Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1853-06-24

Extract from : speech made BY Gov. Briggs,
Of Massachusetts. few years since upon the
subject Of Common Schools We ask for it
sssefnl perusal. 2 s~
iaif you would have children grow up to be
vistuous men and women. they must grow ur
Intelligent. II they are to be educated, you
must provide the means. All experience shows
that IL lcfs to the voluntary action of parent
even IL they are able, il will not be done
Then it is for the legislature to provide the
means for the education of every child. and as
this is for the highest public good of the state,
whatever the expense. it should be paid for by
the property of the State. Nobody has right
to complain Of this. You will find in cities,
well as in the country, men of property and
men without, who complain of this. why"
says the man Of properly. lam to be taxed to
support the children Of my eighbors? have
educated my children. and they have gone
about their business. have performed my
duty" No. you have not. The best good OF
the community requires that children should be
educated in every generation; and whilst you
have property it is just that your property
should be taxed for these expenses. Another
man says he's got no children. and am to be
taxed to support other peoples childfen? Got
no children! Why don't you have children?
wife? Renewed laughter.l l hold that it
is the duty Of every citizen to have wife and
children, and thus the poor apology for not
being taxed is taken away. Now, if there is
any solitary old bachelor who hears me, who
has got money and no wife, and thinks it
hardship to be taxed to support other peoples
children, tell your grievances to some kind
if worthy. you will get relief If you do not,
you ought to be taxed to the utmost extent of
the law. Roars of laughter.] Taxed to sup
port other peoples children! So it is. But
there are children who have parents who would
not educate them if you did not force them to
do it. Then there are persons who have no
property and many children. These children
should be educated. Lei me tell you that it is
mistake to suppose that the duty Of parents
is ended when they have educated their own
children. You and are just much inter
ested in the education of other peoples chill
dren as of our own. man children are only
such until they have attained their majority.
They are then turned into the common society.
and mingle with the mass Of citizens in that
society. Thus it is your interest and mine to
know whether they are turned out ignorant and
vicious, to corrupt others by their example and
poisonous influence, and join with them in dep
relations upon the property of others, or
whether they go forth educated and enlighten-
ed. full of human sympathy. and ready to per-
form all their duties as citizens. That is a
question in which all are interested; and the
interest Of the parent is lost in that of the COM
munity. and it is the duty of every man to pay
scnssnis4 see..s Zssas... ne.9...s:-
belonging to community or government. that
has higher claims on the property Of the COM
munity than the universal education of its
children.
We are an industrious community, working
community. These shops and these factories.
and these broad acres, hope in Heaven will
| always Le carried on and worked by the hands
Re -
would make labor honorable and respectable,
you must make it intelligent. Every where
labor is respected and honored Just in proper
ton to the intelligence Of those who labor
| See Franhlin pouring the hot tallow into the
noulds in his fathers shop. or setting type in
the city Of Philadelphia. aud how these EN-.
ploymentS were ennobled and honored, compar-
ed With the same duties performed by an is
norant slave. So it is with all labor. And let
me tell you, If you would command respect
| for labor; that labor must be intelligent. Have
YOU not seen from the results in the Lowell
mills. that the girls there earn money in pro-
portion to their Intelligence, from one to four
dollars week. Who don't know that this is
50 everywhere? Who would not pay more for
IN intelligent laborer than for an ignorant,
stolid dolt! If you employ only living ami
mated machine, you pay only tho price of q
machine that will do 50 much work. But il
| you employ man whom you can. direct. and
who can understand your wishes, and in whom
you can confide to havo your work done as you
desire in your absence. you are willing to pay
him accordingly: and he can demand what such
labor l. worth, because he knows what it is
worth The other takes what you give him.
and he is q dear laborer at that.
/ Every child should be educated; and it il
the duty Of the state to make provisions for it.
by tax on the property of the state. Another
reason. It is the right Of every child born in
!. this world. don't care where. I'M Ter what sun
or climate, it il his right to be educated. He
/ can't educate himself. He is ignorant and
helpless. Parental care might do it but IT can
not be donc in all cases, and would not be
done in others; and it is the right Of these lit
tic human beings, thrown in the midst of so.
ciety to be educated. 1t is the imperious duty
of the state, through the law-makny power, e
provide for that education. Does anybody
doubt this right! remember hearing the
great Kentueky orator in the Senate Of the
United Stsess. open speech with this sen
tence: Mr.. President. it is the boon Of every
1 human being to be free" Il Was as true as i
was broadly and emphatieally uttered. u q
is the boon of every human being TO be Tree
it is his boon 10 be, educated. The eonstitutios
: Of the United States declares that oil men art
4 created eaaxfs sud 1endowed y their Creato
stwish .esssain iaalienabie rights; that anscos
/ these are life, liberty. and the pursuit OF hap
l;pinasa- u ri Dos N signoranss usedneatsd
i uaiustrueted man know about liberty! II i
Iibesty that ie-ona - hieleA i j. the dat,
lcf those having charge of his infaney snt
- 80 ns.kAp kAA0n