The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-08

ture or OuHdlug railroacS ifm city 10 city
across the vast domains of Russia; the
yankee is still faithful exponent shrined
the name,of the Great Alfred in history
as "Old England,s Darling" and contri-
buted to make Old England the gaeatest
Kingdom of the world.
The system to which l have so often al.
lude'', and the only system, North or
South, which has, up to this time, opera.
ted successfully in practice, is as simple
as the alphabet; or, as simple as the
figures in an enumeration table, taken
in the order of arithmetcal progression
In system of reietion and dependence-
u chain, the links of which constitute a
serial graduation of official labor response
bilily, beautifully co-ordinated to one
grand result. The State is the field of la
bor; that field is divided into election dis
tricts, towns and cities; each election dis.
trict is sub.divided into school sections.
comprizing each an area Of four or five
miles square; in the centre of each Sec
tion is located Common School. Here
is simple and beautiful relation. For
each School, thus located, there are
named three discreet and active officers
called Trustees, whose duties involve the
immediate supervision, government and
control Of that particular School, in con-
necton with T. c Teacher employed these
Trustees are, in a certain sense, amena-
bic to the next member Of the Board oil
Direction, for the district, who may have
charge Of certain number OF sections
such member in turn, is amenable to the
general Board for the district the sever.
al Boards sustaining an auxiliary relation
to the superintendent Of Common Schools
for the State at large, who is immediate.
ly responsible TO the Legislature whose
duty is to inspect every School, n, far as
Pracucable; to visit every section; to aid
IN carrying the organization into effect
TO make reports annually to the L,gisla.
turc--tuIl, maturcl, ineligible, digcsted
rcports-cmbracing an account OF funds
expended; Schools organized; number OF
teachers employed number of scholars
taught; the number OF free white youths,
between certain ages, attendant and non
attendant upon the Schools and all 9TH
cr necessary statistical information, deem.
cd important to be reported. Here is a
harmonious dependence and coordination
OF the required agencies.
This system, rs an efficient mole OF
Government is not new, except in its APP
pIication to educational movements. Nav,
1t Is very oId-it is the embodied wisdom
of great ruler and statesman, consecra-
ted by the usage of many centuries. It
is now just one thousand years, since Al
fred the Great, for the better government
OF a kingdom, torn by internal feuds, and
threatened by external aggressions, divi-
ded his realm into counties, hundreds,
aud fittings. Ten resident English sub.
jects, with their families, constituted n
uthing; ten fittings made up arg.
er political divi ion, called hundred;
certain number of hundreds constituted
4 county; a certain number of counties
constituted the kingdom. Each division
had It's own local government; each 90
vernmcnt WAS amcnable To- the next high
er and larger division and all sustaining
a simple, suhordinatcd relation to the
Crown and Government of England.--
Each tithlng formed an integral part o.
the government of the country. Thi.
wise and polite Institution enshrined the
name OF the Great Alfred in history a,
"Old England's Darling" and contribu
ted to make Old England the greatest
kingdom of the world.
We only desire, then. to avail our
selves Of II set Of well-,red principles
a mode Of organization and government
IN an earnest purpose to develope pub
lie lnteIllgcnce--to educate the common
mind Of the State, which, for good o
evil, is politically omnipotent. The pIar
is no experiment. In its essential fea
lures it has been found admirably lap
ted to the circumstances and wants o
OF the American people, North and South
1t works as we'll in Louisiana as it doe.
in Maine in Florida, as well as in New
York; Rhode Island and Wisconsin aik,
prove its success. But | apprehcnd i
would be impossible to present any plan
however perfect in itself, upon SO difficult
a subject of Legislation, tha: would no
meet with objection from some quarter
OF some objections l have had intima
ton; and others | may be allowed to an
ticipate.
To lhc mode Of distributing the schoo
fund, as proposed by the eleventh section
OF the Bill, l may reasonably expect ob
lection. | can only say to those honora
BILE members representing the smaller
election districts, that with them have NJ
controversy--ngainst their constitutional
privileges and immunities, l wage no wal
and did not design this provision tc
distribute the school fund according tc
the number Of free white persons rs 4
bone Of contention. Far from it. de
sire their support, and Ipraise their cor
dial co operation in such cause as this
too highly, to hazard it by any provision
likely to o. distSste!al 10 ,lieH. And Oh
personal grounds, | should still more de-
sire to have them agree with me; for
| am proud to adopt, in substance, the
language and sentiments Of the senior
member from Greenrile, on another oc.
casion, at a former session that, so f.,
as l have become acquainted with the
people, and the Representatives Of tn,
so called parishes, have found them n
noble race of men--inteIligent, patriotic
generous, high.minded men, Of whom
any State or community might well be
| DTOul. But Than i have ,,,y o,., 80.