New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-08

of the Enlargement. The proposition to be SUD
mitted for this purpose should include provision
reoniripr an additional contribution from the "a
nal revenues to the Sinking Fund, sufficient Tor
the payment of interest on the new loan' ana
eventual reimbursement Of the principal 10
give effect 10 the amendment under consideration
it must be agreed to by two successive LeSls,a-
lures, and then approved by majority oil tue
n the amendment should be adopted by the
nresent and succeeding Legislature, and then
sanctioned by the people, the Legislature OF 1913
would be enabled TO create the loan, ana the HuA'
completion of the Enlargement would be accom-
plished before the opening oil naVi5slon ~
/ am aware that the sentiment OF our people, IS
adverse TO the accumulation Of large public
debt. and none will deny the proprlety oil exercl'
sing such precautions as are needed 10 prev nj
the imposition of heavy taxes on the present OF
future generations. 1t is believed, however tnaS
a resort to the public credit for means 70 eNpediIe
the Enlargement of the Erie Canal, is Tree IRON
the objections commonly urged against an increase
of the State Debt Such loan would expose the
people to no new burdens. The present reve-
mes of the Canal are sufficient to ensure the DIS
charge of the new liability, and OF our existing
debt, at no distant period.
II has been shown that the present money Vaiue
of the Canals, adopting the average revenues Oh
the last five years is equal to capital Of 9o'
ala 30 Mt six per cent interest. The completion
the work for which the loan is needed VIII add
largely 10 the financial resources of the Treasury.
There is a wide distinction to be observed De-
tween debts iudiciously made ID furtherahGe Vi
trade and intercourse, and the glgantc deOVs
which weigh down the people In most OF the Eu-
ropean nations The former serve to develop lat
ent resources and open new fountains OF wealth.
creating the revenues required for their eXtin-
euishment, and infusing fresh v1gor into al the
elements of public prosperity. Widely dlnerent
is the influence Of public debt, originating IN
wars of ambition, in the protiigacy oil courts OF
the vanity of princes expenditures Oh tnlS na.
ture Weld no return, and the burdens resulting
from them press with crushing force upon the toll
ing millions, FROM age to age. entertain a hrm
conviction that the enlargement oil the Canal wiz
nroduce large increase of revenue, furnishing all
the means required to pay the cost OF the WORK,
and that its income, after paying the dept, VIII
ultimately relieve our citizens from taxation ioi
support of government and at the same time yield
an ample fund for the support Of Education and
the prosecution of new improvements a ques
ton like this so emnenty practical, aud surely
within the comprehension of sagaclous poPula-
ton like ours, may safely be left to their own IN
telligent decision.
The funds dedicated to the support of Education
are in Gourishng condition The capital OF the
Common School Fund on the 3Oth OF September
last was %. 300 73 23--being an increase from
the preceding wear of S47,l09 81. The revenue
for the last iscal year including Sl65,O00 from the
Deposit Fund, was S30O,792 10. The increase oil
this Fund and of its income, will justify you 10 IN
creasipg the amount Of the distribution among the
Common Schools from S2s5,000 to 100000 per
annum.
1t appears from the latest returns to the super
intepdent OF Common Schools that there are IN
the sst-ta .297 school districts that the whole
number OF children taught Therein IN the year
ls49, was 749 800 of all ages, aud that the whole
amount paid for teachers wages during that year
was 81 322 696 "a, of which S767 ,3S9 20 was con-
tributed from the State Treasury and raised by
county and town taxation
The operations of the act Of ls49 establishing
free schools have not produced all the beneficial
effects nor impaired the general satisfaction anti
cipated by the friends of the measure. 1t has
been the policy of our State, from an early Pc
Rod to promote the cause of popular education
bv liberal and enlightened legislation. mum.
cent fand created by a series OF measures, all
aiming at the same great result, has been dedI
Gated by the Constitution to the support OF com
mon schools and the annual dividend from this
source will gradually increase. The duty OF the
State TO provide such means and facilities as will
extend to all its children the blessings OF educa.
ton and especially TO confer upon the poor and
unfortunate participation IN the dement's oil our
common schools, is q principle which has been
fully recognized and long acted upon by the legis-
ature and the people.
The vote ofls49, Ia favor Of the Free School
Law, and the more recent vote by reduced ma
jorty against its repeal ought doubtlessto be re-
garded as a re affirmation Of this important prIn-
chile but not OF the provisions OF the bill leaving
it incumbent upon the Legislature in the exer-
else of a sound discretion, TO make such enact
ments IS will accomplish the general design,
without injustice TO any of our citizens. An es-
senta change was made by the law under con-
sheraton IN imposing the entire burden OF the
schools upon property in the form of tax, with
out reference to the direct benefits derlvedby the
taxpayer The provisions OF the act for carrying
this plan into effect, have produ ed oppressive
inequalities and loud omplaints.
In some districts the discomfort aud strife at
tendant upon these evils, have disturbed the har-
mony Of society. An earnest effort should be
made TO reconcile differences Of opinion, to re.
medy the grievances arising from the imperfect
operation of the law, and to equallze the weight
OF taxation by such principles OF justice and
equity will ensure popular sanction. The sue
cess of our schools must depend In great degree,
upon the united cOunsels and friendly cooperation
OF the people in each small community composing
a district, and nothing can be more injurious TO
the system of common school educ alton than feuds
and contentious among those who are resp )nsibe
for its healthful action and preservation.
Itcannot be doubted that all property, estates
whether large or small, will derive important ad
vantages from the universal education of the peO
pie. A well considered system which shall en-
sure to the children of all, the blessings of moral
and intellectual culture, will plant foundations,
broad and deep, for public and private virtue !;
and the effects will be seen in the diminution OF
vice and crime, the more general practice Of in
dustry, sobriety and integrity, conservative and
enlightened legislation and universal obedience
to the laws. In such community the rights of
property are stable, and the contributions impos
ed upon it for the support of Government are
essentially lightened. But | entertain a firm con.
viction that the present law requires a thorough
revision and that an entire change in the mode OF
assessment is Indispensable.
The capital of the Literature fund on the 3Oth
of September last was S272, $50 II; the income
during the fiscal year was $50 ll2 40
The capital of the United Statd Deposit Fund
being S4,Ol4,52O Il, is in highly productive state,
having yielded an income the last fiscal year Of
S260,22 on. The revenues of this fund during
the present fiscal year will doubtless be sufficient
to Justify the usual appropriations in support of