Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-08
For the Journal.
Educ0tlOn-NO. 4.

the School Fund. The law OF 1875 creating this
fund.- provided for it's distribution according to arhe
population The law of 1870 under which our Com
mon Schools commenced, repealed this clause in the
law of 1926 and provided for the distribution of the
fund according totederol population Much section
al feeling exhibited in settling this question It
is known that the particular species property most
ly taxed in North Carolina, and upon which the
Treasury is mainly dependent for moneys to carry
on the legitimate operations of the State Govern
merit, is chiefly owned in the Eastern portion of the
State while the Western portion contains the larger
white population. The East, therefore, contended
for its distribution according to taratton which would
secure larger appropriation to this section while
the West wished it distributed according to white
population. Between these extreme opinions and
opposing interest it very difficult for the Legs-
laure to devise any plan for the amicabe settlement
of the question. A compromise, however, by choos-
ing the mean between these extremes, which distri-
butes the fund according to federal numbers. Under
this compromise has the fund been distributed up to
the present time. Efforts now being made in the
Western section of the State to disturb this compro
mise,--to awaken the old controversy between the
East and WESTWARD to secure for that section
appropriation Of the fund according to white popula
ton. The message of Gov. Manly to the last Legs-
ature gave countenance and encouragement to these
efforts bill for the repeal of the present law was
rejected by but very few votes. If by any succee-
ding Legislature similar act should be passed, the
East may bid adieu to any thing like AUST and equal
share in the proceeds of this fund. The West con-
tends very plausibly that the federal method of dis
tribution enumerates threef fifth of the are popula
ton while another clause in laws prohibits these
from being educated, it consequently was only con-
templated by the trainers of the Free School law to
educate the white children; and that distribution
of the School Fund according to white population
is the only Just plan to obtain this desirable end. 1t
also contended that the Literary Fund not raised
by tax this species of property, and therefore
the East does not bear than her proportion of
the burden To this reply that the sources of this
fund are withdrawn from the public revenue-the
Treasury suffers deficit to the amount of that with
drawn--that certain amount by taxation has an
nually to be raised to sustain finances and con-
sequently, by diverting the of the Literary
Fund from the Public Treasury, necessarily increases
the tax land and polls, and effects indirectly
this species of property. Again the amount received
from the General Government was distributed accor-
ding to federal population, and it ever the State
should be called upon to refund this money in like
manner will it have to be raised If the amount re-
ceved from the General Government, together with
the other sources of the Literary Fund, thrown
into the State Treasury we in the East would have
to pay very little, tax slave property
Very few apprised Of the great inequality of tax
alton in North Carolina. New Hanover county, tho
small pays moro taxes than any other county in the
Sho into no ota Trnas " five
thousand dollars, while some Western counties of
equal size and population does not pay that many
hundreds, and some not sufciency to pay the per
diem of their members to the Legislature. | have
an estimate made up from the Treasurers report,
showing that sixteen of the largest ax-paying coun-
ties in the West only pay into the State Treasury
$4,000, while equal number in the East pay
SOS, 127. have also statement made in speech
before the last Legislature, by the Hon VIM. B. Shop
ard showing that twenty-three Western counties,
viz Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Chero-
kee Cleaveland Davidson, Davie, Guilford Haywood,
Henderson, Iredell, Macon, Mcdowell, Montgomery,
Moore, Randolph Rutherford, Stanly Stokes, Surry,
Wilkes and Yancy, paid into the Public Treasury in
1850 only S27, 957; and received during the same
year from the School Fund, S31.373. Here there is
twenty three Western counties receiving from the
Common School Fund,-exclusiye of the expense of
| Judges, members of Assembly, &c. over $4,000 more
than they pay taxes for State purposes According to
this showing have Western friends any right to
complain of the mana cement of the Common School
Fund or to endeavor disturb the present equita-
| BILE mode of distribution This question, together
with another of kindred nature, is exciting great
deal of interest in Western North Carolina. The
public presses loud in their complaints against
what they consider abuses Constitutional reform is
demanded-sectional platforms are being erected re-
quiring the adhesion of all candidates, from Cover
nor down. Conventions being held to arouse the
people to the Importance of these sectional issues
and declarations made that no man shall receiveathe
votes of that section, unless pledged to carry out
these so-called reforms This in my opinion, is un
fortunate for the interest of the whole State. It
sttutes the greatest barrier to the perfection of
Common School laws. Let any valuable amendment
be proposed in the Legislature, and it is immediate
ly rejected, and the mover consoled by being told
we had better not touch the subject, for fear of a
Weakening this old sectional spirit Unfortunately
the geographical position of our State we'll The
hitherto do-nothing policy of her Legislature, has
greatly assisted in augmentng these sectional divis
ions There has been no identity of interest," or sym
pathy between the Eastern and Western sections
assimilation of feeling pride and sociality among
the people. Each section have striven for legisla
tive preponderance without turning that even wher
obtained, to any good. We of the East know more
of PENNSYLVANIA and New-York, and of their capital