Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-04-13
VOL. xIx..--So. IS.

/ S45, GOO which assessment shall, II resisted,
he collected by the usual process of lawin
the name of the trustees. Voluntary con-
tribuions may now be added to this assess.
ment and should there still he deficit it
shall be reported TO the hoard of commits
sioners, who shall distribute the education
fund received from the State towards supply
ing the deficiency. And should there stillbe
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 lave been 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
ega,e salaries of tbe 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 deductng the uninhabit::
ed portions, embrace about SIS precincts, of
five miles square, and hence SIS 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,O79 [The more correct amount
would be s2ooO0,0O0.] An assessment Of
one-sixth 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 atcent
per cenium ON the whole value Of their es-
tates; provided no one shall be assessed on
more than SIS, 000-since persons of great
er wealth may be supposed to expend large
amounts elsewhere in the way Of education.
Should there he a deficit after this, it shall
be reported and acted on as above indicated.
If necessary, the commissioners may re-
ceive, as compensation for their services,
one dollar AMI fifty cents per diem for every
day while engaged on duties relative to the
|sschools; and it shall be their duty to super
intend said schools ); to procure Tor them Il
good, uniform system ofainstruction to col
Iect all intormaionirespecting them and to
make an annual reportito the general SUPER
iutcndcnt OF public education, who shall
make y 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
simul mrcntum est ct perfectum." Among
others, it offers these advantages. 1t will
secure permanent and respectable schools,
furnishing substantial uniform instruction for
lhc general classes of the State. twill dis
tribute the burden Of educating the poor
equally upon all, according to their capacity
to contribute; equaiizing the burden through
! the State, by mems of the State fund, and
. through the Districts, by an ad ualorem as.
sesslnent and tax. 1t moreover will enlist a
large numbero of respectable citizens through
out the State in the cause of education, and
caunnt, 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 a
trihe 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 huslandry 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-
trv or nf his race could hesitate to urge the
/ Legislature to make the most ample eudow-
ments Who would not bestow literally
from the bonnties, with which benignant.
| Deity has blessed him, for the promotion of
objects so useful, so noble! Let the Legis-.
lalure increase onr school.fund to 100000;
applying $4,000 to the support Of an ex-,
celent system of academical instruction..
and S5O,OO0 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 you on this interesting subject
They are the result of some serious refcc.
ton for several years past. If they be en-
titled to any consideration know you will
chcerfuly 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 obedt serv't, ge
W. C. MoRAGNE.
To the Rev. Dr.J. H. THoRSwELI,