Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-01-19

4
ures engrafted upon Il, are decided I'M
lprovements;-in perfect accordance will
the educational progress Of the age
and the educational demands of oul
rapidly increasing population.
In Republic, like ours, founded as
it is on the virtue and intelligence oi
the people at large, the thorough and
efficient education of those who are
soon to assume the duties and response
bilities Of government in all its depart
ments, is essential to the healthful ex-
istence of the government itself, and
cannot be neglected without danger to
the vital interests of our free institu-
tions.
The new provisions of the present
School Law. involving charges radical
in their character, must necessarily pro-
duce, for a time, much embarrassment
and inconvenience, and in some instan-
ces it may be. actual oppression. But
most of these being Of temporary ma
ture, and incident to almost every inno-
walton upon long established usage,
they should not impel the General As
sembly to hasty and inconsiderate legis-
lation, lest the present law may be, in a
short time, involved in the same COM
plexity and confusion which, under the
former laws, produced so much embsr-
rassment.
The annual assessment and levy of
two mills upon the grand duplicate of
the State for school purposes, is re-
garded by many of the tax payers as
oppressive and unnecessary. This levy,
however, is only half mill greater
than that authorized by the former law.
Prior to the passage of the present
law, the State levied half mill and
County Commissioners were required to
levy mill, for school purposes; max
ing total school tax of one mill and a
half. Under the new law, both levies
have been united into one, and styled a
State levy.
Another tax which has borne very
heavily upon the tax payers the past
year, is the one authorized TO be as
sessed BY Township Boards of Educa-
ton for the purchase of school house
sites, and the erection Of school houses.
The amount that has been raised for
these objects is very nearly as large as
that levied by the State. 1t is a tax
that will not be required to be repeated,
however, in the next fifteen or twenty
years.
In the establishment of all school
systems three objects should be con-
stantly kept in view.-brevity, simplici-
ty, and the utmost degree of economy
that is consistent with the proper educa-
ton of the youth of the State. To at
tain these excellencies, however, much
time and experience and careful obser-
vetion of the working system, are ne
cessarily required.
The grand duplicate has been greatly
increased by the re-valuation of the real
estate. A levy of two mills, for the
ensuing year, would produce one fourth
more revenue than was raised during
the past year, under the same levy
No system can operate benefcially that
bears too heavily on the people. /
therefore recommend that the law be so
modified in this particular, as not to re-
quire any increase, at least. Of the
amount now assessed by the State.
The work on the new State House
has been carried on, during the past
year, with commendable industry and
dispatch. The inconvenience and ex-
pense of procuring suitable halls for the
accommodation of the General Assem-
bly,, together with the present insecurity
of the public records of the State, rem
der the early completion of this build
ing matter of much interest.
Arrangements were made to have it
covered in last fall. so that the work, in
side, could be progressing during the
winter, but the contractors were disap-
pointed in procuring the necessary mate
rials. They have since been procured,
however, and the roof will be put on
early in the spring.
1t is expected that the rooms intended
for the Supreme Court, the Library,
and the various State offices. will be
finished and ready to be occupied early
in the ensuing fall, and that the whole
building will be completed in time for
the next session of the General Assem-
bly,.
It will be a large and beautiful edifce
.comporting well with the magnitude
and increasing wealth of the State.
But little attention has been paid for
some time past to the Militia System
of this State, and in some places, it has
been suffered to go entirely down. No
it is believed, have been made
for several years, and the State has
thereby failed to receive her just pro-
portion of the public arms. Many Of
the Divisions, Brigades, and Regiments
are without officers, and there is some
doubt as to the manner in which they
sould be chosen.
The Constitution requires that all
white male citizens between the ages Of
eighteen and forty-6ve years, shall be |
enrolled in the Militia of tie State, and
that provision shall be made by law for
the protection and safe keeping of the |
public arms.
1t has been found necessary in all
Governments to keep up some kind Of
a Military force. In ours. the reliance
Il eo11sa~~