Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-01-15
ABSTRACT OF A BILL TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM
OF COMMON SCHOOLS

sUF See hrst Page.
ABSTRACT OF BILL TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM
OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
The bill introduced in the Senate by Gen. Polk,
with the above title, provides
lst For the election of superintendent by the
Legislature to whom various duties are assigned IN
experimenting the system, among others, the duty
of visiting each county, for the purpose of lecturng
on the subject of Common Schools-of looking
particularly into the operation of the system-and
reporting to the Legislature at each session.
%. I'd. A tax of twelve and half cents on the poll
and two aud half cents on the hundred dollars
eftaxabe property of the State for Common Schools
3D. The moneys collected under this act TO De
distributed annually among the different counties Oh
the State upon conditions provided IN the oliowlng
section:
4th. Two-thirds of the Justices may levy tax
on all property and privileges equal to the amount
to which their respective counties may be entitled
from the distributve School Fund of the State rails
ed by this act That if two-thirds of the Justices
do not levy the tax it shall be their duty order
an election in the county to ascertain the wishes of
majority of the voters as to levying the tax and
the duties of the Sheriff and Court in the premises
provided for.
SEC. Z. Provides for Board of Examiners to be
chosen by the County Court to examine all candid
ates for the position of teacher &c
Other sectors prescribe the duties of the differ
ent officers, and the mode of the disbursement of
the fund.
The contest for several years in the Legislature has
been between the general tax and the county sys-
M; hoft ,oiap oitl r,,lar
separately could pass. 1t is only by the combina-
ton of the plans that system of common schools
can be established
The Legislature has not yet done much to
commend it to the people Let it pass this BILL and
it will do more for the permanent welfare of the
State than any of its predecessors. We hope that
all who are in favor of an efficient system of COM
mon schools will unite upon this bill; and we beg
the members not to refuse to do any thing because
they cannot secure precisely such system as they
desire. Let there be something of concession to
the views Of Others and compromise by which
something may at last be effected.
Work for l854-The New York San, speaking
of the questions awaiting solution the present year.
cuts out the following work for Congress. The job
is rather an extensive one and involves many in
tricste questions:
First The Railroad to the Pacific
Second. The Annexation of the Sandwich Islands
Third. The Question of Cuban Independence
Fourth A new settlement with Mexico, inclu-
ding the Mesilla Valley and Tehuantepec disputes,
and Santa Annals Imperial pretensions
Fifth The practical assertion and vndication of
the Monroe doctrine against British colonization
schemes in Central America,
Sixth. Opening the Valley of the Amazon to
Americ trade and enterprise
Seventh. Adjustment of the Fishery Question
Besides these, there purely local questions of
great interest, such as: Tariff Amendment Naval
Reform; Public Land Distribution; Cheap Postage;
increased Ocean Steam Mail Communications For
nation of New Territories Mint in New York &c
Iron MANUFACTURES IL THE UNITED STATES
In the manufacture of pig iron, as appears from the
census returns of 1850:
Capital invested in manufacture. Sl7348 600
Raw metal consumed 7OOOOOO
Cost of labor, 5O66 600
Value of products l274OOOO
Hands employed 2O458
In the manufacture of cast iron:
Capital invested in manufacture, Sl7,456,OOO
Raw material, lO346OOO
Labor 7OOOOO
Value of product, 25OOOOOO
Numbered hands, 2O507
In 1921 the value of imported iron into the Uni
ted States was 81 000 in 1850, 50 l5O 900: in
1851. S9,000,000. Thirty thousand men are en-
ployedi the United States iron castings twenty
i've thousand in the manufacture Of pig iron; and
fourteen thousand in wrought iron
DEATH OF francis P BLAR-The telegraph an
nounces the decease of Francis p. Blair gentle !
of very considerable distinction in the political
and newspaperial world. lie commenced public |
life in Kentucky near 3S years ago as the conduc-
tor of journal at Frankfort and subsequently, at
taineda greater degree Of notoriety by his connec
ton as clork with the Court of Appeals that
short lived Judicial tribunal which was so great a |
bane TO the social relations Of the people of this |
Commonwealth. AT later period induced by the |
solicitations of Gen. Jackson, Mr. Blair removed to
Washington City and established the Globe, famous |
as the organ of the jackson and Van Buren, admin
istrations Of recent years. Mr. Blair has resided |
ca his farm in Maryland, chiefly devoted to agrcul-
tural pursuits. Against his private life and char
ter, we have never heard aught, but much that was
fsvorable-Lou. Cour.
BATTLE OF SNoPE-The London correspondent
of the Washington Union thus writes in relation to
the battle of SinoDe