The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-30
Amendments to the State COnstitu-
ti0n--.0ur Common Schools.

In the midst of the excitement pro-
duced by the terrible civil war in which
we are engaged, the people must not for
get that there are other duties to be per-
formed, besides those pertaining to the
rebellion, of the greatest Importance to
US and posterity--duties which must be
performed five expect those free institu-
tions, which we are striving to preserve,
to be appreciated and perpetuated by
succeeding generations Those institu-
tions cannot be maintained by an igno
rant people knowledge and intelli-
gence amongst the masses are necessary
to a healthy state of the public mind, in
behalf Of the free and progressive form
of government that we hope to transmit
to future generations. No other nation
is, so free and progressive as this-no one
has constitution so liberal, and provid-
ing for its own peaceable amendment
when the worlds progress requires
amendment. The reason is, in no other
country are the masses so well educated
in the knowledge of civil and religious
liberty, and in the learning that qualities
people for freedom and independence.
Our children must be so educated, else
the model form of government which we
expect to leave to them, will degenerate
into anarchy, or be perverted into
despotism, as has been the ease with 9TH
er republics where the people were not in
telligent and virtuous.
Great is the responsibility resting on
the men and women of the Union at the
present time, and if they do not perform
their whole duty, they will prove them
selves unworthy of the blessings which
kind Providence has showered on them
unworthy the glorious form of govern
ment which has been transmitted to
them by their noble and selfsacri6cing
ancestors.
One of the most important duties that
rest on the people of Indiana, is that of
providing system of Free Schools, in
which the children of the rich and the
poor may, in common, alike receive the
education necessary to fit them to prop
erly perform the duties of life
1t is believed that large majority of
the people of the State are in favor of
such school system, and are willing to
bear any reasonable burthen in keeping
up Free Schools-willing to be taxed ac-
cording to their means. The poor ought
to be, for the sake of their children
the rich should be, on account of the
greater security to themselves and their
property, resulting from the good order
and conscientiousness of an intelligent
people. Ignorance produces crime, Ii
centiousness and disorder which leopard
ize life aud property, and fill iails, peni-
tentiaries, lunatic-asylums and poor
houses. Better, far, for the rich to pay tax
.es to sustain schools, than to maintain
paupers, and punish and reform crimi-
nails Prevention is better and cheaper
than Cure.
Under our Constitution, as expounded
by the Supreme Court, creditable and
efficient Free School system cannot be
maintained. This has been tried, and
the attempt has proven a failure.
Free Schools, wherever tried to be sus
tanned under State laws, and by means
of the ordinary revenue, are mockery,
and burlesque on the Free Schools OF
more favored States.
The city of Evansville, under a char
ter older than the present Constitution,
allowing special taxation to support
Common Schools, maintains a system
which is bright example to the other
portions of the State, and reflects great
honor on the city. That system stands
as an oasis in the midst Of the desert
made by the memorable decision of the
Court oyerthrowing the Free Schools
Time and again it has been demon
strated, by the action of the voters OF
Evansville, that they cherish their schools
as they do the apple of their eye, and
will not let them go down.. So, it is be-
Geved, would the people generally feel,
if they had the power to establish and
sustain Free Schools deserving the name.
1t is best to strike at the root of the
difficulty that exists in regard to gener-
al Free School system, and remove that
difficulty by amending the Constitu-
ton so as to allow ofspecial taxation for
school purposes where community may
desire it, rather than to trust to any fu-
ture Supreme Court to reverse the decis-
ion that has worked so much mischief
If the Constitution is amended, the
difficulty is ended, or will present itself
only at rare intervals whenever an at
tempt may be made to again amend so
as to iniure the schools. IF the schools
are left at the mercy of the Supreme
Court, they will be kicked and cuffed back
and forth by parties, and their existence
made precarious and unfruitfuL The
Constitution is stable and reliable.
Judges are changeable and sometimes
corrupt. One set may favor Free
Schools: another may be hostile to them.
Aside from the essential Importance Oh
electing able, patriotic, and good men
to the Legislature, on account of our
National difficulties, it is very desirable
that the men we elect should be friends
of Free Schools. There will be an op-
portunity, next winter, of taking a step
towards the amendment of the Consti.
tuition so as to permit the maintenance
of Free Schools; step that, if not taken
then, can not be taken for years. Hence
the opportunitv must not pass unimprov