Mountain Democrat., 1858-01-09
PIacerviIIe, Friday, January g, 1858.

one. ana all estateS OF deceased perBOnS, who may
have died without leaving q will or heir and also
such per cent. as may be granted by Congress on
the sale OF lands n this State, shall he and remain
perpetual fund, the interest Of which, together
with all the rents Of the unsOld lands, and such
other means as the Legislature may provide, shall
be invi0lably appropriated to the support Of CON-
mon schools throughout the State"
The embarrassed situation Of our finances and
tho unsettled position Of land titles and public
veys have no doubt prevented the Legislature hith
erto from carrying out the patriotic design Of the
trainers Of that instrument By its terms certain
lands donated by the Federal Government to the
State are to be appropriated for school purposes,
and if this fund is properly administered, the time
is not far distant when every child in the State
can receive the rudiments Of good education at
the public expense. The ignorant often vicious,
and it is scarcely necessary for me to say that
there can be no stability in government like ours,
based upon public opinion, unless the great body
Of the people are educated. It would be folly to
attempt to sustain a republican government
amongst an ignorant or depraved people. If we ex-
pect children to transmit institutions to their
descendants we must take care to provide ample
means for their education. We must teach them that
without education, without morality, without rcli-
giOn they must soon become the slaves Of dcspOt-
ism. We must enlighten their minds and impress
upon them the inestimablc value Of free govern
ment. And in this connection you will allow me
II
our criminal courts and prisons and elevate the
moral tone Of society, we must send the school
master on his mission Of labor and usefulness into
every section Of the State. well educated pcO-
pie never can be enslaved. Violence and c0mmO-
tion are the natural fruits Of ignorance. Man is
only capable Of self government after his head and
heart have been cultivated
How many of those who are now mere sojOurn-
ers in our State would bring their children amongst
us, If suitable means were provided for their edn-
cation, and become permanent citizens and useful
and honorable members of society. A few friends
of education have taken the lead, nd-much- has
already been accomplished in establishing system
Of schools, and the beneficial effect is being seen
and felt in almost every part of the State. In our
cities and towns, seminares and schools have been
established, which would reflect the highest honor
upon any people. In fact, we can proudly claim
TO have accomplished more for education in six
years than some Of our sister States have accom-.
pished in quarter Of a century. ] trust that the
fund which has been provided may never be d.
verted from its constitutional channel, and that
wisdom may direct all our actions in the admins
trati0n OF it.
The appropriations made at the recent session of
Congress will, il properly expended, go far to-
wards giving us good wagon roads across the
Rocky Mountains, by means OF which we might
anticipate large immigration this year, II it were
not for the difficulties in which the Federal to-
vernment has become involved with the MOrmOns
and Indians. The establish ment. to- of an over
land mail route, will be Of incalculable benefit
to Ms.
The financial hurricane which has recently swept
over the older States, with snch fearful violence,
would drive thousands Of strong. active, and ener.
getc men to our shores, if they could reach us by
an overland route, or by sea, at q reasonable ex-
pense. The multitude Of hard working men in the
Eastern cities, who have been recently thrown out
of employment and who ale now crying in the
agony of their souls for 'brcah,' could find ample
and profitable employment in our inexhaustible
mines, or comfortable homes in our health giving
and ever verdant valleys. The victims Of viii
lain0us paper money system could here lind in our
mountains banks which never issue an irredeemabe
currency. and seldom, if ever. fail to remunerate
the industrious laborcr. But the Mormons and In
dians on the one hand. and heartless monopoly,
having no sympathy with our people, on the other,
may diminish this emigration, so essential in de-
velOping the resources of the State.
Our people are certainly entitled to protection
whilst travelling through American territory. and
to secure this the whole power Of the Federal Co
vernment should be invoked.
Whenever government babitually fails to give
protection to its people, 1t must cease 70 command
their confidence or respect. Hundreds OF emigrants
during the past year, who had abandoned their
homes, and whilst vending their way over Ameri-
can soil to our shores, were inhumanly butchered.
That government which claims to extend its pro-
lection over its people (whether native, naturalI-
I'D or unnaturaZcd)in cvey part Of the world, and
is ready to resort N arms in order to secure it, will
we hope see that such bloody scenes not re.en-
acted upon our great highways and in our own
territory
-Iu my humble opininn, ths- establishment of q
multitude of small military posts between our from
tier and the Atlantic States, will never answer the
purpose. They are weak as t0 provoke assaults
from the Indians, and not strong enough to pursue
and chastise them. The marching Of full regi
ment, properly appointed, to and from the Pacific
coast through our own territory every year, would
strike more terror amongst the Indians, inspire
more confidence amongst the settlers and emf
grants, and make the highways more secure, than
all the small military posts which could be estab-
lshed upon these routes.
Besides, troops sent from the Atlantic for this
coast, instead Of being cnfecblcd and cncrvatcd,
as is the case now, by voyage Of 5000 miles,
over rough seas and through an inhOspitable eli
mate, would be found efficient soldiers, and ready
for active service, at once in the field, should tho
exigency demand it. The march and the camp
duty would transform raw recruits into a dis
ciplined corps.
l make these remarks with great difidence,
because know but little Of military Affairs, and
have nc personal knowledge of the different over
land routes which pass through tho Indian settle
ments
Rut after ALL the Federal Government will never