
the poor to educate the affluent, creates an
Office whose salary is the enormous and
fearful sum OF $500, confines poor men in
jail who are unable to pay their taxes, and
many other bad and desperately wicked
things, which, however, are only 10 be
found IN the prolific imagination& Of
these writers. Thu hypocri'icai syInpa-
tiy manifested, and the cry that til" poor
are to suffer, sa~ors much It the dena-
eor,e. and is doubtless made with the
hope that It will serve to enlist the pas
sions and feelings OF the laboNing and
poorer classes against the system. 1T is
to this very class Of the community that
tins system is the most valuable. IL places
them equal with the atlueat and their
children ENJOY the same privileges. 1t Is
vastly more economical than the present
mode ; this is very clear, il we reflect that
by the provisions of this system, man
whose income amounts to $3.50 year
and has one or more.chlldren between the
ages OF and 20 years. will pay Sl.50
income tax, and 81 child tax, total $3.50;
and can send all his children between
those ages to school during the whole
year, but, ii he have to send to Subscrip-
ton school as at present, and has four
children he will have 10 pay $3.50 each
quarter, that is, for all, just $ 10; and for
the year $40. By the present systom one
years tuition for children will cost $3.50
under the present mode S+O.-Now |
wish every laborins man who has chil.
dren to MAINTAIN and educate, to ponder
we'll those plain truths before hi casts has
vote Tor or against the system.
The most Objectionable feature OF this
system however seems 10 be the office OF
Superintendent He is to receive we are
told $500 for doing nothing, and all
the ''nves'ed fund" is to be put INTO his
pockets. The onerous duties which he is
called upon TO perform as specified in the
law, the fact that he is to be Treasurer,
receive and disburse all the monies per-
tening to the county school fund, give
bond in the sum OF not less than S23 ,ooo,
nor over $4,000, for the faithful dis
charge Of his duties and various other serv-
ices are all omitted, and it does not hap
pen that this ':Investrd fund" goes INTO
his pockets, but is distributed in shares OF
5000 to each school district in the county,
the balance to be invested in U. S. and
Maryland State Stocks,-the income aris-
ing from which is specially set apart to
meet lnsolvencies in the collections OF
taxes and prevent poor persons from being
dstl essed in their persons or property.
How, therefore, can il be sad without
gross Misrepresentation, that the monies
all 90 into the supe rintendtnts pockets,
or the system places poor men in Jail.
To the farmer, the holder Of real and
personal property already taxed, this
law IS rich gift, because It excludes all
his property from the support OF the sys-
amour, to be raised by taxation on the
a>>essable property OF the county will
be very small and cannot amount to ten
cents on the hundred dollars, when tn.
system has been fairly put in operation;
indeed i, is thought by many persons,
the income, chi d and apprentice taxes,
and the amount received annually from
the state will be amply sufficient.
The character of the persons who OPP
pose this system should be strong ar
gument in its iavor.-In this the 9th
District, they are generally af1iuent and
penurious persons who have no children
10 educate, and Iaboring men without
families; who have never paid any taNcs
during tAeir lives. Some there are who,
/ believe oppose this system because
poor men will be able 10 educate their
children as we'll as themselves When
such persons are seen to oppose, in SOL
I'd phalanX, a system such as This, men
having to labor for their living and large
families OF children needing liberal edu-
cations, which under tho present mode
they will never be able to furnish them
should not hesitate how TO vote.
The writer of this article is personally
and holly interested IN the rejection Of
the Bill. having no family or children,
and being Of class which the income
tax was designed to reach. Yet fully
satisfied that :he adoiti Of this system
will confer lasting benefits on this coun-
ty, could he by his vote secure this OBJ
jet, he would be proud Of that honor
GA VOTER OF THE 9Th DIsTRlcT."
IMPORTANT FROM PoRro Rico Threat
! ,,.I W.. b,ru al Ia,