Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-02

TlCUET8 TIOs9
suffering In tae States, and take money sway from
them! ltis very easy talk of being generous aud
OF establishing perfect system Of common schools
in the district of Columbia The Senator IRON Mas
saohusetts gets very pathetic about it, If | knoE
anything Of BIS histery, he understands hos to sp
pfecate the sslvanisges Of education; but standing
We DO At dif raRt ends Of ihe line, he and rea.
son difereniy on the sus ject. lie is for being very
liberal here. Well Sir, Just 10 proportion as you
increase the expenses ef this Government, you in
crease the necesisy fer high protective tariffs II
you increase the expenditures aud cause that neces
sty portion Of his constituents weuld reap ben
eft in The return Of taxes in the shape Of protection
But The Senator from Massachuseus is for being
very liberal Now, I viii make proposition to
him, aud do it in spirit Of kindness assume
that we have no authority under the Constitution
70 take money out of the Federal Treasury for edu-
satioual purposes in the District Of Columbia l
assume that 1t violates great principle Of justice
and Of right to take it away from the people Of any
other communities to appropriate it here Then We
have control Of this fund; it is not Let
be liberal with our own means; let US be generous
with what is ours, what have acquired by honest
industry ia our vocation, Whatsver it may be.
make This proposition to the Senator from Massa-
chusetts: let the peoples money alone; let keep
our hands off the money Of the little boys aud girl
that has been gathered here from all the States,
that is not ours; but let contribute out Of
our own private means; aud will give as much 70
aid the cause Of education in the District Of Colum
bis as the Senator from Massachusetts, That is
fair proposition. Il is very easy to be generous and
liberal with other peoples money, but it is differ
ent matter when it comes to handling our own cash
I for benevolent purposes What am for in iheory,
l will promote, as far my means will permit me
Z 10 do, out Of ny own individual funds
But the Senator from Mississippi seems to think,
and he presents it strongly aud foreibly argu-
ment having much plausibility in it., that We own
the public property here and therefore We ought to
! nav raaan nnohf mt cff Sir nunar
go out through the country and End plenty Of men
not making over three, or four, i've hundred dol
lars year. who are educating their own children
Even the lowest laborers on the public buildings
are receiving mora money in the GcGrse OF a year
than many respectable farmers hroug ghout the cOun
try, who educate their own children; bat he says
our public buildings here, and consequently the
Government ought 10 be taxed Who ever heard Of
county town or the capital Of State taxing its
public buildings located there?
Mr. BROWN. viii the Senator at this point al
low to say word, as il may save the necessity
of reply 10 his argument
Alr. JOHNSON, of Tenn. Certainly.
Mr.. BROWN. That argument has been adduced
here before; and hope shall have moments az
tentioR while answer IT,. The property Of State,
at the seat Of government Of State belongs 70 the
people Of a State, and that of the county, at the
county seat, belongs to the people Of the county
They pay taxes upon il because it belongs 10
them, and they choose to have their own individual
estates taxed, and exempt that which belongs to
them in common. Now, this Capitol and your
Patent Office, and your Presidential mansion, be
long to whom? Not 10 the people Of the District,
but 20 the people Of the United States. They pay
no taxes in this District, the people Of county
pay none in a county, or the people Of State pay
none into the State Treasury. That is the distinc
ton; and therefore the obligation is stronger on the
people Of the United States here where they have
the grea. amount Of property The people here
contribute money to the national Treasury but that
is for the benefit of the Federal Govern ment aud
not for the benefit of this District. All that We
propose is, that being large proprietor, yoa put
yourselves, upon the school question, in the same
relation to the city Of Washington as q property
/ holder, that individual proPrietors occupy.
/ Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Tennessee The gentleman's
J case almost illustrates ITSELF lie says the public
! property in county belongs to the people Of a
! county and the public buildings in a State belong
/ to the people Of the State. That is very good II
/ lustratOn, and thank him for it. Take a State
| that is comi osed eff one hundred counties. Those
Counties as counties, contribute 90 the erection Of
public buildings At the seat Of the government; and
wien they are about to be built there is always q
great struggle 20 where they shall be located, be
cause Of the many benefits conferred upon the com
nluuity where they located. The expenditure
Of money upon them brings persons TO the place,
adding value TO property, and causing the city to
improve. Is there State in this Confederscy that
permits the county in which the public buildings
are located to tax them2 There is not q county in
the thiFty-three States we have nov that does it.
( l believe thirty three is the number. b.
/ Mr. DURKEE. Phirty.tWo and half
/ . Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee. The counties of
State own the public buildings, and they are ex
empt from taxation. All the people of the States
Of the Union own the public buildings here in the
District of ColuUb bia. The principle is dentically
the sane. What would the people here say if yOu
/ were 10 make proposition TO take away the public
! buildings? Instead of talking about releasing the
/ IL, II,
/ would be willing to pay you bonus to remain. Il
this the property Of all the people those Of the
! District included? Do not the public buildings in
State belong to the people Of Stster This pro
perty belongs TO the people Of all the States, and
there is no sort of difference in the cases. Il Is a
| tax upon other communities to sustain this mmu
nifty. We find proposition to surrender their city
/ charter; they want 20 throw everything upon Con
/ gress Some time ago they had proposition to
/ make us raise police force for them, and propo
| sition to take care Of the deaf and dumb. Every
thing is be put the Federal Treasury; and thai
is much clear gain for them got out Of the indus
try and earningsOf others.
do not wish to consume the time Of the Senate
1 think this s one Of the clearest propositions
ever saw. First we have no right to appropriate
money for educational purposes here; next, il Tio
ates principles Of justice TO the people Of the vaT
oLs States. My opposition to this measure, instead
Of coming in conflict with the positions and feelings
of my whole public life, is perfectly consonant with
them and is in fact but another instance in which
carry cut the policy have advocated ever since
have been public man. I am for the children Of
the District Of Columbia being educated; want to
see them all educated and | will contribute as
much, in proportion to my individual means, as
any other Senator TO accomplish that object; but l
| will not take the money out Of the pockets Of my
constituents whose children need education, and
many of whom have not the means to educate them.
There is no one who places higher estimate on
education than do It is advantage to the
community to the child to the man, in every posi-
BILE position in which he can be placed. To use the
eloquent language of another in private life edues
ton is sOlace aud comfort; in public life it is an
introduction and an ornament; abroad, friend; it
sustsins a man in every position in which be may
be placed; it will benefit man in every possible
position that he may be placed in; it lessons vice,
it guides virtue, gives grace and dignity to genius
The Senator from Massachusetts,, the Senator from
Mississippi, the Senator from any other State, will
not 60 further in promoting the great cause Of edu
cation than will; but this is the wrong direction.
This is taking money from one portion OF the com
munty and giving it to smother l am not for that
policy and hope the section win be stricken out.
4 Mr.. CRITTENDEN. Mr.. President, much has
seemed to me to be said this subject which is not
very pertinent to the question we have to decide
The proposition before is simply whether We vii
appropriate $50 600 yeer for five years, to the city
Of Washington, provided its people shall raise th'
same sum- for purpose es Of education. That's its Whol
extent This proposition involves tWo questions
first; have we the power to make this appropriation
out Of the public Treasury; and next, if have tn
power isftexpedient for us to do so This embrace