Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-05-19
NE1GHBORHOOD NEWS.
LETTERS Fnom MARsmAL COUNTY
EXCITEMENT ON THE SCHOOL LAw-THE EDUCA-
TIONAL WANTS OF THE PEOPLE DOWN THERE.


Tie School Lq,o-Entrigues to Detsat it-lO3l
4Adults in Marshal Edo cannot Read or
Wriie
GLEN EAsrox, May l7Ih, 1858.
EDITORS OF THE INTELLIGESCEK:
Gentlemen We in Marshal County, are on
the eve Of an election that will probably seal
the fate flor some tine) of our proposed school
law. The dark intriSucs and contrivanceS
which have been set on foot t" defeat this
School Law, before the people, before that they
have had an opportunity to test its merits, were
cOncOcted at a little town called MOundsvilIe,
place some ~ miles distant from your city, and
place never pTOYeTbial for its morality or liter
airy attninmcnts, If reports are correct. The
way of these intrigues was ON this wise: The
petition TO our legislature was got up by few
of these cunning sharpers Of MoundSviile, and
las | credibly informed by citizen Of that
place. was only presented TO those who were
known to be opposed to the School Law,
for their signatures, and when lot 81 these
signatures had been obtained, the petition
was forwarded to our representative at
Richmond, purpOTting to be the voice Of large
proportion of the citizens Of Marshall County.
Through the efforts Of that representative, the
legislature ordered a lOIher election on the Law.
These men who got up and got through this
petition, are men of Smeans-many Of them
possessing large amounts Of means, too, but
lhey are who would rather spend their
means ia their own disqualification, than in
public charity. Many Of these men have been
industriously persuadinG tile more credulouS to
vote against the law, for if put in force they
would bc burthentd with "taxcs" To keep vi
and Support set of lazy officers"
Snch are the facts, so far as know, and snch
i the course of the leaders in this contest OF
Education, versus Dollars and Gents. For dol
lars and cents is the issue. These same gentle
ulen well know the di>graceiul condition Of edn-
,,tt, IL hi sl,.N
cording to the census Of 1850, there are
1881 persons over twcnty-One years Of age,
that could neither read nor WRITE aud can,
ut this time name thirty voters who will oppose
this law, who make their signatures thus, "hiS
y mark" And thus it is that such msn, the
selfish and ignorant, combine together 10 de-
feat the best hope of Onr fallen race; thus it is
the hest interests Of the youth of this county
their prospects for intellectual and moral adj.
vancculent are blasted "A citizen (says Way
land is under moral obligation to contribute
his portion TO every effort which affords a rca-
snnable prospect of rendering his fellow citizens
wiser and better. From every such successful
effort, he receives mutual benefit both in his
person and estate lie ought tn assist others in
doing that for which he himself derives impor-
tnnt advantage There can surely be no more
delightful mode ofcharity than that which raises
from the dust modest and desparing talent, and
nabIes it TO bless and ariorn society."
Are we, then, TO remain indifferent spectators,
when we see our hopes for own and our neigh
bors' children put ia Jeopardy? Forbid it Hea-
ven! What legacy can we leave to our offspring
better than good moral and intellectual educn-
riuu; course Oftraining which will lead them UP
through Nature to Natures God Asa citizen of
Marshal county, feel humhlcd when see the
efforts now heing made in other States and coun-
ties in the cause If education, and compare them
yith the opposition which We have to contend
against here. But it is said by some, that this
present proposed law Is not As good a one as we
need. | admit that. Il has some defects, but
these can be remcdied We cannot worst our
selves any by accepting any organized system
of education, for tre hnCe none now. We have
school houses-neither haVe We but very
few competent teachers in the county. We
want all these. We hope To get them. We
hope yet, as a citizscu If Marshall, 10 be Proud
OF the cause Of education in our midst
0NEoA.