Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-16
COMMON SCHOOLS.

Carolina was first adopted we all began to ctngrat-
late ourselves on bargain which had not been pade,
to wit that the State the was to- take off
hands all the trouble of educating our children.
TWAS considered that nobody now had any thing
to do in the premises; machine had been invented
and started that would catch up all the ignorance
and manufacture it into intelligence would run of its
own accord, keep itself regulated, mend ITSELF bring
the article to its DOORS put tin the mills by its
own inherent power and regulate its motions and its
arrangements by its own volition Wonderful ma
chine! Such al engine never had been seen before
nor will such perpetual motion, instinct with reas
on memory and wise forecast ever be invented by
man. All his inventions need his nursing care to
make them useful and of all others this is most
needed by system designed to enghten, to moral
ize and to fit for the trusts and responsibilities OF
men and women the rising generation of great Re
public.
For one would not voluntarily liyeeander any
government that would take off my hands the care
of educating my children; of the cost SO far as
money is to be paid, would willingly be relieved,
but of the cost of and oversight never, never
would / consent to be discharged
A government having such power would be an
intolerable despotisIn.
Your Excellency, having much experience of hui
man nature, will doubtless agree with me in one
conclusion, namely that it is SANDER on our race
to say that the love of money is the ruling passion.
Counting by heads, few, very few of the human fam
lily sell themselves to the sordid passion of
ly for the sake of gain the great majority arc seek
ing ease pleasure to get rid of that doom pronounced
on Adam and every son of his to make their bread
by the ofhcir brow TO be able to get relieved
of trouble, in some way, is the great aim of vast
majority of mankind and in aiming at this goal or
rather at the goal of happiness they forget what re-
ally constitutes the pleasures of immortal being.
God made labor our duty, and as he is all benef-
cence he made our duty our happiness Every trouble
he imposes on US is really blessing; and If our
children like brutcs, could take of themselves
as born, there would be no such thing as
family ties, fial reverence, raterna affection
jugal love and fidelity.
fIalo. cY1hia ot
disposed to rejoice at the mistaken idea that
the State had taken from us all the of educating
our children and acting this fatal notion we were
all indispensable do any thing to promote the success
of the schools and deemed it great hardship to be
called on to act as Committeeman When specially
required to perform any duty we murmured, excaim-
ing in bitter disappointment 81 thought the State
had taken this trouble off my hands-t's an outrage
to have to be troubled in this way when others are
as much Interested as l am !"
Yes, it was considered an outrage to have to look
after the education of our own chldren-to have to
be troubled with the regulating of schools the repair
of schoolhouses the selection of good teachers, the
settling of disputes and the oversight of the schools
where precious offspring were being trained
and prepared for honor infanly! 1t was nobodys
business it the States lookout and if it could
not regulate these schools it ought to abandon them
Such was the universal feeling and the State not
being able to keep watch at every schoohouse with
out having the most absolute power, and revenue
to spend in this object of ten millions year, the
schools were left to chance.
TO do what we unthoughtedly looked for-to watch |
at the door of every schoohouse, spe-
cay to its management, without the aid of the pa
rents themselves, would cost more than the whole |
amount paid to teachers But is this the language
becoming freemen? l write with plainness-I want |
people to consider. What is the fundamental prin- |
cple of our government? That all power is vested
in and derived from the people-that THE People ARE
THE GovERNMENT
Offices are created that their incumbents may dis
charge certain duties which the people can delegate
with convenience and safety. You, Sir perform GER
tain Executive duties, inconycncnt to be performed
by all the people, and that be safely entrusted
to you for limited period. / act in like manner
so act the Chairlnenof the County Boards, &C., &c.
But can you enforce the law without the help of the
people? Can you send agents all over the State,
spies into every neighborhood to take up criminals
for trials The people, through their grand.juries,
present them, the people sit as jurors to try Them
the people must through the law, and by the aid of
law officers all established by themselves, regulate
their own affairs.
So with the schools-the State can regulate the
general system, afford Information and statistics,
pass laws and establish officers to execute them, &C.,
&C., but still the people must everywhere assist must
assume trouble, and must bring to bear on the Off
GERS of each school-housc active, wholesome pub
lie opinion.
This cry about trouble is unworthy of us as Amer
lean citizens unworthy of us men, unworthy of
us as immortal and accountable beings.
E We had our choice when erecting a form of gov
Europe afforded various models, most OF
which relieved the people of all public We
chose new kind of one involving perpetual series
Of troubles to each citizen.
Every four years choose to be troubled with
the election of highest magistrate the President
Of the whole country, and much time and anxiety
does it cost to find out and get the right man;
every six years our representatives chosen by us,
select Senator's every two years we are IN great
trouble to get the right man to represent us in the
popular branch of Congress every two years we
to listen to speeches. and read circulars and go
Barbecues, and pay for them, to secure the proper
men to act in our places in the State Legislature;
every two years take much pains to find out and
nave elected good Governor; every four years we
overhaul our Clerks; every two years bring our
Sheriffs to general reckoning before all the people
md every year pass on the Constables.
Thenswe-all who read-very properly take the
political papers to see what our officers are about
md discuss all public matters and quarrel over
hem from youth to age. Nowwe could have select E
ID form of government involving none of this
rcuble; we could have taken for instance, govern
nent like that Of Russia country which just
ttracting much attention The people there
troubled with public matters the entire respon
Utility of affairs is thrown miserable being
allied the Gar or Emperor, and a few unhappy
riends who constitute the nobility. The people have
profound, eternal peace from public
uarrels and political squabbles; and so careful is
he government of their that if any one, for
etful of his comfort in fit of dyspepsia or excte-
nent of any kind utters even whisper, in his Chin
icy corner, concerning the troubles of the State
be condition of public affairs, he is Immediately
ragged from his family and beat to death with rods
banished forever to the frozen wastes of Siberia,
0 cool and CONCEAL in that purgatory of snow.