The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-07-03

Public Schools.

F. fhDlic SCHOOLS.
yh,"e & r. An of Public Schools is about to be
, "S our ,ted in Cecil county, and the subject
>, a1p W. the deepest interest to every friend
,a ~ tIanity.
S,eohsts not to lie expected that in the com
Ms1cement everything will work harmonious
'Seybnt in the imperfcction Of human efforts,
afis rather to be expected that much will lie
OCCURRED of alteration and amendment. There
~ il! certainly he no very considerable pol
ton Of our people opposed to Public Schools.
their operation having been so obviously
beneficial in the States where they have been
long established, that no argument is rcqur-
cd to prove their utility. The general dinu.
sion Of education not only raises the standard
of intelligence in a community, but through
the operation of increased intelligence, adds
vastly to the productive wealth Of n commu-
nifty, and at the sauc time adds to security
Of person and property
Some may think it hard that they should
be taxed to educate the children Of others
when they have not educated their own
The failure to educate their own children if
they had the means Of doing it, is a neglect
of duty for which there Is no excuse, md the
State having deep interest in the educa, ton
Of every child, should exercise it's authority
over those who could act so unnatu,ally, as
to neglect the schooling of their own children.
Others may say we have educated our fam
lies, and it is now hard that we should be
called on to educate other peoples Children
As every man feels an interest in his own
children so he also feels an interest in his
chldrcn's children, and should net grulge to
contribute a portion TO their education.
There is an important fact bearing OH this
case that is worthy of consideration. In
this country property docs not remain long in
a family. In great ma orlty Of cases a
mans property does not reach his grand
children, but the School tax on that property
viii assist in the education of his grand
children and Their descendants, ard it is the
only part of his estate that will be certain to
reach them : and its legitimate effect will be,
to so qualify them for the performance of the
ordinary duties of life that they may be
| thrown. oa~'tr OWN resources with fair
tilnate success
tr ~ may say, ! have no children, and
I'd that my property should be taxed
.nool other peoples children. should
"a with my own property us | please. No
1man has an absolute right to the property
he calls his own-he holds it subject to the
| wants of society-it is bound fol portion of
The expenses of making and repairing public
| roads, and bridges; OF maintaing courts OF
law, and of maintaining those who are una
Bile to support themselves; and also for the de-
Tense Of the country against common enemy.
So you may readily perceive that levying a
school tax involves no new principle OF taxa
ticn, but one in which every man has acqui-
csccd.
The incoming generation will succeed to
the whole property Of the nation when the
present occupants have retired is then every
man to hold on to his property until death
rclaxes his grasp, OF is he to yield little be
fore hand
Much of what we call wealth was prepared
at the creation, not for any one generation,
but Tor all generations as they successfully
arise.
We are told that ninety per cent of some
of the staples of agriculture are taken fyom
the atmosphere and not from the soil. aud
then how little would the soil produce were
it not for the sun ard rain, and the regua-
tive agencies OF nature Yet who can say
that these elemental treasures were created
for any one man or any generation of men,
but for the whole race. Then the arts and
sciences have contributed much to the wealth
| OF the nation, but those great bcnefactors Of
mankind who have enriched the race by their
discoveries and inventions did not bequeath
these blessings to any one generation, but to
the whole race as they successfully come into
existence.
Does any man then hold his property by
such tenure that his rights are invade
when portion is taken for the education
of his successors
We protect the lives of children by penal
enact,ncnts any one who destroys the life
OF an infant is as guilty of murder as if he
had struck down man in all his vigor.
Why preserve the life of an infant it we stop
there and hand it over to ignorance and vice
with their fearful tain of calamtics The
protection of the animal life without any
provision for mental or moral culture, would
be curse, :ather than blessing.
Wherever liberal feeling prevails on this
subject, there will be no difficulty in esab-
fishing Public Schools. Let the doctrine be
recognised that every child has right to
knowledge on the same broad ground. that
he has to Heavens bounty Of light and air.
IL. M.
i