The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-11-18

tons OF human laws and institutions
But just here am met and surrounded
10y ob)"ctors on all sides, who, though
they will not pretend to deny that the
preseut Free School System has been in
operation for nearly "A century vet, con-
tend that new additions and alterations
have been devised and adopted, by fre
| quent Acts Of successive Legislatures as
amendments thereto; and consequently,
cannot be fixed. perfect and immovable
System; but that it is one Of great inn
perfection, and capable Of as great i'm
| provements, and that under existing cir.
cumstances, the Free School money has
not and is not doing "lhe good it WAS in.
tended 10 do, or that it might be made
to do" Some contend that such partial
distribution Of the Free School money. as
is annually practiced by the Commission.
ers, IN giving 1t for the education of the
poorer class. is very unjust and there.
fore, 1t should not be respected as a law
IN our land. They are Of the opinion
that for all the good it is doing or might
be made To do," the State would receive
no de,rlmen,, if it were rejected forthwith.
For AL classes, poor, middle and rich,
would then be placed on an even footing,
, with respect to the existing laws and reg.
uiatlons appertamIng to the Free Schools,
then justice would be inpartially meted
ont to every one; then objections would
cease to be made against an erroneous
/ system, and then all complaints would be
lad aside, willie peace with justice, and
honor with prosperity would rebound
with It's long lost blessings 10 every citi-
Zen Of the State. These are but a few
OF such erroneous views and objections
a-ainst The system of public instruction,
AS are now warmly malniain,d and strong
ly vlndcaled. Ether give US a system
that Will educate all, or give us none.-
For now (they say We have to educate
our own, and our peighbor's children -
who have become poor not for want vi
means IN their power, or from divine chas
Ilsemenls, or misfortunes but by self-de-
SIroyimg practices aud vicious habits in
, dlhtCr!nesS, III gambling. in drinking and
the like. But such insignificant obj.c.
tons as these are not only ridiculous but
prepos,erous. For who is it receives the
lenctit OF the Free School money? The
parent or The child 7 Not the parent but
the child, which las no Liberty to act be.
yond his viii ana his pleasure. Hence
such views, complaints aud objections,
must Immediately vanish at the first APP
vroach of sober reason and sound iudp-
ment. For, whoever, after the light Of
truth has Illuminated his mind upon tie
subject. will still continue to persis, in
maintaining these trivial objections from
selfish motives and considerations, can
hardly be reckoned and esteemed to be-
long to the rank Of patriots and philan.
thropis's amongst US, whose highest aims
are TO burst the fetters Of slavery and Of
/ ignorance, tha, they may rejoice in the
freedom. Intelligence and prosperity Of
every citizen, and be proud TO be called
a SOUTH CAROLlNIAN!
Having barely mentioned few Of the
many complaints that are frequently rais-
ed against the Free School System, with.
out attempting TO make an elaborate re-
iutauon, or even TO notice the merest por-
ton Of them let us hasten on to the
consideration Of the blessings, the com.
forts and the inestimabIe good the Free
School money bestows upon the poor chill
dren of Lancaster District in particular {:
and upon the poor children Of the State
in general; and through them upon every
citizen Of South Carolina.
,lst. The "Free School money" does
good to thirty-five or forty male and e.
male Teachers in Lancaster District, who
annually receive twelve hundred dollars
Of it,
Secondly. The Free School money"
does good by raising the standard Of gen.
ersl education in our district.
Thirdly. The Free School money"
does good to four or Eve hundred fine
looking bays and girls whose whole
schooling is entirely paid out OF their le
gally proportioned share Of it; aLd this
large number Of children, las far as am
able to es,imate,) forms nearly, or quite
one half Of those who annually attend
the mixed or common Schools located in
every part Of our District.
Fourtbly. The Free School money"
does good 10 almost every parent, who Sas
a child or children to send to school, by
! placing in the reach of every family the
means for educating them in a few miles