The Placer herald., 1858-01-02

one. and all estates of deceased persons, who NAV
have died without leaving will or heir and also
such per cent. as may be granted by Congress on
the sale of lands in this State, shall be 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 inviolably appropriated to the support of COM
mon schools throughout the State"
The embarrassed situation of our finances and
the unsettled position Of land titles and public sur
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 are 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. 1t would be folly to
attempt to sustain a republican government
amongst an ignorant or depraved people. If we ex-
pec children to transmit institutions to their
descendants we must take care to provide ample
means for their education Wemust teach them that
without education, without morality, without reli-
gion they must soon become the slaves of despot-
ism. We must enlighten their minds and impress
upon them the inestmabe value of a free govern
ment. And in this connection you will allow me
to say, that if we desire to hssen the expenses of
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 peo-
pie never can be enslaved. Violence and commo-
ton 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 edu
cation, and become permanent citizens and useful
and honorable members of society! A few friends
of education have taken the lead, and 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, seminaries 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-
plished in quarter of 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
tratiOn of it.
The appropriations made at the recent session of
Congress will, il properly expended, 60 far to-
wards giving us good wagon roads across the
Rocky Mountains, by means Of which we might
anticipate large immigration this year. if it were
not for the difficulties in which the Federal Go
vernment has become involved with the Mormons
and Indians. The establishment. too of an over
land mail route, will be Of incaculable benefit
to us.
The financial hurricane which has recently swept
over the older States, with such fearful violence,
would drive thousands of strong active, and ener.
getic men to our Shores if they could reach us by
an overland route, or by sea, at reasonable ex-
pense The multitude of hard working men in the
Eastern cities, who have been recently thrown out
OF employment, and who are now crying in the
agony of their souls for 'bread," could find ample
and profitable employment in our inexhaustible
mines, or comfortable homes in our health giving
and ever verdant valleys. The victims of vii
lainous paper money system could here find in our
currency, and seldom, if ever fail to remunerate
the industrious laborer. 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-
velopng the resources of the State.
Our people are certainly entitled to protection
whilst travelling through American territory, aud
to secure this, the whole power Of the Federal Co.
vernment should be invoked
Whenever government habitually fails to give
protection to its people, it must cease to 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-
heu vi SNVJ PdlO VI Wollu, uuu
is ready to resort to arms in order to it, will
we hope, see that such bloody scenes are not reen
acted upon our great highways and in our own
territory
In my humble opinion, the establishment of
multitude of small military posts between our from
tier and the Atlantic States, will never answer the
purpose. They are so weak as to provoke assaults
from the Indians, and not strong enough to pursue
and ehastise 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 emil
grants, and make the highways more secure, than
all the small military posts which could be estab-
lished upon these routes.
Besides, troops sent from the Atlantic for this
coast, instead of being enfeebled and enervated,
as is the 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 the
exigency demand it. The march and the camp
duty would transform raw recruits into dis
ciplined corps
| make these remarks with great difidence,
because know but little Of military affairs, and
have no personal knowledge of the different over-
land routes which pass through the Indian settle
ments.
But after all, the Federal Government will never