The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-20

tendent Of Common Schools was directed ON or be
to re the inst day of January in each yesr to ap
portion and divide 0ne-third OF the aforesaid sum
| Of eight hundred thousand dollars, together with
| one-third of all other moneys appropriated to the
| support Of common schools, equ ally among the 81
versl school districts; and to apportion the ain
ing two thirds Of both these funds, after making a
specified provision for separate neighb0rheods CO
poed Of territsry adjoining other States, among
the several countes towns and cities OF the State,
according to the existing standard of apporton-
ment Of the school money, on the basis of pc oula'
ton as ascertained by the last preceding census.
| No returns having been made from separate neigh
| borhoods, the whole amount of the State tax. and
| Of the revenue arising from the Common School
Fund, amounting in the aggregate to l,I0O, 900,
has been appropriated in the mode prescribed by
the act the sum of $66, GOO 66 ha wing been eq aal
ly divided among the ii AID districts, (giving $Sl
"a to each), and the remaining sum of S733 1913 81
apportionsd among the several counties, cities and
towns in the ratio of the population Of each as
certaned by the United States Of 1850, Just
completed. A table containing full abstract Of
the sums apportioned and divided under each of
these heads is also appended to the present report
Some further legislative action will, it is con-
ceived, be necessary to enable the department to
carry into full effect the existing provisions Of law
in reference to the application Of these funds The
several amounts directed to be raised by tax in the
respective counties required when collected, to
be paid over to the County Treasurer, and to be
held by him, subject to the order of the State
Superintendent" If these amounts correspondent
substantially with those apportoned to the county
as its share of the State tax and School Fund oom
bined, the transfer could be easily made; but US
there is no definite relation between tho sum raised
upon, and the sum apportioned to, the several conn
ties, 1t becomes necessary that the avails OF the
former shall be concentrated in order to be re dis
tiibuted with the latter. The revenue Of the Com
mon School Fund is also required by law to be paid
over to the State Treasurer, the warrant Of the
Comptroller on and after the frst day OF February
annually, to the several county treasurers; but as
no separate ap portonment OF this fund required
nv fh.a y,Sff .Io IA
neither the county treasurers the Comptroller
have any means of ascertaining the shares d1e to
the respective ceunties The State SUpern to ndent
might it is true, the avais the state tax in
each county to be paid into the State treasury,
whence the entire fu nd might be discussed accord
ing to the app ortlonmept made in accordance with
law; and this would to be the most enient
and practicable mode of accomplishing the object
in view. To authorize this, however, specific
appropriation of the fund to this purpose by the
Legislature is necessary under the provisions Of the
constitution, the Comptroller being prohibited from
paying over any money from the State treasury,
except by direct appropriation by law Such an
appropriation 10, therefore. respectfully recon-
mended, In season to enable the several county
treasuiers to make their drafts by tho first day OF
February ensuing, for the whole amount que their
respective counties.
wEBsrER's DICTIONARY.
In pursuance Of the authority conferred by the act
of the last session, entitled " An act to authorize
the Superintendent of Common Schools to purchase
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary for the common
schools Of this State, contract has been entered
into with MesSrs. q s G Merriam, OF : prng field.
achusetts, for the purchase, ut 81 per volume,
OF sufficient number OF copies Of that work TO sup
ply the orders Ct the several districts indicating a
desire therefor, in the mode and within the time
prescri oe6 by the act. There is reason to believe
that in many districts the trustees have ected
to order the work, from ignorance of the spec sic
provisions OF the law, and that, If permitted; they
would gladly avail themselves of the liberal offer Of
the state. 1t is, therefore, respectfully recon-.
,1,lt lokt Il l,.&
for forwarding orders be extended until the first of
October next. So favorable IN opportunity for
supplying all the schools of the State with copy
of this standard and excellent work, at greatly
reduced price, ought not to pass unimproved.
Under the peculiar circumstances attending its
passage the act of the last session unquestio
ably the best that could be obtained by the friends
of free schools The only alternative presented was
return to the system in force in l847 and virtual
abandonment Of the principle for which the friends
Of universal education had so long struggled, aud
which had so repeatedly and signally triumphed 1t
will be recollected that although a popular msio-
rity of more than twenty thousand votes had been
secured against the repeal of the act of 1919, forty
seven Of the fifty nine counties in the State had
cast their votes nomn ally in favor of such repeal
The represe natives from those counties, censtitu
ting large majority of both branches of the Legis-
lature while fully that the popular expression
of their respective Constituencies, adverse to the
continuance of the law in question, was not to be
REGARDED as in opposition to the principle Of free
schools felt themselves bound by that expression to
pursue middle course bet Seen the entire rejection
of that principle and its unlimited adoption. Con-
fdent ia TIE utim ate settlement of the question
a basis in accordance with the dictates OF public
sentiment, and relying The intrinsic justice and
soundness Of the principle involved the friends of
free schools consented to the adoption OF the COM
premise proposed, without the slightest understand.
ing their part, or it is believed, the part
of those who favored and brought forward the
amendment, that it was to be permant disposition
of the subject. 1t was, the other hand, regarded
certainly, BY the former, as temporary arrange
ment merely.
if it be conceded that the public sentiment has
unequvocally declared itself in favor Of the adop
ton Of the free school princpe-and on this point
there cannot, in the judgment Of the Undersigned
be the slightest room to doubt-then any action Of
the Legislature in centraventon Of or falling short
OF that principle, cannot justly be regarded hua
or conclusive. However desirable it may be, under
questions fairly settled by legislative action,
and especially where those questions affect inte-
rest Of such extent and Importance as that under
consideration, the will of the people, fairly and
clearly expressed is to be carried into full
effect and if for any reason their representatives
have failed to embody that will in their legislation,
there be no such binding efficacy in q oompro-
mise at variance, in any essential respect
with the dec AIRED verdict of the popular voice to
preclude subsequent action at the earliest pracs
cable period, in conformity with such verdict The
act CT the last session was clearly in contraventon
Of the popular will, repeatedly and distinctly
tion of the expense Of instruction in our common
schools, by rate-bill, was concerned; and although
after long, animated, and finally successful strug
gle at the ballot boxes for the complete recognition
Of the free school system, the people were disposed
in view of the manifold difficulties attendant upon
the full en- bodiment Of that principle by the Lcgis
lature, to rest satisfied with the important step
finally taken, as the utmost tina. could, at that
period, be accomplished, it is manifest tina. their
coml usoy acquiescence in this respect caEnot pre-.
clude them from insisting, at any subsequent
period, upon complete and practical legislative
recognition of the right Of every child in the State
to free admission 20 the common schools, during the
period in which they may be open for instruction,
untrammelled by any pecuniary restriction, how
ever slight.
There is another consideration connected with this
subject, which cannot fail to address itself with
great force to the statesmen and legislators Of our
State Either the free school system is in accord
ance with the popular will. or it is not. Either the
principles upon which is based are in conformity
with the dictates Of sound and enlightened public
49,, Hal IL -