Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-04-13
VOL. xTx.---so. ls.

S45, 1000 (which assessment shall, If resisted,
he collected by the usual process Of lawiin
the name of the trustees. Voluntary con-.
tribulions may now be added to this assess.
ment; and should there still he deficit, it
shall be reported 10 the hoard Of commits
sioners, who shall distribute the education
fund received from the State towards supply
ing the deficiency. And should there still be
deficit, the commissioners shall proceed to
levy certain per cent. upon the general tax
of the district at large, as is now done by
the commissioners OF roads to raise money
for bridges, &c.
When the salaries have beens thus raised,
the Trustees, with the commissioners of each,
precinct, shall with care, select competent
teachers, who shall be required to teach
without distinction, all the children of the
precinct that may be sent to school.
The Commissioners shall determine the
maximum of the assessment, by ascertaining
first, as nearly as practicable, the aggregate
wealth of their respective districts then, the
number of schools in the District, and the
agg' egate salaries of the teachers. The per
centum on this aggregate wealth, necessary
to raise the aggregate salaries, will be the
maximum assessment.
Let me illustrate. The District Of Edge
field, containing about 100 square miles Of
territory, will, after deducting the uninhabit.
ed portions, embrace about 55 precincts, of
five miles square, and hence 55 schools-ma-
king about four schools for the superinten-
dence of each of the fifteen commissioners.
At salary Of $500 each, the aggregate of
Teachers salaries will be S27,500. Now
the value of the aggregate real and personal
estate of the district, according to the report
of the United States Marshal in 1850, is
SlG,4S5,079 The more correct amount
would be s2oOO0,OOO.] An assessment Of
one.sixlh of cent per centum on the former
sum, will give $27 ATS.
The Commissioners and Trustees of the
various precincts in Edge6eld District, in
failing to raise the salaries of the teachers
by voluntary subscriptions, shall therefore,
have power to assess the inhabitants of each
precinct, not exceeding one-sixth of AGENT
per cenium ON the whole value of their es-3
iates; provided no one shall be; assessed on
more than Sd5,0 ,000-since persons OF great.
er wealth niay be supposed to expend large,
amounts elsewhere in the way of education
Should there l,c a deficit after this, it shall
be reported and acted on as above indicated.
If necessary, the commissioners may re-
ccive, as compensation for their services,
one dollar anil fifty cents per diem for every
day while engaged on duties relative to tho
schools; and it shall be their duty to SUPER
intend said schools = to procure tor them u
good, uniform system, of2instruction to col
Iect all inormatonre respecting them; and to
make an annual reportito the general SUPER
intcndrnt Of public education, who shall
make condensed annual report for the
Legislature.
The plan here proposed seems easy, plain,
and to my view, entirely practicable. That
it is perfect, no preteuce is made. "NihI
stimuli inrcntum est ct perfectum" Among
others, it offers these advantages. 1t will
secure permanent and respectable schools,
furnishing substantial uniform instruction for
The general classes of the State. twill dis
tribute the burden Of educating the poor
equally upon all, according to their capacity
to contribute; equa'izing the burden through
the State, by means of the State fund, and
through the Districts, by an ad ralorem as
sessnent and tax. 1t moreover will enlist a
large number of respectable citizens through
out the State in the cause of education, and
canunt, ther fore, fail to excite spirit Of
emulation and pride in contributing to the
education and moral improvement of our
entire white population. In short it will en-
able every child in the State to receive fair
elementary education at an expense but
trAe more than that now incurred in half
educating only portion of our youth.
Should these plans, both for the academies
and common schools; be carried into effect,
it may well be doubted whether single
dollar more will be expended in the cause of
education than is expended at present. The
increased facilities afforded will be caused
not so much by the additional expense as by
proper busbandry Of the means already
employed. What may not systematic effort
achieve in any department of human science
and industry? But to educate our people
and TO raise the standard Of knowledge and
scholarship among US, no lover of his coun-
try or nf his race could hesitate to urge the
Legislature to make the most ample eudow-
ments. Who would not bestow literally
from the bnnnties, with which benignant.
Deity has blessed him, for the promotion Of
objects so useful, so noble! Let the Lcgis-
lature increase our school.fund to 100000:
applying $4,000 to the support of an ex,
cellent system of academical instruction,
and $4,000 to the common schools-and
at no distant day, we will experience de.
gree Of moral and mental Improvement, and
thirst for sound, practical, comprehensive
knowledge, that will both astonish and glad.
den the heart Of every patriot in the land.
have Sir thus. crudely thrown out my
views to Won on this interesting subject
They are the result Of some serious refcc-
lion for several years past. If they be en-
titled to any consideration know you will
cheerluly accord it. have addressed this
communication to you because of the deep
interest you take in these matters, and be-
cause know of no one in the State, who
can form more correct judgment upon the
practical efficiency Of any plan that may be
offered.
With high respect and esteem,
remain your obed't serv't, ae.
W. c. MORAGNE.
To the Rev. Dr,J. H. TuoRSwELI,
President offs. C., College.