The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-18
pplication, and therefore IL Is unwise legis-

| oPPhCaion, iiu tncreiore ~ II unWise legis-
lation.
II discriminates between the Parishes and
Districts, and is sectional in its benefits. It
gives to the more wealthy Parishes and Dis
tricts where there is always to be found a
fetcer number Of white persons, a much
larger share Of the free school fund in pro-
portion to their white population; and to
the poorer Parishes and Districts, where
there is always larger white population a
less share in proportion to their white pcpu-
lation.
1t operates partially upon the citizens of
the State, either as individuals the rccipieants
Of the fund, or as tax payers, and citizens
residing in the different Parishes and Dis
tricts, and is therefore unjust ard unequal
1t operates partially upon the INDECENT, the
recipients of the fund, inasmuch as they are
benefited or injured in proportion as taxa
ton or population contributes to member
ship in their Parish or District; and for the
same reason II operates unequally aud un-
justly upon Il Q taxpayers or other citizens
of the State, who are interested in the fund
rs means to advance the cause of educa-
tion in the State, and from its advantages to
them, both socially and politically consid-
cred.
But it is urged that as the Parishes and
Districts pay the taxes, therefore the present
mode OF distribution is just. Here the whole
difficulty arises, viz: in regarding the free
school system as mere Parish or District
institution, and not strictly State institu-
ton. If the State were federal head, con-
sistlng OF separate sovereigntics and inde-
pendencles, then the reasoning might apply !;
but the State OF South Carolina is gov
ernment, integral end consolidated in its
character. 1t is 'ohoie, it is one govern
ment. The State has its boundaries, and
within the boundary every individual stands
to tho State in an individual relation, and
eq"'' III '''''' 'e'''''on'
In considering the mode of the distribu-
tion OF the fund, we are not to look to the
source from which tho fund comes; nor
where, or from whom the fund is derived
That is entirely different matter. To
raise and collect taxes is one thing, and to
appropriate money from the treasury an
other. There are certain great and leading
matters OF concern TO tho State, (among
which education is most certainly one) to
provide for which, taxation becomes neces-
sary. The State, therefore, annually collects
expenses, and to provide for its wants
and necessities, and a tax is assessed upon
property this tax is but the price paid for
the defence of property, and when it is paid
and goes into the treasury of the State, the
tax payer has no further claim upon it more
than any other citizen of the State. 1t be-
longs to the State, and in the appropriation
OF money from the treasury,the State should
so apply It as to reach the object and accom-
Pllsb the purpose.
| For these reasons, l believe the present
mode OF distribution to be wrong, and that
change should be made so rs to distribute
the fund according to white population. II
"''' '',r.' "oue We,e auoP'ed II wou'd give
~ '"' D''o''' '''!o7' i"S'cao vi sooo w.
.,1 70 ,Lo f,nJLo ;.asorI .. $500 ,
d;.,-;hn,oa sa.o-S;.~ 80, $1,000 -. "'',' y.
worId ,,;vo a. onr 6;.,.;,, -. $50 - -
s,ood &c seoo ond uh;,.h = - 49," 1uo' 49,, -,
ho .re;o;on, a. .n.",n. a. - o.,,...,OI", 80
80 A.. D;s,-a,
AS regards the Bank of the State, nv
vote while was member of the House of
Representatives in ls4s and 40, define nv
potion upon that subject. During the ses-
sion of ls4s the following resolutions wcrc
reported by the committee Of the whole for
adoption by the House, viz: