The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-02-22
Oar School System.

The people OF nose couhies' iu t'iis
State, who have been made rich by the
public works, constructed partiy by the
money Of counties in which not dollar
from the State treasury has ever been ex-
pended for similar Improvements, are now
clamorous for the repeal of the new school
law. because they do not get back as much
ashley pay for school purposes. Why
did they not think of this wien the public
works we're being constructed, and when
the counties. not benefited by the improve.
iments, were paying their thousands, and
tens of thousands, and hundreds OF th6us
ands Of fdollars for these works! Bot now
they can cry out Justify against high taxes
and the oppression Of the new school law.
ltis about time they were brought to their
feelings. They can now appreciate the
ssituation Of the counties off the lines ofthe
public works for the last twenty or twenty
five years. Whilst we were paying as
much tax as they, in proportion to our
wealth, they were enabled. by means OF the
canals. and other State improvements, to
realize from ten to thirty per cent. more
for their produce than we. With this ad-
vantage still in their favor, they cry out for
the herepeal Of the school law.
70 those who claim that each county
should raise its own school fund, we would
suggest, that when the counties, through
which the public works run, assume to pay
the debt caused by their construction, then
might they, wiiho bIushing, ask that each
county shall provide for the education OF
It's own youth, and not before.
Those provisions Of the Constitution
which provide for s.uniiorm rule" in
tevying taxes for State purposes, and which
compel all The counties to pay in proper.
ton to their wealth, will, it seems TO us.
compel all the counties to contribute, in
Ike manner, TO .secure,v p in the language
ofthe Constitution. ga thorough and eff
scisnt system Of common schools through
out the State" By any other mode there
would be no uniformity in the rule of tax
alton.
II may be said that self.interest prompts
us to defence ofthe school law. If that
will afford any qualification, we are ready
: to confess that that is a part Of the motive;
for when We reflect that our citizens have
dor years and years been paying into the
State treasury, to enrich the counties al
really far surprising our own in natural
advantages, we cannot help but conclude
that il is time they were getting something
back, in some shape or other.
There may be, and doubtless are, i'm
projections in the school law. OF its de-
tsiIs' We have nothing to say further than
that experience, and not fancied defects,
should suggest changes. We are only
contending now that the school fund
should be State fund, and distributed
among the several counties according to
the number Of youth in each. Whether
the per cent. levied under the law is too
high or too low. is a question that we have
not lime now to consider.
For the information Of our readers we
will state, that the amount collected. in this
county, for the State common school fund
was not quite fue thousand dollars. while
the amount received from the same funt
vas.nearly4 thirteen thousand dollars
.sOhl" exclaims some canal county man
s'ihat explains your friendship for the law.
Very well. sir, what right have you II
complain, who have had some hundred
thousand dollars expended in your county
drawn from the State treasury, to dig I
ditch through the lands Of yourself ant
nsighbors, thereby raising the value o
your lands from FIVE TO fiy dollars pc
ecre9 -
Itisn not. perhaps, good logic to say tha
because our county has contributed to tn,