Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-05-20
For The Enquirer.
FENDALt GRIFFIN, ESQ AND THE FREE

SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Messrs Editors:-Now that leisure moment ID aor1eo
me- nave determined tu devote IL 10 the SUBJECT oi ee
schools! that subject agiaied and highly ap
proved, learn, by the Wing candidate Mr. Griffin du
ring the last canvass for the Legislature We learn also
that lie rrconeeed against his former opponent Mr. Ha1
ALL on very ground, that he (Mr h opposed 10
that system and that he (Mr g. highly approved it,
Mr. G. may still approve of popular education-we do
doub, but what he dorsbu when the candidate OF par
ty charges candidate of another party with opposing
which he himselaPproves and points 10 the number
of poor fmes who educate their children for want
of means and dweIs upon the horrors n ignorance with
deep and regret should suppose u would be e1
pecied Of him. in the Of his election 10 use ms bRs
exeriuns have The system caende especially when tere
are ample in his reach carry sucha design Mr.
Griffin The advocate of the freescoo system was elected
by considerable majority to represent the county OF men
rico in the Legislature or course he was committed 10
favor that STEM and his best efforts In lis bchh
Il natural for the people 10 expect that much Now II
behooycs US 10 enqui how far MI Grlfhn went 10 inh
The peoples expectations and 10 discharge the appucnt OBJ
.aton which rested upon him. whether he took The first
steu towards it, The per diem allowed for teaching INDECENT
children in the county Of Henrico IS believe four
nor scholar Mr. Griffin the delegate elect Tor the county
was of opinion as hear, that the pay ought TO be in
creased The schou commissioners were OF Ike opinion
he, we're funds in their ande and
il could be done without any additional fax upon the
cnuny Now not our object 10 discuss whether or not
rho nav is TOO small Our object 10 show mat MI Gflfhn
rho oro,eea advocate OF The free school system either
his mind forgot entirely that The subject was
ever discussed during the canvass and that he was commit
ted TO support it, Notwithstanding the frequent oppofunl-
,i.s he had of being reminded vi the fact bills Oh The
subject were being passed by the Legislature and possibly
he voting increase tho per diem IN an adjoining county,
still hr took no steps 10 convince MS lhat he
would hold faithful, he had PROMISED Inc school
commits saners Of their meetings. hndng that no ac-
lion would be taken the subject appointed one oil Their
number wal, upon Mr. Griffin ana request nin 70 8sk
be legislature 10 increase pay from four cents 10
cents ncr scholar per day. there were surplus uhus 10
their hands and they found il dllcu TO se' cope'en
teachers the price then allowed f 1llh MaS @ w.
10 ,cd mon and the case was laid before him. sii nc
made no move towards carrying out The very system c was
ned,rd 10 support Notwithstanding ms oeas used oy nc
commissioners Could he have haa any excuse o
80 ing the rpourst of the [egisllurei No dppToprta.
lion was asked for The request was o"iy 10 r,o" an IN
crease of ONE per scholar per day' out VI tc
funds in the hands OF the commissioners an .' GifE,
has rested exactly where lis AvowEo advocate Ni o''
found il ,hIio n,oo,i,o hslI
a, Tmberl,kes in The lower end :" nrI, NV nv no did
NOT ask inc Legislature make tnc increase OF one ce ~
Henrlco when increase was asked or anu s'amtcu ~
Hanover and various other counties in inc otae! We WIRE
l.t IN heal his wer was 1.-THE Legislature had vest
ed The mower 10 the pay for teaching
in The County Courts and it necessary inc court shou
increase il Whew, what an idea! we ALSO ea,h 'il nc
fore Mr. Mayo was done with his answer, MI nfllHn
began 10 see his Mr. NJ. read for Mr. Va"
rous acts passed by the last Legislature hcGasng Tue pr
diem in various coun the Commonwealth ana among
rhem mn, n.iubbor Hanover Why il Mr.. Gnln was Cor.
rect in supposing that the power was vested IN e Co"hy
Courts where was the necessity Tor LsIsa'sH aIo, p
the subject al all1 What has Mr. GnHn 10 say ABOUT "e
Free School System in this canvass what can the people
erncc Of him in relation 10 i'll He made fair promises TO
them ahnnt what he would do still h. ana nothng
What did he do Tor Henrico when lie WAS IN me Legs
Iaurc? They tell he prevented The extension oil the cor
pora,ion of Acknowledgment IT,. But da nc 40 more
than present The petition which ne people put ln'o ms
hands Would not Mr.. Mayo harr done the same ana
more If necessarily Would not any in the County no
eet 10 lh boundary which The City Fathers mad land on =
MIR. Gfn has done no more To resn .e extension ." ,l
crpoa,inn than he compelled Ia DO There arc other
hinps The peonle must know before The day Of election
' Wsvs,cn NAV a. 1853 SPECTATOR.