Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-16
" it, and those for whom it is applied do not obtain
nnch mora thnn half the amount which the State

nv II and those for whom il is applied do not obtain
much moro than half the amount wnlcn Tue S'a'e
provides.
| repeat. then, sir, that a large amount Of our mean.
i. withheld. That another large amount ID diverted
from the purposes fixed by the Constitution and the
law. That another large amount is permitted 10 re,
main idle in the hands of tiducisries, or ihey are
using n portion of the public funds for private purpo'
ses, without interest or other consideration. lhat tne
cost of disbursing the amount which Is e2pehuemm 70
too great, and is greater than the law allows. thn.
this is a temptation TO q breach OF trust. ana y heep
up the abuses Of the system and the misappllcaton VI
the funds for education. That the coat OF lnstruc'!on
is too great. and the average of time OF tuition IS LOU
little. That the INDECENT children do not get the oouh.
ty, and those who do get it do not get all ina! 'ney
should get. That a large portion OF the State Is NOV
accounted for at all, and the accounts for none are
satisfactory and full. That the whole present system
ia calculated to shame the poor and to relax those VINO
have means among the people, and is, to use the
lightest phrase, a 'sink pocket" to the public treasu
The truth is, | have high authority for saying it
WAS originally devised, aud intended to defeat MIR.
Jeirerson's large and liberal plan OF education. He
designed a grand heliocentric system-to shed light
down from above, as from the sun in natures hea,
yens. The plan the authors Of this system succeeded
in defeating, by taking the funds OF education and
scattering them abroad, we'll knowing and Boosting
that they would thereby bate al influence which
would, perhaps, never allow them TO be taken back
and applied to the real and legitimate ends of public
CllOu Ethu " al q
reform is an interest in the trade which employs the
funds belonging to education, and the selfish thrift
which would divide and scatter just means enough to
each neighborhood to make a little learning q dan
gerous thing instead of concentrating the power TO
rsend the school master abroad" in our land.
Whether We mean, then, to follow the one plan or
the other. to make bad scholars or good teachers, the
present system must be reformed. We must husband
our capital of the Literary fund better we must col
lect its income, guard it more sacredly, keep its &C,
--.-k, ,~nrA otri,fl,t opnlxt n - - p nHt,1AfInnA
purposes, and apply it in the right way.
have stated how the capital Of the Literary fund
| may be largely increased. But, without estimating
all the additions to it which ! have named, its amount
now is very ample 10 effect great %good-far beyond
what is now accomplished.
lis amount now invested ia l,OIb,S3o 0U
| Balance remaining to its credit in the trea.
sury, uninyestsd, is lbs, aa92 81
Its total available capital now, is 81 ,SO5, 1870 50
Six per cent. interest thereon per annum, is lOS,3U7 81
The net amount Of c~spitation tax is estima
tsted annually at 1901 GO
Actual available means per annum, S22S.3O7 81
But the estimate of the first auditor ia
about 2i2, ~ Ol
The amount appropriated lie 2l6,jDO w
Leaving for investment, $25,927 VI
This ia the measure of our means, and our wants are
immense.
In round numbers, the total number Of our children
is:
J Over : and under II, l2OyOOO
Over II and under IL, LOOT
Over Ii and under 81, 10000
Total number over 7 and under 81, 800, 900
Owing to the different ages in the
census, and to the increase Of
population since the census in
1850. this is but a proximate
statement, but it is believed to
ba nssrly correct. Not more
than one.tenth of that number
are supposed 10 re :ndigent-or,
| INDECENT, 10000
Able to pay for tuition in the Pm
mary schools, a70,GUG
The minimum number over 7 and
under II fit for infant primary
and lree schools, is 10000
/! The minimum number over IL and under
10, 1t Tor tioh primary and free schools,
and who will probably be sentt them ia
supposed TO bs 30,oou
The minimum number over 10, Mt for 10.
leges. institute, aud university, who will
probably be sent to them, is supposed to
be G,OOO
law, l62, 900