Grass Valley telegraph., 1853-11-24


at the Literary Depot, next door to the Post-ofce
CoMM0N SCHooLs-The Constitution Of our
State p9ovides that Superintendent Of Pub
lie Instruction shall be elected by the people
once in three years. The same instrument
makes it obligatory upon the Legislature to
provide for q system Of common schools, by
which school shall be kept up and support
ed in each district at least three months in
every year"
The first provision has been complied with.
Three years ago gentleman was elected to
fill that Office, and to the best of onr know
ledge and belief, he has not failed to draw
the salary attached thereto, amounting to
ONE three thousand dollars annually, If in
he course Of these three years he has accom-
plished anything which, by virtue of his off
c.al position, he was bound as an honorable
man to accomplish, or at least make an effort
to accomplish, we promise to make it known
whenever it may come under our notice At
present, the SUM total of his efforts, now that
he is on tie eve Of retirement to private life,
foots up about in this fashion Nine thou
sand dollars salary nailed fast two annual
reports, made and printed, disclosiVe Of no.
thing but the fact that California is as far
from having an organized system of com
mon schools for the education of her children,
as she was the day her Constitution was adop-
ted
The different Legislatures that have assem-
bled and wandered over the State, are in
pretty much the same category None of
them have made violent efforts to carry out
the object defined in the clause Of the Consti-
tuition already quoted. The first body, bet
ter known as the "Legislature of the Thou
sand Drinks" had not time even to mention
the subject in the intervals Of their guzzling.
The second Legislature was equally oblivi-
ous The fraUeling naepagerie that finally
pitched its tent in Sacramento, did pass "an
act to establish system Of common schools
This was well enough. But on the heels of
this, that same body Of men passed another
act that has secured for a majority Of it's
members respectable niche in the Temple
Of Infamy. Congress had passed law Civ
ing 10000 acres Of land within the limits of
the State for the benefit of schools. Our
Legislature was the trustee to guard the be-
quest, and see the intention carried out. Now
if there is one trust more sacred than anoth-
er, it is an educational trust. This land was
bequeathed to the children. Principles of
common honesty forbade that it should be
squandered. Ordinary villains would scorn
to steal it. Yet the Legislature of 1852 de-
liberately attempted to rob our youth of
their Inheritance, in it's haste to fill the pock-
cts Of greedy speculators that beset the Cap
itol. If the attempt was failure, it was not
the fault Of intention; and now that there is
little doubt that the instigators of this law.
providing for the disposal Of the school lands,
Oyer-reached themselves it should be mat
ter Of rejoicing to the friends of education
and to the real settler, for it was equally an
outrage upon both.
We trust that the new Superintendent of
Public Instruction, who Will soon enter upon
the duties Of his Office, will show himself ca
pable and energetic. We are not without
hopes that the Legislature elect will come I'D
to his aid like men who believe the doctrine
they proclaimed from the stump to secure
their election, that education is the ground
work of our institutions, the anchor of our
safety and success as republic.
Let the members from Nevada county see
that no detriment be received from want
of proper action on their part.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS-Gpasc VoIIo, ;c