Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-03-09
Remark Of Mr. WATSON.

lain LII khAkI sEMINANlES.
Mr. WATSON of Franklin said Gentle
men seem disposed oscarry OH, the i'm
preston that those who vote against these
appropriations are thereby hostile to the
interests OF education but sense of du-
~ o'ny constituents impels me to ask
Are there no parties interested but
those here presented Are there no in.
terests at stake besides ti..,.e of petition.
ersl Where are the $40, 900 inhabitants
of Maine, with their 2l2 900 chldren?-
Have they no voice in this matter, Sir,
there are other parties watching US with
All argus eye. IL the course as marked
ont is the one TO lie pursued, next Sep
TENDER tina, voice will be heard TO ''cIear
the track" for the engine, Common
Schools is upon US.
hsve had some experience in this
matter, have spent fourteen years ot my
life a teacher. know the necessities,
the wants, the expectations of the people.
We all know something oil the workings
vi our patch work school laws; patched
and re patched sntil the original is lost
beseath them. We know they are ex-
pecting a reconstruction Of the whole
system. Are those expectations to be
realized9 Was not the first attempt
nipped in the bud! But, sir, approach
the question net an enemy oil SemInarIes
bat as friend Of Common Schools.
/ have listened to the friends Of the
bill, following each other with lock.siep
have witnessed their ingenuity in
changing BY some clinical process those
modest, unassuming petitions, to legal
demand: (see Constitution. Art. s. but
us this is, suppose branch laugh: only
in Seminaries, and advocate for primary
schools is not expected TO understand it.
Do our finance warrant such an ex-
penditure' Have we an acre of public
land not already pledged surplus dol
lar in the treasury? Is not our S;ate this
moment in the market borrower! Gen
,lemen seem to forget those other demands
pressing their CLAIMS upon US, BESIDE.
the Std, 600 asked for SeminarIes, We
have the Insane Hospital in for Ss2a ,001;
Reform School $4,000; State Prison
So,O00-if we are not cautious our con-
sttuents will double the SUN, and send
as therefor geological survey $1,000
agric situral aud other purpose $4,000,
Paris exhibition for S4,0U0, and other
exhibitions all equally as clamorous for
as much more. With this horse leech
cry Of "give, give" VIVA, is our ability. or
rather VIVA, our liabilities; tax Of more
than $500, 900 has been assessed more
than three cents oh every man, woman
and child IN the State. And is this ali!
By no means. Look into til newpa pers
and read the Treasurer's call fer S2lS,-
900 more; read our estimated receipts
expenditures, resources, liabilities ii we
t'ont the people will, and will tell US
that our circumstances do not justify sue h
a course; yet gaiNlenen boast our aifiuenI
circumstances; that as state we are
growing rich,-rich in debt, with pros
pective iile-annuity.
Teachers are needed-true teachers
are needed bu, will the advocates for
eudowments acknowledge what they
know IS truth, that /, is nlggardly wages
aud not the want OF suitable Seninaries
eniow every Seminary IN the State; We
are no better. The average wages OF
male TEACHERS for 1852 was Sl7 So, ID
paltry sum a clam pedIerd refuse to take
where is the young man willing 10 spend
three or four years, and as many humid
reds of dollars TO fl, himself for the sole
purpose OF becoming a teacher. to wear
out mind aud body to get more kicks
than coppers. They have exhibited
sarewdness in appealing to our syrnpa-
thies that they are without buildings
rendered SO by Ere. Sir cal! to mad
the .il} school districts in the State equal
" destitute more unfortunate, destitute
of houses, friends or funds, and children
growing up i'll ignorance. Are they de-
serving no sympathye Sir, We are too
up, to he .paring OF our charities al home
aud liberal abroad.
Suppose we ave disposed to grant the
PRAYER of petitioners, ask, when the
door is once opened, who is to say when
i. shall be closed; for there are 81 incor
porated Acdamies and Seminars all
waiting for share-we have already
gwen them half million acres-nne
townships Of land-Si5o,000 all TO edu-
cate snsae 300 pupils, perhaps one third
al sshem are now residents, while the
$50 primary schools with their $4,000
scl,olars must be content with S56, QUO
fsotae twenty two cents each-besides all
this, there are 5000 children in our State
vet mose destitute, without houses,
schools, or schooling, that army Of child
rem 10 now knocking at the door Of the
public Treasury for the means Of educa.
,ion-bus. sir, they are being educated,
tho we turn deaf eur their education
il going on and snon will demand their
diplomas at these public institutions al
Cape Elizsbeth and Thomaston.
!, has been said that those who are not
willing 10 grant appropriations, and grant
them now, are not the friends Of educa
s.aa. Such sweeping ASSERTION is with
aut foundation. am not an enemy to-
those Seminaries asking our aid, ye, my
friendship recognizes other claimants
! am not an uncompromised opponent OF
every endowment. but would give the