The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-18

isolated vote for some individuals whose
names are not before the country. This lat
ter proposition, Under existing circumstances,
would have the effect Of casting away the
vote of the State.
What good would be gained, and where
fore cast away the vote of the State! /
know of no possible good that would result
from such course; but, on the contrary the
weight of the electoral vote Of the State
would be lost, and her political influence les
sened. Then, If the State casts her vote
for either Of the nominees Of the two great
parties, it should be in favor Of that party
whose principles and feelings are more in
accordance with our own. The Democratic
principles accord more with mine, and If phi
vileged, should vote for electors to support
the Democratic nomination Of General Frank
lin Pierce and the Hon. William r. King
In this connection, would here remark
that the election of electors by the people
would accord more with the true principles
Of our government, and the provision of the
Constitution Of the United States, in the
election of electors Of President and Vice
President,-would save the Inconvenience
and expense ofan extra session of the Legis-
lature every four years-and would moreover
afford more substantial evidence Of Demo-
cratic rule, and confidence in the ability of
the people to govern themselves; and for
these reasons should be given to the people,
When in the Legislature in lS49, and n
member Of the House, submitted report
in behalf Of the minority of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, recommending
the passage of "a Bill to provide for the
election of Electors Of President and Vice
President of the United States by the peo-
pie of South Carolina" This report has bcch
published, and contains more fully my views
upon this subject.
The Free School system regard as de-
fective, and radically so, and this defect ex-
tends mainly to the distribution of the fusd
The system, although defective in this re-
gard, still, it has doue much good. 1t has
enabled many children in the State to read
and write, who, without the aid Of the Free
School fund would have remained ignorant
of even these first principles. Tothis extent
the system has done good, and fully justify's
the annual appropriation. But something
is necessary to be done, to remedy Il 9 evils
nf the distribution. The present mode of
distribution violates the principles of justice,
equality and wise state policy. Under the
act Of 1911 the fund is npportioned among
the several Parishes and Districts in the
State according to representation in theHouse
Of Representatives, allowing $500 for each
and every member thereof This, in effect,
distributes the fund according to Taxation
and Population, (for representation in the
House is based upon taxation and popula-
tion,) and it makes taxation rs well as popu-
lation the occasion OF the necessity for the
application Of the fund; or in other words,
il makes the application of the Free School
fund 10 depend upon these, when in fact the
want Of education among the people strictly
originates the fund. Where Is the reason
for this' The object of the Free School
fund, most unqucstionably, is to educate the
people, and from its insufficiency to educate
all, it virtually enurcs only to the benefit Of
the most INDECENT, and to the poor; what
then has taxation TO do with education Il
stands in no other relation than MS means
to an end. Taxation alone furnishes the
means. Then why make the distribution
Of an educational fund to depend upon tax.
alton. II certainly does not form one Of the
subjects Of education! II is incongruous,
the end ignores the means. In the distribu-
ton of the free school fund, regard should
be had to the true purposes Of the institu-
ton, and the fund be so applied as to reach
and attain tho object. Any other distribu-
ton is founded in error, aud Is a misappli-
cation in its use and purposes.
The Free School system is State insti-
tuition, designed TO benefit the State as
,ohole, and every citizen of the State in this
connection stands In the same relative posi-
ton, and Is alike interested in its results and
benefits, Notwithstanding the circumstance of
thei, contiguity or particular locality In n
Parish or District
AS the object of the Free School system
is, virtually, to educate the poor, the fund
should be so applied-should be distributed
sccording to the number of the poor in each
Parish and District. But as the number of
such cannot well be ascertained, for the
want Of certain fixed and general rule ope-
rating equally and alike in every Parish and
District, a distribution of the fund according
10 ~hits population will furnish the only prac-
ticable basis. For where population Is, there
the subjects Of the fund are to be found, and
Il Is believed, that in any given population
the proportion Of the poor will be very near
ly the same, sufficiently so at least TO form a
general rule in the absence Of one more cor.
rect To distrihute tho fund oo.o,J;n,, to