The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-10-13

fantry deserted him. Rumer has it that he
then destroyed himself and family; but the
general belief is that he is still alive, and
the sum of 5,O00rs. has been offered for his
capture. .-.......
From the Washington Union.
EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA
We have before a pamphlet copy of
the address delivered in July last before the
State Educational Association of North
Carolina, by VIM. w. Holden, Esq, of
Raleigh. Mr. Holden is favorably known
to the country as the able and accomplished
editor of one of the most influential Demo
cratic journals in the South. In the new
character in which he now appears he has
not only laid the citizens of his native State
under obligations for his gratifying exposi-
ton of the present commercially liberal
system Of public instruction in North Car
DINA, but he has brought together an array
of startling facts in regard to the school
systems of other States, the publication of
which, we think, will lead to the most bene-
fetal results.
A large portion of the address is occupied
with facts and figures in relation to the
common school system and common school
fund of nearly all the States. From these
facts and figures Mr. Holden deduces the
following results
The average length of the schools of
Maine, whose system IS in highly flourish
ing condition, is four months and three
weeks; OF New Hampshire, five months of
North Carolina four months.
Maine distributes about 20 cents to the
head of her white population New Hamp-
shire about the same; Virginia, cents ;
Connecticut nearly one dollar; North Car
DINA, about 50 cents; Pennsylvania nearly
the same as Connecticut; and New York
and Ohio u fraction over one dollar each to
their total white population.
North Carolina, though her white popula-
ton is 200, 900 less than that of Kentucky,
expends nearly as much as she does for ed
vocational purposes.
North Carolina has a larger school fund
than Maine, or New Hampshire, or New
Jersey, (by $1,5OO,O00;) or Maryland or
Virginia, (by s6OOOOO;) or Massachusetts,,
(by S5O0.OOO;) or Georgia, (by 81 600, 200.
North Carolina has as many colleges as
Georgia, more academies by 100, and 900
more common schools. The two States are
about equal in white population.
North Carolina has more Colleges than
South Carolina, more academies by 100,
and nearly three times as many children at
school.
Virginia has 100000 white population
more than North Carolina; yet the latter
has quite as many Colleges as the former,
as many academies, and FIVE or six hundred
more public schools.
Kentucky has 100000 white population
more than North Carolina; yet the latter
has As many colleges as the former, as
many academies, more common schools by
1000, and as many children at school as she
has. The same is substantially true in the
comparison between Tennessee and North
Carolina.
1t must also be borne in mind that North
Carolina has no large cities, like Virginia,
Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky, to build
up and sustain Colleges and high schools.
Upon calm review of the entire facts. it
is neither immodest nor unjust to assert
that North Carolina is clearly ahead of all
the other slaveEolding States with her sys-
tenn of public instruction while she COM
pares favorably in several respects with
some of the New England and North-wes-
tern States.
But, though our educational condition
and prospects are thus cheering, we have
only made a good beginning in the great
work. There are now from fifty to sixty
thousand children in the State acho neUer 90
TO school. But we must reach these also,
or the most of them for in ten years near
ly all of them who are males will be citizens,
and will vote to make laws to govern you,
themselves, all of US. What if they grow
up in ignorance and vice, they will not be
the only sufferers Tho intelligent, the
virtuous, and the owners of property espe-
cially, are all deeply concerned in this
movement; and it behooves them to do eve
Iything that can be done, justly and with
reason, to prevent, as well as to diminish,
vice and crime. Ignorance creates inius-
tice and crime; injustice and crime create
courts of law, courts of law create taxes ;
and men of substance have these taxes to
pay.
ELoPEMENT CAsE.-From the Shelby
vile (Tenn.) Banner, we clip the following:
A young sprig from Kentucky, who has
been in this vicinity for several months,
became acquainted with the daughter of
one of our citizens living few miles east of
town. A mutual attachment sprung ND
between the parties, which resulted in a
proposition of marriage. The parents as
sumed the responsibility to reject the suit,
and the disappointed lover was notified TO