Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-06-29
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FOR TIVE SENTINEL,


signature of " Berry's," an article, set
ting forth the amiable and admirable
qualities of our recent School Law, in
answer to a request Of mine in former
paper, have taken up ny pen, ut my
first leisure moment, to reply.
"Berry's" starts out by asking the
question q Is there no argument in fa-
vor of the new School Law" Now that
was tue very question | wished answer
ed, and if there was an argument, |, for
one, was anxious to con it over. lie
/ further asks, if Il will contend that the
old system of schools answered the wants
of the people, or will deny the truth
of the doctrine, that property should ed
ucate the people y
As to your first interogatory, Mr.. 3. '
| do not feel particularly anxious to con-
tend for the old system, but cannot, by
this question, perceive the force Of your
argument, that, because the old system
did not answer the wants Of the people,
the new must necessarily do so. Think
that, when a man is doing well enough,
it is safe not to risk the chances of
doing specially would it prove,
| think, n safe rule in these progressive
days" | would certainly advise any
one ia whom was Interested, to eschew
many of the principles introduced in
these progressive days" and especial
ly that evil of getting laws through
legislative bodies by employing an engi-
neer to pilot them through the intrica-
cies of the august bodies that now make
our laws. As to the doctrine 'that pro-
perty should educate the people, no man
viii deny the principle that the laborer
is worthy of his hire; aud, think teach
ers earn their money about as hard as
any other set of men yea, | will 90
further than the present law and say
that the pittance Of $500 per anuum
would scarcely justify aconpetent teach
er to devote his time to the instruction
and training of our children. 60 in
for the principle. that every man who is
able should pay fair and adequate com.
pensation for the education of his chill
dren, and those that arc not able to edu-
cate thoir children, lei the county do it.
:" Berry's" gives as a recommendation
to this bill-viz: that it lays tax upon
the property of this county to build school
houses and pay teachers, to give every
child in the county access to . good COM
mon school"
AS far as the building Of school houses
it seems right and proper that they
should be built by taxation or mutua
subscription by the patrons Of school
but the taxation to educate, generally
cannot say that it is quite as just. Flo
! instance, NC will suppose that two fami
lies reside in one school district, bot
. men of wealth, one having children t
educate and the other none, Now is
right aud equitable, that u tax should b
laid upon the man that has nc chidre
to educate or that he should help to pa
g for the man that has The pg,ac;ple {
our government economy seems to me I
:, be, that every man has right to hi
y property, to use it aud dispose Of it O
> be thinks best If this be the true an
correct principle, what right has legis
y lature TO compel man, or set of nleT
' TO pay for that from which lie cannot pos
J. sibly derive a benefit? If this tax
necessary to educate the INDECENT an
( poor, it is right and proper if it be t
+, assist in the education Of children who's
: parents are able to educate them, then
} is wrong and unjust.
,fl "Berry's" would fain have us believ
that this School Law is the universe
one Of the land. lie asks: q" What la
been the result Of similar systems in otbc
Il counties p lie says, have they not 81
q lonced all opposition p Well, Der
h rvs" 80 did - Sans" principles silenc
n all opposition in the city of Baltimore
q ergo, Sam " must be right. Has no
the principles Of aboliionism held full
power and sway ia Massachusetts, 2
Therefore, aboiltiouism must necessarily
i be right / have no doubt this sort o
argument is pretty prevalent in 4" Der
rvs" section, as it seems TO be the only
a district incur county whore old Abe's
= principles take.
' In the first place, friend " Berry's, y
| should like you to inform me what
county has a similar law TO ours? ]
, have not been able to find one yet; and
if | did, | would like to make inquiries
| Of the people how it nctel---Dot Of the
; advocates Of the plan. | believe the
i principle is well established, that like
! causes produce like effect; but. as |
have not seen the good effects Of SINH
, lar law to this in other places, am not
prepared to say that this present law will
realize the bright expectations Of its
, friends. As to our hopes, we may all
look forward with forlorn hope and mca-
gre confidence to It's future benefits.
do not pretend 10 say that nothing
good could come out Of this law but
, might venture to say, the evil would
fully balance, if it did not out weigh IT,
Did not lot and bis daughters come
out Of Sodom And yet, Cor the mi
! putty which was in that city, birthstone
, and fire was rained upon il.
, Your last request Of ne, friend Bor-
) ry's," is rather too ticklish a point, aud
I think If the devising could be recon
, sidered, others might not be found 80
ready to perform it. / feel myself in-
! competent TO such task, and were /
consulted, / should say, let the matter be
J brought before the people, for in the
multitude Of counsellors there is wisdom
and if the people prove incompetent 10